Whatever type of business you have, working for yourself means you need a broad range of knowhow.

You can’t be an expert at everything, and will often need additional support services such as accountancy or legal help. Having a good understanding of these topics will help you make best use of your time with these specialists. That's where our small business workshops can help.

About our workshops

  • Our presenters are specialists in their field, who are (or have previously) run their own small business, so they are well-placed to provide useful and constructive advice and support.
  • Sessions are available at no or low cost, thanks to funding from the State Government of Western Australia.
  • We are constantly reviewing and changing the content to ensure they meet the needs of today’s rapidly changing small business environment.

We offer a range workshops across six key categories. If you are just beginning your small business journey we recommend beginning with our free Starting a Business workshop.

Workshop categories

To help you find the right workshops for you and your business, we’ve grouped them by topic.

Business skills

These are the fundamental skills to actually run your operation. Ranging from your first steps of writing a business plan, setting up your business and developing systems, through to employing staff, health and safety obligations, and succession planning.

Financial management

Financial management involves understanding how your business operates day to day, as well as at a strategic level. It’s about budgeting, cash flows, recordkeeping and so much more.

Interpersonal skills

Sound interpersonal skills are essential when dealing with customers, staff and suppliers. However, it’s also important to understand your own needs, including improving work/life balance or building resilience.

Sales and marketing

Successful selling requires a range of skills from developing sales strategies, building personal networks, managing online purchases or bookings, and marketing your goods or services.

Strategy and risk

All business includes an element of risk, having skills to develop strategic plans and to manage risk are essential.

Tendering and contracts

Many business opportunities, particularly with government or larger businesses, are only available through a tendering process. Our workshops will walk you through the basics of how to get started through to understanding contracts.

Foundation workshops

As you explore our workshop listings you’ll notice that some of our workshops are labelled as a foundation workshop. These are workshops which have been developed specifically for people who are new to running their own business.

Making a booking

All workshop bookings are made and managed online using Humanitix. You’ll find full details regarding dates and locations for each workshop our workshop schedule and each booking page.

Online workshops

Before your online workshop:

Everything you will need to know ahead of attending your workshop is available through the online event hub. To navigate to the hub:

  1. Open your order confirmation email from Humanitix and click “View Access Link”
  2. Click the “Access Online Event” link displayed on your digital ticket
  3. You should now see your online event hub 

If any handbooks, templates or guides are required they will be available for download under the “Files” tab.

Should your specific workshop require you to bring along additional resources, this will also be listed on the hub.

Our workshops are hosted on Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or GoTo Webinar. The platform for your workshop will be listed on the virtual event hub. If you aren’t familiar with the platform for your workshop, there will also be a link to a guide for first-time users.

Please check your computers suitability for online workshops, including sound quality, browser, internet bandwidth and speed.

Your meeting link will appear on the hub one hour before your workshop is due to start.

We encourage workshop attendees to turn on their camera and/or microphone to allow you to interact with presenters and other participants, but this is not mandatory.

You’ll receive an email reminder from us two days before your workshop, and another one hour before your workshop is due to commence.

To ensure you do not miss any of the workshop content, we recommend joining the online meeting ten minutes before the start time.

The day of your online workshop:

You will receive an email reminder from us one hour before your workshop is due to start.

Navigate to the online event hub and download any resources available under the “Files” tab. Your meeting link will now be visible about halfway down the page. Click the banner to join your workshop.

We encourage workshop attendees to turn on their camera and/or microphone to allow you to interact with presenters and other participants, but this is not mandatory.

To ensure you do not miss any of the workshop content, we recommend joining the online meeting ten minutes before the start time.

After your online workshop has ended:

A recording of your workshop will be uploaded to the online event hub within one business day of the live session ending.

If your facilitator provides presentation slides, these will now also be available under the “Files” tab. 

You will receive a final email (with a survey attached) notifying you once your recording is ready to view. Once uploaded, you will have access to this recording for seven days.

In-person workshops

Once you’ve placed your order, you should receive an order confirmation email from Humanitix with your ticket attached. 

