 |
|||
|
|||
| REGISTER Register your email below to receive our monthly newsletter. |
|||
 |
|
 From Money Magazine, November 2002 |
| Plan for success |
| 27 November 2002 |
|
If you want to start your own business, you can always do with a little help. Maria Bekiaris reports on what sort of help is available. Many Australians dream of becoming their own boss. They might simply be sick of working for someone else or have an idea they think will make them millions. But going out on your own can be risky. It’s important to remember that starting your own business requires more than just a good idea – although that does help. Courses A number of courses can help you uncover important information and build up the skills necessary to make your business a success. You’ll find these courses at a number of locations across Australia such as TAFEs, Adult and Community Education centres and Business Enterprise centres (BECs). BEC courses are usually run over one or two nights and cost about $110 for a two-night course. Sydney Business Enterprise Centre has been offering a number of courses such as Starting a Successful Small Business; Researching Your Business - the business plan; Financial Management; Operating a business from home, Marketing and Sales: Growing your business; and Legal issues affecting a small business. “We emphasis planning at the pre-set-up stage,” says Niamh Ni Aodha, business advice co-ordinator for the Sydney Business Enterprise Centre. She says that these courses give people the chance to take a step back, consider all the issues involved and work out whether their idea is feasible. “It makes someone look at the idea more realistically,” says Ni Aodha. If you are interested in formal qualifications, small business courses are available from TAFEs. For example, in Victoria you could go for a Certificate IV in Small Business. This course covers topics like planning for success, marketing, ownership structures, business finance, cost, profit and break-even and business law. These courses are generally longer so you’ll need to be really committed. It might be a good idea to start with a shorter course to make sure this is what you want to do. Disclaimer This fact sheet is produced as an information service only without assuming responsibility. It contains general information only and should not be relied on as a substitute for financial or other professional advice. The information is current at 27 November 2002. The reader is referred to the specific terms of use of the Money website. Source: Money Magazine, November 2002 
|