You might be a good painter, but if you don't understand how to run a business you won't really make any money! It is essential for anybody planning to start and run a painting business. Most painters study and learn how to become professional painters, but not many ever get training in how to run a business.

The National Painting and Decorating Institute has developed a series of on-line modules to help you start a painting business professionally, and grow it! These modules is self-paced, meaning you can start whenever you want, and do as much or as little as you have time for. They are 100% on-line, which means there are absolutely no travel or accommodation costs. All you need is a lap-top or PC with a web-cam. Log-in when it suits you.

Topics covered during the courses are:

• Business Planning including SWOT analysis
• Business Structures and what will work best for you
• Quoting, Contracts and Tendering
• Taxation
• Legal Requirements and Risk of Small Business
• Calculating and Estimating off Plans
• Marketing and Sales including social media and web-site marketing
• Customer Service strategies
• How to find and retain great customers
• Calculating hourly rates
• How to recruit, train and manage staff effectively
• How to create and interpret financial reports, including forecasting
• Sustainability and Workplace Health and Safety Management
• Environmental Management Plans
• Lead Paint Standards and Management
• AS/NZ Standards for Painting and Surface Preparation

Modules:

Estimating, Tendering and Quoting Course

Financial Management and Budgeting

Marketing and Business Development Course

Resolving Business Disputes

Presenters:

The lessons are presented by some of Australia's leading painting contractors, lawyers, accountants, and business experts, including:

• Kochie from Seven's Sunrise
• Jim Baker (Author of Not Just a Painter, and multi-award winning painting contractor)
• Daniel Wurm (Creator of Award-winning GreenPainters Program, and trainer at National Painting and Decorating Institute)
• WorkCover NSW
• Queensland Building and Construction Commission
• Fair Work Australia
• Australian Taxation Office
• The Tradie Web Guys
• Peta Cherry (professional estimating trainer from the Painters Institute)
• Nigel Gorman (trainer, Aussie Painters Network)

There are over 300 high quality multi-media lessons that will guide you through the process of building your business professionally. Students have access to one-on-one mentoring from a professional trainer to provide personalised feedback.

Included in the course are dozens of professional documents including WHS Management Plans, Environmental Management Plans, HR Policies and Procedures, Contract Templates, and free spreadsheets and software for financial forecasting, which are yours to download and keep.

Duration:

Self-paced means you can go as fast or as slow as you want. Each subject will take between 4 - 10 hours.

Allow 2 hours per week over 10 months on average to complete all modules.

$1190 for entire course. Payment plans are available.

Eligible ACT residents are eligible for funding for training rebates of up to 70% of training costs through the ACT Building and Construction Industry Training Fund. Submit applications for funding through the website www.trainingfund.com.au.

You will need a lap-top or PC fitted with a web-cam. Use Google Chrome as your browser