Starting Your Own Business: What Actually Applies to You
Written by The Greatjob Team | 5 min read
Updated 25 October 2026
Whether you just want to work a few flexible hours a week or work full-time on something you are passionate about, this article will assist you in what it takes to start a small business. For many, you'd be starting a business as a "sole trader" — but what's actually required depends on what service you're offering. We've also provided a guide to how Greatjob will support you when you create a small business on Greatjob (Become a Provider).
Applies to everyone, whatever you offer
| What's required | Starting a new business yourself | With Greatjob |
|---|---|---|
| ABN (if your income qualifies as a business) | Apply via the Australian Business Register — free, about 15 minutes, if you meet the criteria | We link straight to the ABR during signup so you're not hunting for it |
| A way to accept card payments | Set up your own merchant account or payment gateway | Built in from day one — Stripe setup takes about five minutes, and your earnings usually reach your bank account the next day |
| Invoicing customers | Build your own template, track ABN/GST details, send manually | Automatic — a proper invoice generated for every completed job |
| Tracking income for tax time | Your own spreadsheet or bookkeeping software | Your full job and payment history sits in your dashboard automatically — a dedicated Reports section with a downloadable annual Tax Statement is on our roadmap |
| Finding customers | Website, business cards, word-of-mouth, paid ads — all on you | A dual approach: the marketplace itself brings you customers directly, and we also give you the tools to promote yourself: your own profile page and link, a QR code for flyers and business cards, and help creating your own marketing |
| Building trust and reputation | Chase Google reviews yourself | Ratings and reviews built into every completed job, plus a "Verified by Greatjob" tick on your profile once your email and mobile number are confirmed |
| Pricing, quotes and deposits | Work out your own pricing, write quotes, and chase deposits yourself | Charge by the hour, quote a fixed price, or both — and ask for a deposit, held securely by Stripe before the job. When you quote, you enter what you want to be paid and see exactly what the customer will pay |
| Managing bookings and schedule | Your own diary and back-and-forth messages | Job requests by text, and a red badge on your Dashboard showing what needs your attention. Message customers straight from a request, and share files such as photos or forms once a job is booked. Show your weekly availability, or choose to confirm times on each request — the customer gives a rough window and you propose the times. Pause for holidays any time. Google Calendar sync is coming soon |
Getting set up, step by step
Greatjob takes care of everything in the right-hand column for you. Getting set up is four steps, and we walk you through them in order:
- Create your profile. Your name, the service you offer, your rate and a few words about yourself. If you need an ABN, we link you straight to the Australian Business Register.
- Personalise your options. Once your profile is created, a setup page lists every choice in one place — hourly rate or fixed-price quotes, whether to ask for a deposit, your skill level, your page address and how you want to handle your availability — each with a short explanation so you can decide what suits you.
- Set up payments. Connect your bank account through Stripe in about five minutes, once, and you're ready to be paid.
- Share your page. Send your link or QR code to the people who already know you, and the marketplace brings you the rest.
Beyond that, a few things depend on what you offer.
Depends what you offer
| If you provide... | You'll also need | How it works on Greatjob |
|---|---|---|
| Trade or repair work involving electrical, plumbing or gas | A real trade licence — mandatory by law, no platform can substitute for it | We display what you declare on your profile. We don't and can't verify a licence ourselves — that's the licensing authority's job, not ours |
| Babysitting, or anything with unsupervised access to children | A Working With Children Check — a NSW legal requirement, not a Greatjob rule | Declared on your profile as provider-supplied information; we link to the Office of the Children's Guardian to get or verify one |
| Personal Training | Cert IV, but a current First Aid/CPR certificate is widely expected | Worth listing on your profile — it's the kind of detail that wins bookings, even though we don't require it |
| Dog Walking, or an ABN-registered business generally | No special certificate. And an ABN isn't automatically required just because money changes hands — whether your activity counts as a "business" for ABN purposes is the same ATO test regardless of what you offer (dog walking included), based on things like intent to profit, repetition and scale, not the service category itself | If it turns out you don't need one yet, that's fine — nothing else changes about how you sign up or get booked |
Everything in the table above is provider-declared, not Greatjob-verified. If you say you hold a trade licence or a WWCC, that's your word, shown on your profile — we don't check government registers ourselves. That's not a loophole, it's just honest about who's actually responsible for what: the law requires these things of you, personally, regardless of which platform you use to find work. (The "Verified by Greatjob" tick only means we've confirmed your email and mobile number.)
Your own website? You've already got one
One more thing people starting a business usually need is somewhere online that's just theirs. Your Greatjob profile effectively is that — a page with your name, your services, your reviews and your availability that customers can find and book from directly, without you having to build or host a website of your own.
Your page lives at greatjob.com.au/providers/yourname, and you can generate a QR code for it. Share the link anywhere your customers already are — WeChat groups, Facebook, your school community, a card on the noticeboard. It's your business, and your page goes wherever you do.
Offer more than one kind of service — say, dog walking and tutoring? You can run a separate profile for each, with its own page, rate and availability, and pause any of them when you need a break.
Quick answers
Do I need an ABN before I start?
Not necessarily — whether you need one depends on your circumstances, and that's a call the ATO makes, not Greatjob. If you're unsure, the ATO's own guide for new sole traders (linked during signup) explains exactly where the line sits.
Do I need to register a business name?
Only if you're trading under something other than your own legal name. Most sole traders on Greatjob simply use their own name, which needs no separate registration.
Do I need the right to work in Australia?
Yes. You must have the legal right to work in Australia to provide services, and most visitor visas don't allow it. Having an ABN doesn't change this. If you're unsure about your visa conditions, check with the Department of Home Affairs.
What happens if I don't have the licence or check my category needs?
You can't legally provide that specific service without it, regardless of Greatjob or any other platform. Get it first, then add it to your profile — it's not something we can wait on or work around for you.
How do I actually get paid?
Set up once via Stripe in your dashboard — takes about five minutes. From then on, once the customer pays, your earnings usually reach your bank account the next day, though occasionally it can take a little longer. No separate invoicing or chasing required.
Do I need to do anything special at tax time?
Greatjob keeps a full record of every job and payment for you, and a dedicated Reports feature with an annual Tax Statement is on our roadmap. Declaring your income and any deductions is between you and the ATO (or your own accountant) — that part isn't something Greatjob manages on your behalf.
Ready to start? See everything Greatjob handles for you →
This article is general information for people starting out on Greatjob and isn't legal, tax or financial advice — if anything here doesn't clearly apply to your situation, the ATO, NSW Fair Trading, or your own accountant are the right people to ask.
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