Published 14 May 2020
Free vs Paid: The Best Small Business Course For You
Candlefox Running your own small business sounds like a dream from a distance – being your own boss and doing what you love? Who wouldn’t want to pursue a life like that? Well, small business owners will tell you that it comes down to more than just a dream; to run a small business and do it well, you need to know-how.
How to begin, how to build your brand, how to keep your customers loyal to your small business, and most importantly: how to compete with big business. There’s a whole lot to learn, and it can feel like a lot to take in. To help manage the workload, you can take a small business course.
Depending on what you’re eager to learn, there are both free and paid small business courses available. What will work for you depends on the stage you’re at when it comes to how far along you are in the stages of your own business development.
Free Small Business Courses
If you are yet to officially start your small business or have only recently begun trade within your existing business, a free course could be what you need. Say, for example, you have a potential business idea but don’t know the basics yet. Free online courses can help outline the basics of small business management to help you with this process.
A free small business course can be a convenient option, providing:
This includes marketing strategy advice, financial guidelines, business planning, ABN procedures, what licenses and permits will be necessary for your business, how to do taxes, record keeping, etc.
Offering video content and webinars. By providing you with course work online, you can study from the comfort of your own home.
The ability to work at your own pace, with the option to withdraw at any time.
A paid small business course, however, can offer the same conveniences as a free course, with some additional benefits.
Paid Small Business Courses
There are entire programs tailored to small business management offered by institutions like TAFE, such as the Certificate IV in New Small Business. These paid courses offer you the conveniences of self-study and online coursework, similarly to the available free courses.
Paid courses tend to go that little bit farther with the services they provide. That extra knowledge – and most importantly, the bonus of nationally recognised certification – could be that little extra something your business might need.
Paid courses can offer you:
This includes general and digital marketing advice, selling and service tips, how to structure operational elements of managing a business, etc. All of this knowledge is provided to you through coursework that is written by qualified industry experts that work closely with employers.
This is a level of guarantee that isn’t provided in free courses – all coursework is written with the necessary industry framework in mind, and comprehensively integrated into your workload.
The opportunity to study online, self-paced, with video content and webinars. Paid courses also provide accessible course materials, online course assessments from industry professionals, and access to online student forums.
The face-to-face workshops are formulated as ten contact days across a six-month timeframe, facilitated by experts in the industry.
The best bonus of taking a paid course is the stamp of approval. Once you complete your Certificate IV, your training is nationally recognised in Australia.
Depending on your situation, either of these course options are worth considering. Are you thinking about starting your own business, but don’t feel confident enough to commit to course fees yet? A free course could help you get a taste for what you’re in for.
But, if you’re ready to jump right in and start your new business, or expand the outcomes of your existing business, then a paid course will provide you with the added benefits you need to guarantee success. Paid courses provide personalised services – you have access to more than just video content. You can take your new business idea to an industry professional and ask: is this feasible?
How does my business idea rank in the grand scheme of things? You’re given the opportunity to ask the experts. This is a valuable asset, and really at the end of the day, that’s what you’re paying for. Value.
Getting qualified with a Certificate IV in Small Business isn’t as hard as it sounds. You can complete the course within 12 to 24 months, with no entry requirements needed to get you started. It’s time to jump right in!
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