CourseFinder logo – Australia’s leading course comparison site

How to Become an Online Entrepreneur: Australian Careers in Entrepreneurship

1 Course

On this page

What is a Online Entrepreneur?

What will I do?

What skills do I need?

Resources

What is a Online Entrepreneur?

An online entrepreneur builds and runs a business using the internet as their main channel. They develop products or services, market them digitally, and manage all parts of their business.

Online entrepreneurs handle a broad range of tasks each day. They research markets, create content, run digital marketing campaigns, and analyse data. They also manage finances, deal with suppliers, and serve customers online.

Most online entrepreneurs work from home or a flexible workspace. They use tools like e-commerce sites, email software, and data dashboards. This career offers great freedom and lets people work from almost anywhere in Australia.

In Australia, 63.6% of business owners are self-employed, out of 2.6 million small businesses (ABS, 2025). Many of these are run by online entrepreneurs who have chosen to work for themselves. This career suits driven, self-motivated people who want to build something of their own.

Icon

Career snapshots For Online Entrepreneurs

Online entrepreneurs run their own digital businesses, most often as sole traders. Over 1.73 million Australians are self-employed, many of them running online ventures (ABS, 2025).

Average annual earnings are around $83,000 (recent Australian data, 2025). This ranges from $50,000 for those just starting out to $120,000 or more for established operators. Most online entrepreneurs work full-time or more, often over 40 hours a week while building their business.

In 2024-25, 437,150 new businesses started in Australia, a rise of 2.5% (ABS, 2025). This shows more Australians are choosing to work for themselves online. The outlook is strong as more people choose flexible, internet-based careers.

What will I do?

Online entrepreneurs combine business strategy with digital work to build and grow their ventures. Each day brings a mix of creative tasks, data review, customer contact, and financial management.

  • Market Research – Study trends, audience needs, and competitors to shape business strategy.
  • Content Creation – Write blog posts, social media updates, and email campaigns to attract and keep customers.
  • Website Management – Keep the business website fast, functional, and set up for search engines.
  • Digital Marketing – Run SEO, email, and paid ad campaigns to drive traffic and sales.
  • Customer Service – Respond to enquiries, handle complaints, and build long-term customer ties.
  • Financial Management – Track income and costs, manage budgets, and plan for tax.
  • Product Development – Test and improve products or services based on customer feedback.
  • Analytics Review – Check website and campaign data to find what works and what needs to change.
  • Networking – Connect with other entrepreneurs, suppliers, and potential collaborators to grow.
  • Continuous Learning – Stay up to date with digital tools, platform changes, and business trends.

What skills do I need?

Online entrepreneurship calls for a mix of business, digital, and people skills. You need strong digital marketing know-how, covering SEO, social media, email, and paid ads. You also need good money skills, as you will manage your own budgets and cash flow.

Resilience and the ability to adapt matter as much as technical skills. The digital market shifts fast, so you need to test new ideas, handle setbacks, and keep learning. Good people and networking skills help you build the ties that drive growth.

Skills/attributes

  • Digital marketing
  • Search engine optimisation (SEO)
  • Content creation
  • Financial management
  • Business planning
  • Time management
  • Adaptability
  • Problem-solving
  • Customer service
  • Data analysis
  • Networking
  • Self-motivation
  • E-commerce platform skills
  • Written communication
  • Resilience

CourseFinder makes every effort to ensure the information we provide is correct at the time of publication. We welcome your input to help keep our career profiles as accurate and up to date as possible. All queries and feedback will be taken into consideration as we conduct periodic reviews of our content. Add your voice to the conversation!

Related Careers

About the author

Laura Atkinson

Laura Atkinson

Laura Atkinson is an Account Management and SEM specialist at Course Finder Group with six years' experience in the Australian education sector. She works day to day with universities, TAFEs and independent training providers, which gives her a close view of how courses map to real career outcomes. She writes practical guidance on career pathways, choosing the right qualification and what to expect when moving into a new field.