How to Start an Online Course in Australia? A Complete Guide

Step 8: Build your website and sales funnel

Create a simple, professional website that clearly explains who you are, what your course offers, and why it’s valuable. 

• Include strong calls-to-action that guide visitors to sign up or join your waitlist. 
• Connect your site to an email marketing tool to capture leads automatically and use a free resource or mini-course as a lead magnet. 
• Then, build a straightforward sales funnel that nurtures those leads through helpful emails and directs them to enrol in your course.

Step 9: Launch your course and start marketing

Begin with a pre-launch phase to build anticipation and attract early interest in your course. 

• Use social media, email campaigns, and webinars to showcase your expertise and engage potential students. 
• Offer limited-time discounts or bonuses to encourage early sign-ups. 
• Once live, monitor enrolments, feedback, and performance metrics closely to refine your messaging and campaigns for future launches.

What regulations and licences apply to online courses in Australia

• If your online course is part of the vocational education and training (VET) sector (i.e., provides nationally recognised qualifications, certificates, or statements of attainment), then the regulator Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) applies. ASQA oversees compliance of VET providers under the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011 (NVETR Act) and the associated standards such as the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2025 which came into effect 1 July 2025.
• The VET Quality Framework and the Standards for VET Accredited Courses (2021) apply when courses are accredited by state/territory authorities and/or ASQA.
• For courses covering regulated professions (law, medicine, psychology, fitness training, real-estate training etc), you must check with the relevant professional body or licensing regulator whether your training attracts additional licensing, accreditation or membership obligations.

Even if your course is not a nationally recognised VET qualification, you still must be aware of the broader legal/regulatory environment (e.g., consumer laws, privacy laws, industry-specific regulation) to avoid risk.

What consumer protection laws must I comply with in Australia?

When you create and sell online courses in Australia, you should ensure your business complies with key consumer protection and related laws:

• Australian Consumer Law (ACL): You must not mislead consumers and you cannot exclude consumer guarantees (e.g., blanket “no refunds” for faulty or misdescribed digital courses). Ensure your T&Cs and refund wording reflect ACL rights.
• Spam Act 2003: Only send marketing emails/SMS with express or inferred consent and include a functional unsubscribe in every commercial message. You must be able to prove consent.
• Privacy Act 1988: Check whether the Privacy Act applies to you. Most small businesses with annual turnover of $3 million or less are still exempt from the Act (unless an exception applies, e.g. health services, trading in personal information, etc.). Reforms are in progress, but as at November 2025 this exemption remains in place. If the Act applies (or if you opt in), you must comply with the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs).
• National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011: For VET providers the NVETR Act sets out registration and accreditation requirements via ASQA.
• Industry-specific laws: If your course delivers training in a regulated field (for example, fitness instructor certification, real-estate licensing, medical training) then additional licensing or professional-body regulation may apply.
• Tax and invoicing: Stay on top of tax and invoicing: apply for an ABN, register for GST once turnover hits $75,000, issue compliant invoices, and track everything through an accounting software
• Employment and contractor agreements: If you hire staff or contractors, make sure you follow the Fair Work Act 2009, classify people correctly, pay superannuation where required, and use written agreements that define roles, confidentiality, and ownership of work. The Superannuation Guarantee rate is 12% from 1 July 2025; apply 12% to eligible employees (and some labour-only contractors).
• As a course seller you must provide accurate information, deliver what is advertised, clearly state refund/withdrawal policies (especially under the ACL) and protect student data/privacy.

Copyright and intellectual property (IP)

Are online courses considered intellectual property?

Yes, in most cases an online course (which might include videos, written materials, slides, quizzes) will fall under copyright as a “literary or artistic work”. As the creator you hold the rights to reproduce, distribute, display and create derivative works from that content by default.

Who owns an online course?

If you are the author/creator, you will generally own the copyright, unless the content was created under an employment agreement or contractor arrangement (in which case the employer or contracting entity may own the copyright). Also if you use a third-party platform with terms that assign rights to the platform, you must check their Terms & Conditions.

How can I protect my online course content and prevent piracy?

Some best-practice strategies:

• Include a clear copyright notice and licensing terms for your students.
• Provide clear Terms & Conditions and/or a User Licence Agreement that specify how users may access and use your content (for example: non-transferable, no sharing, personal use only).
• Use watermarks on videos/slides to deter unauthorised copying or sharing.
• Host your content on a secure platform that offers features such as password protection, encryption or Digital Rights Management (DRM).
• Use Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDA) with contractors or employees who build or access your content behind the scenes.
• Restrict access to enrolled students only, monitor for breaches, and enforce the licensing terms if necessary.
• Include disclaimers that clarify the scope of your course, any limitations or third-party materials, and make sure you have the rights/permissions for any third-party content you include.

What are the costs required to start an online course business in Australia? 

The cost to start an online course business in Australia typically ranges from $2,000 to $5,000 for a small, self-managed launch, covering setup, basic equipment, and platform fees. If you invest in professional video production, advanced marketing tools, or outsourced support, expect to spend up to $8,000–$10,000 to launch a more polished, scalable program.

Here’s a quick breakdown of where that money goes:

1. Business registration and compliance: Around $500–$1,000 for ABN, ASIC registration, and essential insurance.
2. Equipment and content creation: $800–$2,000 for a camera, microphone, lighting, and editing tools.
3. Platform and hosting: $50–$250 per month for Teachable, Thinkific, or Kajabi, or $300–$700 per year for a self-hosted LMS.
4. Branding and website: $500–$1,500 for a simple website, domain, and design.
5. Marketing and ads: $300–$1,000 to promote your course through paid ads and email tools.
6. Accounting and admin: $100–$200 per month for bookkeeping, tax, and compliance. 

How Sleek can help you launch your online course business in Australia

Starting an online course business isn’t just about sharing your expertise, it’s about building a compliant, scalable foundation that sets you up for success. That’s where Sleek steps in to handle the admin, finance, and compliance side of things, so you can focus on creating and teaching.

You’ll get:

Fast, stress-free setup: We take care of your ABN, company registration, GST, and business name, so you can start enrolling students sooner.

Ongoing bookkeeping and accounting: Stay on top of your income, expenses with streamlined bookkeeping, BAS, and tax lodgements done for you.

Expert tax guidance: Maximise your deductions on expenses like filming equipment, editing software, and digital tools, while staying 100% ATO-compliant.

Transparent pricing: No surprises, no hidden extras, just everything you need to run your course business with confidence.

Whether you’re launching your first course or building a full-scale online academy, Sleek makes setup, compliance, and accounting effortless, so you can focus on delivering value to your students, not juggling paperwork.