Free online course
Free business course by Owen Rask
Owen Rask’s free business course is designed for soon-to-be founders, small and large business owners, managers, tradies, disgruntled employees, side hustlers, contractors, freelancers and everyone in between.
Updated 2026
Free business course by Owen Rask overview
Owen Rask’s free business course is designed for soon-to-be founders, small and large business owners, managers, tradies, disgruntled employees, side hustlers, contractors, freelancers and everyone in between.
Owen Rask’s free business course
After just 6 months of being live, around 2,500 students enrolled take our free business course. Hundreds of students haven’t even started their side hustles, others are growing internationally, and some just want to do ‘it’ better.
Starting your business? Ask yourself:
Have you ever wanted to be your own boss?
Do you have a business idea but don’t know where to start?
Are you thinking of hiring someone but don’t know which tax documents you need to fill in?
Should you offshore or employ in-house?
What’s a shareholders agreement, can I get one for free and what needs to be in it?
Wouldn’t it be great if I could take a free course on starting a business, that covers all areas
Is there a kind and supportive business community where I can ask questions?
By completing Rask’s free business course, you will learn everything that I — Owen here, Founder of Rask — wish I had known before I started my own business, plus a whole lot more.
In this course, we’ll cover:
How to know if a business idea will actually be a good business
The steps required to plan your business – long before you quit your job
How to legally set up your business in Australia (including legitimate and free hacks, shortcuts and templates)
The essentials, like how to get an ABN, business name and protect yourself (e.g. how to decide on a company structure, sole trader, trust, shareholder agreements, knowing the laws that apply, etc.)
Websites & marketing like a pro: the best marketing platforms and tools for your business, how much you will need to pay to get a fly website (if you need one) and getting a brand created from scratch
The basics (but essentials) of accounting, employing people (HR, payroll, paying Super & tax, GST, etc.) and how to find the right tools and people the first time around
How to finance a business (even if you don’t have a lot of cash in the bank)
The 5 ways I think your business will definitely die (do these five things and you may as well say bye-bye right now)
My top 5 business apps and how to use them (many are free and they’ll save you thousands in expert fees)
The difference between technical skills, soft skills, effective management and leadership
Why psychology and integrity are more important than your business plan
The Rask Business Course comes with the best downloadable templates and easy-to-use Excel spreadsheets you’ve ever seen. All free!
Finally, the Rask free business course goes perfectly with the number-one podcast on business, Rask’s Australian Business Podcast, hosted by Zara McGuffie and Jordan Kidis. The initial business podcast episodes align with the free course, providing real-life worked examples and steps to follow.
Please subscribe and review the Australian Business Podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. It’ll help more people find the course and podcast when they need it most.
Level & Prerequisites
This is a beginner-intermediate business course.
We cover the basics of business and briefly more advanced material from each of the essential knowledge areas that will help you start a business in Australia. Rask is also committed to offering more courses and material, so if you get stuck or want to learn more you can take another online course or reach out to our team.
Free business course outcomes
At the end of this course — which you may be able to complete in less than a few days — you will be able to:
Know if starting a business is right for you
Feel confident in your business idea
Design the best marketing strategy for success
Speak with authority to potential investors, bankers, accountants, customers, clients and professionals
Give it a red hot crack 🌶
Become part of the Rask community of business starters
The reason I created this business course is simple
I wish I had something like this when I was starting my first business (Rask). Knowing what I know now, I would have paid thousands of dollars for this type of resource and education. But we wanted to make it accessible for everyone, including people like myself many years ago, and help you grow your business idea into a successful business. Let’s do this!
01Taking Rask to $1 million of revenue | My journey1 lesson · Self-paced
As of mid-late 2022, Rask is a pretty well-known brand around Australia, especially among investors or financial professionals. We have around 17,000 students, 4,000 paying members and hundreds of thousands of listeners, viewers or readers.
- Taking Rask to $1 million of revenue | My journeyLesson
02Small business: big ideas & cold realities1 lesson · Self-paced
Before we get to your business, I want to focus on its most important asset: you. Why on earth are you about to go into business for yourself? Are you crazy!? I’m convinced all of us must be a little bit crazy, naive or something else to think ‘going it alone’ is a great idea.
- Small business: big ideas & cold realitiesLesson
03Business plans & knowing your customer1 lesson · Self-paced
Please note: I don’t expect you to have finished your Business Plan by the end of this lesson. Far from it. This lesson just introduces you to the topic of business plans. Ideally, you will start it ASAP but you won’t finish your business plan until after you have completed the…
- Business plans & knowing your customerLesson
04Marketing: choosing the channels that work1 lesson · Self-paced
I find that many founders often neglect marketing and instead spend 99% of their time and focus on building a product or service. While this ‘all or nothing’ focus on product may work in some extreme examples, the reality is every company needs to conduct some type of marketing.
- Marketing: choosing the channels that workLesson
05Small business experts you need on your side1 lesson · Self-paced
They say it takes a village to raise a child. I’d say it takes a few villages to grow a successful business… but the rewards could be even better. To help us navigate this maze of complicated documents and rules, there are specialists we can call on.
- Small business experts you need on your sideLesson
06Raising funds to start or grow your business1 lesson · Self-paced
It may come as a surprise but there are many ways to start or grow a business. You might not have to use your own money — but just be prepared that every dollar comes with strings attached.
- Raising funds to start or grow your businessLesson
07Business structures: sole trader, ABN v ACN, companies, trusts & more1 lesson · Self-paced
In Australia, by far the most popular option for small businesses is “sole trader”. However, there are many different options depending on your: Current & future size – revenue/sales, number of employees and market presence (e.g. do you want to expand to Melbourne, Sydney or…
- Business structures: sole trader, ABN v ACN, companies, trusts & moreLesson
08Accounting 101 | A crash course on making big profits1 lesson · Self-paced
Even if you’re not a student of finance or an investor, running a small business means you must have some understanding of how accounting works. Think of accounting as the ‘language of business’. It’s your customers speak to you and how you speak to other stakeholders (e.g.
- Accounting 101 | A crash course on making big profitsLesson
09Tax, HR & Super: managing your growing team1 lesson · Self-paced
Managing your tax, HR & super is a key part of running a small business. I was extremely confused about the way HR and Superannuation is done. Not ‘what it is’ but ‘how to do it properly’. For example, how and when do I pay Super? Do I just deposit the money?
- Tax, HR & Super: managing your growing teamLesson
10My best apps & tools to supercharge your business1 lesson · Self-paced
If you simply want ‘the answers’ or admire what we’ve done and Rask and want to emulate it, you’re in luck. Below, I’ve included a profile and link to my favourite apps and tools. Please note: as I write this, we do not make anything for mentioning these products — but that may…
- My best apps & tools to supercharge your businessLesson
116 ways your business will definitely die1 lesson · Self-paced
Yes, it’s as scary as it sounds. Your business will definitely die if you do these 6 things. I guarantee it.
- 6 ways your business will definitely dieLesson
12When you should get paid1 lesson · Self-paced
Many small business owners will work months at a time, without a day off . Many of us do 10-12 hour days, sacrificing time with family and friends . Most of us will work for weeks, months or years — without taking a salary . All of us take our work home, whether we show it or…
- When you should get paidLesson
13Now what?1 lesson · Self-paced
Congrats! 👊 You made it to the end of the Rask Business Course. Here’s what I need you to do: Check off all the points in your Business Starters checklist (see below) If you’re seeking external investment into your business (everything from $5k to $500k) get in contact with me!
- Now what?Lesson
Enrol in Free business course by Owen Rask
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