Your order confirmation email will include directions to your workshop venue. Should your specific workshop require you to bring anything, this will also be listed in your confirmation email. 

The start time indicated on your ticket is when the workshop will commence. Please arrive ten minutes early to allow time for registration.

If your workshop includes a handbook, you can download it by clicking “View Ticket” and navigating to the attachments. You do not need to print your ticket or any resources.

You’ll receive an email reminder from us two days before your workshop, and another one hour before your workshop is due to commence.

In-person workshop dates are often in high demand. We kindly ask that if you can no longer attend, you cancel your ticket so your place can be taken by another member of the small business community. To cancel your ticket, click the “Manage Order” button on your confirmation email or by contact our team at workshops@smallbusiness.wa.gov.au.

Accessibility

We are committed to supporting all WA small business owners, including those with diverse needs. Our workshops are delivered in a variety of buildings, locations, and formats. For further information about accessing a particular workshop, please email workshops@smallbusiness.wa.gov.au or call the Workshops team on 133 140.

Frequently asked questions

Where is my workshop being hosted?

Our workshops are hosted in-person and online, so please check your ticket carefully to ensure you have booked the correct date, time and location.

For in-person workshops, your ticket will contain directions to the venue.

Our online workshops are hosted on Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or GoTo Webinar. The platform for your workshop will be listed on the virtual event hub.

Whether you are attending a workshop in-person or online, please ensure you sign in ten minutes prior to the start time.

Is there a limit on ticket purchases?

Attendees are limited to two tickets per booking. If you would like to make more than one booking, you will need to provide contact details for each attendee during the registration process.

For group bookings, please contact the Workshops team on 133 140 or email workshops@smallbusiness.wa.gov.au.

I can no longer attend my workshop – how do I cancel my booking?

Due to limited availability in our workshops, including free sessions, we kindly request that you cancel your booking if you are unable to attend. This ensures that another small business owner can benefit from the additional availability.

You can cancel your booking up to 24 hours before the workshop starts by clicking the manage order button on your order confirmation email. Please note, no refunds are available after this time.

Refunds are processed by our ticketing provider Humanitix to the ticket purchaser, using the original payment method only.

For cancellations within 24 hours of the workshop, please contact workshops@smallbusiness.wa.gov.au.

How is information regarding my workshop communicated to me?

You will be sent an email reminder two days before and one hour before the workshop starts.

Please note, we do not email meeting links or workshop resources to attendees directly – all of the information you need to join your workshop is attached to your ticket.

For in-person workshops, attendees need to click View Tickets to access workshop resources and venue directions.

For online workshops, attendees need to click View Tickets followed by Access Online Event to navigate to the virtual event hub.

Help! I didn’t receive a confirmation or reminder email with my booking information?

Do I need to bring anything to my workshop?

Please bring a pen and notepad to each session. For online workshops, we suggest opening notes or workbooks via a separate screen/device, or as printed hard copies, to ensure your view of the presentation is not affected.

Should your specific workshop require you to bring along additional resources, this will be communicated to you in the workshop description and in your confirmation/reminder emails.

You do not need to print your ticket. 

I will not be in Western Australia when my workshop is scheduled – can I still join?

Our workshops are specifically customised to the small business community in Western Australia. Unfortunately, this means they are not suitable to interstate or international audiences due to local regulatory references.

Please note our online workshops are region-locked and cannot be accessed internationally.

I wasn’t able to attend live – how do I access the workshop recording?

Please be advised that our in-person workshops are not recorded.

Recordings of our online workshops are available within one business day of the live session ending. Once uploaded, you will have access to the recording for seven days. You’ll receive an email from us (with a survey attached) once your recording is ready to view.

You can find your workshop recording on the virtual event hub. To navigate to the hub:

  1. Open your order confirmation email from Humanitix and click “View Access Link”
  2. Click “Access Online Event”

Can I have a tax invoice for my workshop ticket?

A PDF invoice will be attached to your order confirmation email from Humanitix.

Please note an invoice is not generated for free workshops.

If you have lost or deleted your order confirmation email, please contact workshops@smallbusiness.wa.gov.au.