Is this business?

SubjectBusiness YearSenior secondary Curriculum Time50

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Introduction

In this activity, students learn what it means to be in business.

Australian Curriculum or Syllabus

This activity provides an overview of what it means to be in business with a focus on the difference between a business and a hobby and an employee and a contractor.

See also:

Teacher resources

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Video

Are you in business?

 
Information

Avoid the myths

 
Video

ABN entitlement

Student learning resources

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Worksheet

Employee or contractor?

Suggested activity sequence

This sequence is intended as a framework to be modified and adapted by teachers to suit the needs of a class group.

Part A: Business or hobby?

  1. Explain to students that they will be exploring the steps involved in establishing a business. The first question to answer is ‘Are you in business?’
  2. Play: Are you in business?. This video explains the difference between a hobby and a business.
  3. Discuss the following questions and record responses on the board.
    • What are the factors that determine people are running a business?
    • What are some of the obligations of running a business?

Part B: Employee or contractor?

  1. Explain to students that another important step before you begin a business is making sure you are a contractor and not an employee. Explain the meaning of sham contracting.

    A sham contracting arrangement is when an employer attempts to disguise an employment relationship as a contracting arrangement. This may be done to avoid certain taxes and responsibility for employee entitlements such as minimum wages, superannuation, workers' compensation and leave.

  2. More information: Avoid the myths. This page explains the myths associated with contractors.
  3. Invite students to complete the See-think-wonder visible thinking routine.
  4. Explain that some bosses try to avoid paying tax by treating you as a contractor and may ask you to apply for an ABN. It's against the law for a business to incorrectly treat their employees as contractors.
  5. Play: ABN entitlement. This video is about ABNs entitlement.
  6. Students complete the worksheet.
  7. Use a discussion strategy for students to discuss the following:

    What are the potential consequences of sham contracting for businesses, individuals and society in general?

  8. When student discussions have ended, give students 5 minutes to write their response to the previous question.