"This program, which was funded by the Penrith Business Alliance, was very beneficial to the participants," Penrith Business Advisory Centre chief executive officer John Todd said.

The course has been running for the past four weeks, and the business owners received their certificates on Tuesday from deputy mayor and business owner Jim Aitken and PBA chairman Paul Brennan.

"The feedback showed the participants learned not only how to operate their business but how to expand as well," Mr Todd said.

"They're just raving about it."

More advanced than courses normally offered at the centre, the program was designed to encourage growth.

In six months' time, the participants will be surveyed to see how the course has improved their businesses.

The course was led by Wayne Moloney, a founding partner of the Inform Consulting Group.

Production Automotive managing director Melinda Leyshon said she "valued the experience and the opportunity".

"It has refocussed me," Mrs Leyshon said.

"You can get too involved in the day-to-day running of the business."

It has also allowed for reflection: the office is now covered in butchers' paper with bullet points on various elements of the business, the "action items" marked in red with dates beside them.

Stefan Dorakay is the franchisee of the Coffee Guru at Southlands.

"I wanted to better myself as a business person," he said of the course.

He said he had learned the importance of a business plan, key performance indicators and branding.

Another tip he picked up was having suppliers on a 30-day account, rather than seven.

The Penrith City Star is the media partner with the BAC.