As an aspiring small business owner, there are a lot of things to get your head around.

Between working out your business structures, tax registrations, business plans and finance it can be hard to know where to start. That’s where our foundation workshops for business start-ups can help get you up to speed.

Our foundation workshops have been developed for people who are new to running their own business and will provide you with the core knowledge you need to get started.

Each session is presented by an SBDC business adviser or a local small business owner. These presenters have been selected for their vast experience and expertise in these subject areas. And, thanks to funding from the State Government, these sessions are available to you at just $20 per workshop and our Starting a Business workshop is free to attend.

Find out more about our foundation workshops and the order we suggested attending.

1 – Starting a Business (free)

This workshop is the starting point for anyone thinking of starting a business. This free two hour workshop covers the key steps to follow from initial assessment and looking at your suitability to run a business, to financing your idea, and identifying sales opportunities.

You'll receive a practical workbook, which includes an 'Are you ready?' checklist, and there will be an opportunity to ask questions.

Find out more and book your place

2 – How to Write a Business Plan

Prospective business owners sometimes wonder if they really need to write a business plan, particularly if they’re not seeking a bank loan. However, if you want to clarify your thinking, set a tone and direction for your business, and a deeper understanding of your market, the answer is certainly ‘yes you do’.

Find out more and book your place

3 – Understanding Business Financials

It is essential to be able to understand the financial health of your business, without relying solely on your accountant.

This workshop will show you how to develop ‘snapshot’ measures (key performance indicators) of your business progress to make sure it stays on track. It will also provide you with a good understanding of your financial essentials so that you will know the right questions to ask your accountant.

Find out more and book your place

4 – Marketing your Business

This workshop will show you how to understand your customers, stretch your marketing budget and make sure your business is noticed by the people who need what you have to offer.

If you’re new to marketing, this workshop can help you understand the fundamentals so you can create a marketing plan for your business.

Find out more and book your place

5 – Website Planning

Just about every business needs a website. Even if customers don’t actually buy online, they are still doing extensive online research before making a purchase. Having a website provides the perfect opportunity for you to showcase your goods or services and to engage with current and potential customers.

This workshop will help you to determine what you want a website to do for your business. It will also explore the options to build it yourself or to engage professionals.

Find out more and book your place

6 – Digital Marketing Essentials

This workshop examines a range of digital marketing options, including social media, email marketing and blogging, to help you understand what would work for your business.

This is the ideal starting point if you’re feeling overwhelmed by social media. Or perhaps you’ve set up your Facebook page and aren’t getting the results you expected.

Find out more and book your place

On-going learning opportunities from the SBDC

Once you have completed our series of foundation workshops, our full program of practical small business workshops is here to support your needs as your business evolves. 

To help you find the right workshops to support your needs we’ve grouped them by topic.

  • Business skills
  • Digital skills
  • Financial management
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Sales and marketing
  • Strategy and risk
  • Tendering and contracts

Explore the full range of SBDC workshops