Small Business Owner/Manager

Note: Completion of a TAFE SA course does not guarantee an employment outcome. Formal requirements other than educational qualifications (eg licensing, professional registration), may apply to some occupations.

Job Prospects
Employment growth for Small Business Owner/Managers to 2025 is expected to be moderate. Employment in this very large occupation will remain relatively steady in the long-term (ten years).
Salary
Median weekly earnings: Varies greatly
Source
https://joboutlook.gov.au/
Brief
Do you want to be your own boss? Do you have a business idea that you would like to develop? Owning your own business provides an environment that can be both personally satisfying, and if managed well, also financially rewarding. To ensure your success, and to give yourself and your business a head start on the competition, you need to take action and develop your management skills across the areas of marketing, finance, legal aspects, managing operations, managing people as well as managing yourself.
  • The small business sector is the largest employer in Australia. Approximately 96 % of all Australian businesses are classified as small businesses. These small businesses also employ more than 46% of the nation’s workforce. These figures clearly show why the small business sector is vital to the Australian economy.

    Small business owner/managers may manage an entire business. Exact duties vary depending on the size of the business and the nature of the industry. However, small business owner/managers typically plan, direct, and oversee operations and employees. Small business managers may be self employed or may work for others. The Small Business Management training at TAFE SA is designed to equip intending and existing business owners or managers with the appropriate skills to run a viable and successful small business.

    Figures and Computational

  • TAFE SA offers a Certificate III and IV in Entrepreneurship and New Business and various other Business & Management courses and short courses.

  • • Intending Owner/Manager

    If you have just started, or are about to start, in your first small business this path will guide you through those first confusing, challenging days and months. It takes you through the basic knowledge needed to be a small business manager/owner and how to deal with the problems that can occur.

    • Experienced Owner/Manager

    Those who have several years experience in a small business, would have practical experience dealing with some of the many challenges and may now be ready to grow the business and/or further develop their skills.

  • The responsibilities of Small Business owner/managers are likely to include:

    • Management of staff
    • Planning for profit, cash flow and the financial structure of the business
    • Complying with business legal and administrative requirements.
    • Administering financial accounts
    • Implementing effective marketing strategies
    • Promoting products and services
    • Pricing of products and services
    • Research and development of business plans
    • Monitoring, management and review of operational procedures

  • A large number of Australian small businesses are home based businesses. The physical working environment can vary considerably depending on the nature of the business.

  • Small businesses may vary. For example, the business could be in the service, retail or manufacturing sectors. These may include trades such as plumbers and electricians, retail shops of various types, consulting services or small manufacturers.

    At present there is a strong push to increase the number of small businesses in Australia that export.

    The importance of the small business sector to the Australian economy is recognised by researchers, government and policy makers as well as the business community as a whole. It is acknowledged that the characteristics and business drivers of small business are potentially very different to those of larger businesses and as such require specific, targeted policy initiatives. Central to the development of effective policy initiatives is a sound understanding of the nature and characteristics of this sector of the business economy.