Certificate IV in Entrepreneurship and New Business

I’ve already done some of this — can I get credit?

Yes. Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer both apply to the Certificate IV in Entrepreneurship and New Business. If you have relevant experience, or you have already completed matching units somewhere else, we assess it — and your fee is worked out on what you still need to complete, so it can come down. Raise it before you enrol rather than after: call 1800 180 881.

Can I pay it off, or do I need it all up front?

You pay as you go. $650 to start, which includes your first unit, then $140 per unit as you work through — $1,910 for the whole qualification, or $1,528 if you pay up front. Afterpay and ZipPay are available, and there is no contract: you only pay for the units you actually do. If you are eligible for Smart & Skilled in NSW you may pay considerably less, and there are fee-free places on this qualification — the calculator above works out your figure.

Is this course fee free?

Right now, yes — for eligible students there is nothing to pay. Certificate IV in Entrepreneurship and New Business currently has fee-free places funded by the NSW Government, and eligible students pay $0. Places are limited and are released in July and January each year, and we confirm availability with you before you enrol. Call 1800 180 881 and we will tell you on the spot whether a place is open and whether you qualify. If there isn’t one, the NSW Smart & Skilled student fee is $1,580 ($240 with a concession), or $1,910 fee-for-service — $1,528 if you pay in full up front.

What units will I study?

10 nationally recognised units — 4 core (research and develop business plans, legal & risk requirements, plan finances, and market new ventures) plus 6 electives covering investigating opportunities, customer service strategies, promoting products, operational strategies, work priorities and managing finances. The full coded list is above.

What does it cost if I’m not eligible for a fee-free place?

If you’re eligible for Smart & Skilled but not a fee-free place, this qualification is on the Targeted Priorities list, so you pay a heavily subsidised student fee of $1,580 — $240 if you hold a concession. Paying fee-for-service, it’s $650 to start, which covers your enrolment and your first unit, then $140 per unit across the remaining 9 — $1,910 in total, or $1,528 if you pay in full up front. Eligibility applies and we confirm your exact fee before you enrol.

Do I need an existing business to do this course?

No. Plenty of students enrol with nothing more than an idea, and the four core units walk you through researching and developing a business plan, meeting your legal and risk obligations, planning your finances and taking a new venture to market. If you do already trade, you can build the assessments around your own business rather than a made-up one — which is why a lot of people finish this course with a plan they actually use.

Do I have to do a work placement?

No. There’s no work placement in this qualification. It’s assessed on the business planning and marketing work you produce, so you can complete the whole thing online around your job.

Can I do this course from outside NSW?

You can study it online from anywhere in Australia, but the fee-free places and Smart & Skilled subsidies are NSW only — outside NSW it’s the fee-for-service price. In-person support is available at our NSW locations: Batemans Bay, Nowra, Goulburn, Wollongong, Campbelltown, Mount Druitt and Parramatta.

Can I do this around a full-time job?

Yes, and most students do — this is a qualification people take while working, often while getting a side business off the ground. It’s online and self-paced, you have up to 12 months from enrolment, and your trainer works around your hours by phone or one-to-one video. There’s no scheduled class you have to take leave for.

Can I get credit for units I’ve already completed?

Yes, if you hold relevant units from another provider — that’s a credit transfer. Because you pay per unit, credit means you pay less. Send us your statement of attainment when you enrol and we’ll tell you exactly what carries across before you pay for anything.

Do I get a real trainer, or a chatbot?

A named trainer with business experience, for the whole course. You can phone them or book a one-to-one video session — no helpdesk queue, and no AI marking your assessments. On a course where the assessments are your own business plans, having someone who will actually read them and talk them through with you is the difference.

What can I do with it?

Start and run your own small business, move into a business development or new ventures role, or step up to a Diploma of Business. BSB40320 is nationally recognised Australia-wide, and it’s the qualification lenders, grant bodies and landlords tend to take seriously when someone new is asking to be taken seriously.

How long does it take?

You have up to 12 months from enrolment and it’s self-paced, so you can go faster. At 10 units this is one of the shorter full qualifications we offer. Your trainer sets a realistic plan with you rather than leaving you to guess.

What do I need to enrol?

A USI — a free Unique Student Identifier, get one here — photo ID such as a driver licence, photo card or passport, and the short LLN check. Photo ID also lets us verify your funding eligibility. No prior qualifications and no experience required.

Can I do it as a traineeship?

Yes. It can be completed as a traineeship, where you’re employed while you study and the government subsidises the training — so your employer carries the cost rather than you. If you’ve got an employer willing to take you on, tell us and we’ll work through the paperwork with both of you.