Small Business

What's it Like to Run a Small Business?

What Training Do You Need to Increase Your Chances of Success?


Small businesses are those that employ relatively small numbers of people (Definitions vary, but commonly less than 50 employees). The majority of small businesses employ the owner(s) and only 1-3 other people (often on a part time or casual basis).

Small businesses may be in any industry, for example:

• Farms
• Plant nurseries
• Retail shops
• Professional services (eg. doctors, lawyers, architects, accountants, web site developers)
• Small factories (eg. crash repair workshops, printers, building component prefabrication)
• Consultants
• Domestic services (eg. lawn mowing, cleaners)
• Tourism services (Tour company, tourism attraction)
• Hospitality (Small hotel, Restaurant, Bed & Breakfast accomadation) 

Opportunities exist for anyone to set up a small business; but being successful in your own business is not always as easy as you might think. Apart from anything else, you often need a certain personality, and a commitment to work long hours for little return for the first year or two when establishing a new small business.

Working for someone else in a small business is often different to being employed in a larger organisation. The smaller business will rarely have the same liquidity to buffer against bad times, or offer staff increased benefits. Smaller businesses may treat staff more like people, and less like numbers; but the opportunities for advancement may be fewer.

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ACS Distance Education Home Study College, offers over 400 online training courses and home study courses; including online business certificates, online computer courses, writing certificates, psychology courses, gardening, farming and science short courses and more. Internationally recognised by the International Accreditation and Recognition Council. An Alternative Education school, with offices in Australia and the UK, courses are self paced, flexible learning with a strong focus on practical learning for getting a job, starting a business or advancing a career.

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MEET SOME OF OUR TUTORS

Yvonne Newman B.A.(Hons) Chartered Accountant, MICB 20 years experience in business, consulting, accounting and bookkeeping. Yvonne now works part of her time for ACS, and the remainder operating her own bookkeeping and financial consulting practice.	Kate Gibson BSoc.Sc, PostGrad Dip Org Behaviour (HR) Kate has 10 years experience as a marketing manager and advisor. She has also worked in project management and education. Kate has traveled and worked in a variety of locations including: London, New Zealand, and Australia. Today, she works part time with ACS, and part time helping her husband in managing their family I.T. business	John L. Mason Dip.Hort.Sc., Sup'n Cert., FIOH, FPLA, MAIH, MACHPER, MASA John has extensive experience both as a public servant (8 years), and as a small business owner (over 30 years). He has held positions ranging from Director of Parks and Recreation (City of Essendon) to plant nursery owner, horticultural consultant, magazine editor and school principal. John is a well respected member of many professional associations, and author of over 40 books and of over two thousand magazine articles. Even today, John continues to write books for various publishers including Simon and Shuster, and Landlinks Press (CSIRO Publishing