LEARN IN LAKE MACQUARIE
Certificate IV in Entrepreneurship and New Business (BSB40320)
Starting a business is one thing. Running it well is another.
This is the course for the parts of business nobody teaches you about before you need them. Get a nationally recognised qualification (BSB40320) in a course designed especially for working business owners in the Lake Macquarie and Hunter regions.
LEARN IN LAKE MACQUARIE
- Thursdays from 08 October to 17 December 2026
- 9AM - 5PM
- Lake Macquarie
Enrolments close 29 September
Key course information
Dates
08 October to
17 December 2026
11 weeks
Classroom sessions
Thursdays, weekly (11 days)
over the course period
In-person in the Lake Macquarie area
Time commitment
15-20 hrs/week
In addition to sessions
Investment
$0 – $1,850
Eligibility-based
WHAT YOU’LL COME AWAY WITH
A nationally recognised qualification and the practical work to back it up.
Every unit you’ll learn is applied to your own business as you go, so by the end of the course you have actionable plans, not just the theory, along with a Certificate IV in Entrepreneurship and New Business on your CV and credentials.
01
A working business plan, not just a workbook
The course is built around developing a plan for your business as you go. By the end, you’ll have a robust, clear plan grounded in your business’ real numbers, not a generic template.
02
A handle on the money
Understand pricing, cash flow and basic financial planning for your business (the bits most owners avoid until something breaks). You’ll build a financial picture you can understand easily and use every day.
03
Marketing and finding new customers
Get to know how to find, attract and keep the right customers for your business using modern marketing techniques like social media, search engine marketing and more, in a way that makes sense for small business.
04
The structural stuff, sorted
Legal structure, compliance, insurance, basic operations and business systems that can make the difference between your business ‘just staying afloat’ or growing and thriving.
More about this qualification
This qualification reflects the role of individuals establishing or operating a business providing self-employment, as well as those establishing a new venture as part of a larger organisation.
These individuals use well developed skills and a broad knowledge base to solve a range of unpredictable problems, and analyse and evaluate information from a variety of sources. They may provide leadership and guidance to others and have responsibility for the output of others.
Who this is for
You’re either thinking of starting a business or have been running your own business for one to three years.
If you’re thinking of starting a business
You have an idea, maybe the start of a plan, and a list of things you’re not sure how to do. Pricing, structure, marketing, legals. You want to start properly, not work it out under pressure later.
If you’re already in business
You’re trading, you have customers and you can see where things can improve: cash flow, your time, marketing, new products. You want to step back and build a structure to take your business to the next level.
This is probably you if...
You want to learn how to run a sustainable business
You’re juggling marketing, finance, operations and your time
You need support developing your business plans
You’re based around Lake Macquarie/the Hunter region
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
10 Units of Competency covering everything to start and run a business.
Every unit is applied to your own business, not a theoretical case study. You complete the assessment by doing the work, not by studying for and doing an exam.
Units of Competency
Unit Code | Unit Title |
BSBCRT411 | Apply Critical Thinking to Work Practices |
BSBSTR501 | Establish Innovative Work Environments |
BSBESB404 | Market New Business Ventures |
BSBOPS304 | Deliver and Monitor a Service to Customers |
BSBTWK401 | Build and Maintain Business Relationships |
BSBESB402 | Establish Legal and Risk Management Requirements of New Business Ventures |
BSBESB406 | Establish Operational Strategies and Procedures for New Business Ventures |
BSBESB403 | Plan Finances for New Business Ventures |
BSBESB407 | Manage Finances for New Business Ventures |
BSBESB401 | Research and Develop Business Plans |
HOW IT WORKS
Practical course structure, designed for working business owners.
01 - Course schedule
Thursdays, from 08 September to 17 December 2026
Weekly sessions over 10 weeks with an extra week reserved for catching up on missed attendance or content (because life happens when you’re running a business).
02 - Course delivery
In-person sessions in the Lake Macquarie area
Face-to-face sessions with your trainer and cohort, along with online materials to work through between sessions.
03 - Your time
15 to 20 hours per week outside sessions
Reading, planning and applying the material to your own business. This is a practical course, so the time outside sessions is where most of the work gets done.
04 - Small groups
Deliberately-sized cohort
You’ll be in a group small enough to get real attention from your trainer but large enough to build a useful, local network of other business owners.
Funded through NSW Smart & Skilled and Workforce Australia, with subsidised training available for eligible applicants.
YOUR TRAINERS IN LAKE MACQUARIE
Meet Ben Price and Peter Hollingsworth, your qualified trainers who are also experienced business owners.
Ben started his first small business in 2005 and he’s worked across music production, live performance, hospitality and publishing.
He’s led businesses through significant operational change, worked with business owners across several countries on market expansion and he currently runs his own digital music production and publishing business alongside his work at The Business Centre.
Ben has been building, training and leading teams in the creative and hospitality sectors for two decades and he holds formal qualifications in business administration, marketing and training and assessment.
The advice you’ll get from Ben isn’t fluff or guesswork, it’s the practical knowledge of someone who’s still doing the work.
Pete has had a vast and varied career across retail, franchises and owning and operating several of his own small businesses. He’s even developed a national franchise chain from scratch.
He’s been delivering business start-up training and coaching at The Business Centre for over a decade across a range of government funded, community and commercial programs, and he’s coached countless local entrepreneurs through the early years of building their own operations.
