| START YOUR SMALL BUSINESS SHORT COURSE ONLINE AUSTRALIA — NATIONALLY RECOGNISED | NCVE TODAY NCVE's Start Your Side Hustle course is a nationally recognised small business short course delivered 100% online across Australia. Over six weeks, you'll research a real business idea, develop your critical thinking skills, and produce professional business documents — all while earning a nationally recognised Statement of Attainment. Enrol today for just $370 with no workplace placement required. This online business skills course is project-based from week one. You won't just study business theory — you'll investigate a real opportunity, work collaboratively to evaluate it, and create documents you can actually use. The skills you build are genuinely valuable whether you launch a business or step into your next job interview with a stronger portfolio.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS SMALL BUSINESS & ENTREPRENEURSHIP SHORT COURSE
You'll learn how to research and evaluate business opportunities using structured analysis — assessing market demand, identifying risks, and developing ideas worth pursuing. This is the foundation of the Certificate IV in Entrepreneurship and New Business (BSB40320), giving you nationally recognised business skills that apply whether you're going self-employed or seeking work in any commercial environment.Critical thinking and professional document production are covered in equal depth. You'll apply creative problem-solving in team-based activities and produce business documents — pitches, proposals, and marketing materials — using industry-standard software. Employers across every industry rank critical thinking and communication as their most sought-after skills. This course delivers both.
WHO IS THIS COURSE FOR?
This online small business course is designed for job seekers who are motivated, ideas-driven, and want more than generic entry-level training. It's ideal for anyone exploring self-employment, freelancing, online selling, or a side income — and equally valuable for anyone who wants to develop commercial thinking skills that stand out in any job application.No prior business experience or qualifications are needed. If you're registered with an Employment Services provider, this course can count toward your activity plan. No workplace placement is required — all assessment is completed online in a simulated environment. Units provide direct credit toward the Certificate IV in Entrepreneurship and New Business (BSB40320) and Certificate III in Business (BSB30120).
HOW THE COURSE IS DELIVERED
The Start Your Side Hustle short course is delivered 100% online with trainer support, across six weeks from anywhere in Australia. Assessment is project-based — you research and develop your own business idea throughout the course, producing real documents as evidence. No workplace placement required. Study around your job search, your family, and your life.
WHY CHOOSE NATIONAL COLLEGE OF VOCATIONAL EDUCATION (NCVE) FOR YOUR BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRAINING?
NCVE believes training works best when it connects to your real goals. This course is built around your ideas — your trainer guides the process, but the direction comes from you. Our project-based approach means every student finishes with a genuine body of work they're proud of, and business skills that are immediately relevant in the Australian job market.
WHAT YOU'LL RECEIVE
Upon successful completion, you'll earn a nationally recognised Statement of Attainment covering three units of competency — valid Australia-wide and recognised by employers and further education providers. These units provide direct credit toward the Certificate IV in Entrepreneurship and New Business (BSB40320) and the Certificate III in Business (BSB30120). Every NCVE short course includes free access to Thrive — our Personal Wellbeing non-vocational program. Thrive produces a Personal Wellbeing Plan, a Stressor Audit, and a Progress Reflection that your Employment Services provider can use as evidence toward a non-vocational progress payment under the Employment Services Deed.
COURSE UNITS
This nationally recognised small business course covers three units of competency — BSBESB301: Investigate Business Opportunities, BSBCRT311: Apply Critical Thinking Skills in a Team Environment, and BSBTEC301: Design and Produce Business Documents. Full unit details are available on training.gov.au.
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OVERVIEW
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| Name | Start Date | End Date | ||
| Start Your Side Hustle - Including Thrive NCVE's Personal Wellbeing Program | 31/12/2026 | 31/12/2028 |
Our small business course online gives you the practical, nationally recognised skills to explore self-employment, test a business idea and think commercially — whether you’re starting a side hustle, freelancing or selling online. Study fully online at your own pace, finish in around six weeks, and earn a nationally recognised Statement of Attainment — no workplace placement required. From $370 with flexible payment plans (Afterpay & ZipPay).
This course delivers the following nationally recognised unit:
This unit provides direct credit toward the Certificate IV in Entrepreneurship and New Business (BSB40320) and the Certificate III in Business (BSB30120).
Every enrolment includes free access to Thrive, our online personal wellbeing and resilience program — practical tools to manage stress, beat fatigue and build healthy daily habits. Thrive is a complementary, non-accredited program (it does not form part of your nationally recognised Statement of Attainment).
Anyone exploring self-employment, freelancing, online selling or a side income — and equally valuable for anyone who wants commercial thinking skills that stand out at work. No prior business experience or qualifications needed. Start anytime.
This course is delivered 100% online and self-paced, so you can study from anywhere in Australia. Prefer in-person support? We also run courses at our NSW locations including Batemans Bay, Nowra, Goulburn, Wollongong, Campbelltown, Mount Druitt and Parramatta — just ask our team.
A nationally recognised Statement of Attainment, plus credit toward a full qualification. You’ll need a free Unique Student Identifier (USI) and valid photo ID to enrol. Ready for the full qualification? Step up to our Certificate IV in Entrepreneurship and New Business (BSB40320).
What unit will I study?
One nationally recognised unit: BSBESB301 Investigate business opportunities. You also get free access to our Thrive wellbeing program.
How much does it cost, and what’s included?
$370. That covers the unit, your trainer, and free access to our Thrive wellbeing program, which sells on its own for $270. Afterpay and ZipPay are available. There’s nothing added at the end.
Can I start today?
Yes. This is a rolling-start course, so there are no intake dates and no waiting for a term to begin — you enrol and you start. Most students finish in about six weeks, but it’s self-paced, so you set the speed around whatever else you’re juggling.
Is one unit enough to be worth $370?
Depends what you want from it. BSBESB301 is about investigating business opportunities — working out whether the idea you’ve got is actually viable before you spend money on it. If it saves you from a bad start, it pays for itself many times over. And if it tells you the idea is worth pursuing, the unit credits toward the Certificate IV in Entrepreneurship, so you’ve already begun. If you know you want the full qualification, go straight to that instead — it’s fee-free right now for eligible NSW students.
Do I get a real trainer, or a chatbot?
A named trainer with business experience, even on a short course. You can phone them or book a one-to-one video session — worth having when the thing you want to ask about is your own idea. No helpdesk queue, and no AI marking your assessments.
Do I need a business already?
No — it’s perfect for people exploring an idea or just wanting commercial skills. No prior experience needed.
Does it count toward a full qualification?
Yes. The unit credits toward the Certificate IV in Entrepreneurship and New Business (BSB40320) and the Certificate III in Business (BSB30120). Because those qualifications are priced per unit, credit transfer means you pay less for the full course later. Worth knowing: the Certificate IV currently has fee-free places for eligible NSW students, released July and January, so if you’re eligible it may cost you less to go straight there. Ask us before you enrol here and we’ll tell you which way round makes sense.
What do I need to enrol?
A USI — a free Unique Student Identifier, get one here — and photo ID. No prior qualifications and no experience required. It’s delivered 100% online, so you can study from anywhere in Australia.
✓ NAME : START YOUR SIDE HUSTLE
✓ TYPE : PROGRAM
✓ DURATION : 6 Weeks
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