Pete’s coaching methodology focuses on strong financial management and marketing principles that drive repeat business and referrals, drawing on a decade and a half of running training programs for adult learners at every level.
The advice you’ll get from Pete isn’t fluff or guesswork, it’s the practical knowledge of someone who’s still doing the work.
WHY THE BUSINESS CENTRE
40 years of backing small businesses across Lake Macquarie, Newcastle and the Hunter.
This Certificate IV in Entrepreneurship and New Business is purpose-built by the same advisors and trainers who work with small business owners like you every day.
Learn from someone who’s been where you are right now
Your trainer has owned and run their own business, so they understand your day-to-day reality
Informed by knowledge of our local small business landscape
40 years in Lake Macquarie, Newcastle and the Hunter means we make the course material relevant to local businesses
Build useful business connections that last beyond the course
Continue accessing our advisory services and events and build your network of local business owners
Easily understand your funding eligibility before you start studying
Our team will walk you through the eligibility check and confirm what you’ll pay before you commit
What it costs
$5,220
PROGRAM VALUE
Full cost of this qualification before subsidy
$0 – $1,850
WHAT YOU PAY
Dependent on eligibility
Most NSW residents that enrol in this course qualify for funding through NSW Smart & Skilled. The exact student fee depends on factors like prior qualifications and concession status, not on your income or size of your business.
We confirm exactly where you sit on the cost scale during a short enquiry call, before you commit to anything or start the course so there are no surprises about how much you’ll pay.
Enrolments close 29 September
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER YOU APPLY
Four easy steps to get you started.
1
FILL OUT A SIMPLE ENQUIRY FORM
In just two minutes, answer a few quick questions about you and your business; no payment is taken at this step.
2
A TEAM MEMBER CALLS YOU
Our Customer Journey Concierge will reach out via phone to check funding eligibility and confirm exactly what you’ll pay.
3
YOUR ENROLMENT IS CONFIRMED
Once eligibility is confirmed, there are just a few more details to collect to finish enrolment and, if needed, complete payment.
4
GET READY TO START ON 08 SEPTEMBER
Our team will share everything you need to get started including learning platform access, your trainer’s contact details and more.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The questions we get most often.
How much does the Certificate IV in Entrepreneurship and New Business cost?
The program value is $5,220, but most students pay between $0 and $1,850 thanks to NSW Smart & Skilled subsidised funding. The exact amount depends on your eligibility, which factors in things like prior qualifications and concession status rather than your income or business size. We confirm your exact fee on a short enquiry call before you commit to enrolling, so you’ll know how much you’re paying from the start.
How long does the course take to complete?
This course runs from 08 September to 17 December 2026, eleven weeks in total. The final week is reserved for catching up on any missed attendance or content, which gives you 10 weeks of training plus a built-in buffer if something unavoidable comes up during the course period.
How much time will I need each week to work on the course?
Around 15 to 20 hours per week outside of scheduled classroom days, depending on how deeply you want to apply the material to your own business. This is a practical course, so the time outside sessions is where most of the work gets done, including planning, reading and applying what you learn in the classroom to your business. Most students find the time investment scales with the amount they want to get out of it
What if I don't have a business yet?
This course is designed for people who are thinking of starting a business or already in a business, however early. The Units of Competency cover everything you need to know to confidently start and run a business, so it’s a great foundation if you’re in the planning stages of your business or growing an existing business.
Do I have to attend in-person?
This Certificate IV is a face-to-face course and a lot of what makes it work happens in the room like conversations between business owners, connections that can turn into referrals or partnerships and support networks that last long after the course ends. If you think you might miss a session, talk to your trainer as early as possible, we can usually work around it.
Is there an online option for this course?
Yes, we offer this same qualification as a self-paced online course, starting from September 2026. You work through the course materials in your own time, with a monthly drop-in session with your trainer for questions, accountability and support. It leads to the same nationally recognised qualification, but doesn’t include as many opportunities for one-on-one connection. Find out more about this option when our team reaches out via phone.
Is there an exam at the end of the course?
There is no exam as part of this course. Assessment is based on the actual work you’re doing throughout the course (including the business plan, financial planning, and operational decisions you develop) and your attendance. You’ll submit work as you go and your trainer provides feedback, so by the end of the course you’ve completed the assessment without additional tasks or exams.
What if I don't qualify for subsidised funding?
We’ll let you know on the enquiry call before you commit to anything and we’ll walk you through the other options we have available. There are usually pathways forward, including paid enrolment in the course, or other programs we run that fit different stages and budgets. The enquiry call is no-pressure, you can take the information and decide later.
Can I do this while running my business full-time?
Most of our students do exactly that. The course is designed for working business owners, with the in-person sessions held on Thursdays and the time commitment built around the reality of running a business. While you will have to dedicate about 15 to 20 hours per week in addition to classroom days, it’s spread across reading, planning and applying things directly to your business, so much of it overlaps with work you may be doing in your business already.
What is BSB40320?
BSB40320 is the official course code for the nationally recognised Certificate IV in Entrepreneurship and New Business, an Australian Qualifications Framework Level 4 qualification. It’s recognised across Australia and sits on the National Training Register and it supersedes the older BSB42618 and BSB42518 qualifications. Completing it gives you a formal credential that demonstrates your business management capabilities.