What is a business plan?

A business plan is a document in which you write out the goals for your business, the steps you'll take to achieve those goals, and the timeframe in which you want to achieve them. You can use a business plan both as an aspirational document to motivate you to perform well in your business and as a tool to attract investors to your business venture. Your business plan may also include strategies for the marketing and promotion of your business. If you consult your business plan regularly, you'll be able to find incentives and encouragement to help you reach the goals you set.

Why is it important to learn to write a business plan?

When you write a business plan, it can serve as a blueprint for developing and growing your business. Your business plan serves as a means of accountability to yourself for the business you seek to start. The goals you set in your business plan, along with the steps and timeframe you map out for reaching those goals, will be your prime motivator for success. When you've written your business plan well, it can help you reach your goals more effectively and efficiently. You can also use your business plan as a way to attract investors. Lenders are more likely to fund your business if you're able to show them a workable plan.

How can online courses on Coursera help me learn how to write a business plan?

Online courses on Coursera can help you write an effective business plan by showing you both the fundamentals and practical applications of business plan development. The suite of online courses on Coursera can show you the basics of entrepreneurship, or you can study deeper topics like social media for startups, business for entrepreneurs in creative fields, and how to seek international financing for your business. Think of online courses on Coursera as a source of knowledge that can help you achieve success as a business owner.

What are the benefits of taking an online Business Plan course?

Online Business Plan courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your existing knowledge or learn new Business Plan skills. With a wide range of Business Plan classes, you can conveniently learn at your own pace to advance your Business Plan career skills.

What Business Plan courses are best for training and upskilling employees or the workforce?

When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Business Plan, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here .

Top Business Plan Courses - Learn Business Plan Online

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Explore the Business Plan Course Catalog

Rice University
Basic Data Descriptors, Statistical Distributions, and Application to Business Decisions
Skills you'll gain: Descriptive Statistics, Probability & Statistics, Probability Distribution, Business Analytics, Microsoft Excel, Data Analysis, Statistical Analysis, Box Plots, Sampling (Statistics), Correlation Analysis
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
2.6K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of California, Irvine
Finance for Non-Financial Professionals
Skills you'll gain: Cash Management, Financial Analysis, Financial Statements, Budgeting, Accounting, Cash Flow Forecasting, Business Valuation, Financial Accounting, Operating Budget, Finance, Financial Management, Balance Sheet, Corporate Finance
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
4.5K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of Pennsylvania
Business Analytics Capstone
Skills you'll gain: Data-Driven Decision-Making, Business Analytics, Business Intelligence, Analytics, Peer Review, Business Analysis, Performance Measurement, Marketing Analytics, Business Planning, Business Strategy, Strategic Thinking, Strategic Planning, Customer Analysis, Performance Metric, Advertising
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
765 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Coursera Project Network
Increase Engagement to your Instagram Business Profile
Skills you'll gain: Instagram, Social Media Content, Social Media, Social Media Management, Social Media Marketing, Social Media Strategy, Content Creation, Scheduling
4
Rating, 4 out of 5 stars
314 reviews
Beginner · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
EDHEC Business School
Advanced Portfolio Construction and Analysis with Python
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
506 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free
ESSEC Business School
L'innovation managériale en pratique
Skills you'll gain: Innovation, Business Transformation, Organizational Change, Organizational Strategy, Organizational Structure, Business Management, Change Management, Process Development, Leadership Studies, Business Strategies, Adaptability, Employee Engagement
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
475 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Duke University
Managing Big Data with MySQL
Skills you'll gain: Database Design, MySQL, Relational Databases, SQL, Data Modeling, Databases, Business Analytics, Big Data, Business Analysis, Data Analysis, Data Manipulation, Data Management
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
4.1K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Copenhagen Business School
FinTech and the Transformation in Financial Services
Skills you'll gain: FinTech, Payment Systems, Financial Services, International Finance, Mobile Banking, Digital Transformation, Blockchain, Financial Regulations, Financial Market, Banking, Emerging Technologies, Fundraising and Crowdsourcing
4.3
Rating, 4.3 out of 5 stars
1.2K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free
emlyon business school
Effectuation : l'entrepreneuriat pour tous
Skills you'll gain: Entrepreneurship, Dealing With Ambiguity, Strategic Thinking, Business, Stakeholder Management, Innovation, Risk Management, Decision Making, Adaptability
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
226 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Kennesaw State University
Cybersecurity: Developing a Program for Your Business
Skills you'll gain: Cyber Threat Intelligence, Security Management, Internet Of Things, Incident Response, Risk Management, Computer Security Incident Management, Cyber Security Policies, Cyber Security Strategy, Cyber Governance, Human Factors (Security), Business Risk Management, Cybersecurity, Threat Management, Security Awareness, Law, Regulation, and Compliance, Information Management, Mobile Security, Business Ethics, Performance Measurement, Network Security
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
2.7K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Google
The Path to Insights: Data Models and Pipelines
Skills you'll gain: Data Modeling, Database Design, Extract, Transform, Load, Data Warehousing, Databases, Performance Tuning, Data Pipelines, Database Systems, Data Integrity, Business Intelligence, Data Mart, Data Validation, Data Quality, SQL, Data Transformation, Performance Testing
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
630 reviews
Advanced · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Copenhagen Business School
Innovation Strategy: Developing Your Fintech strategy
Skills you'll gain: FinTech, Digital Transformation, Innovation, Financial Services, Business Transformation, Technology Strategies, Business Architecture, Banking, Business Strategy, Organizational Strategy, Information Technology, Strategic Partnership, Competitive Analysis
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
275 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

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In summary, here are 10 of our most popular business plan courses

Basic Data Descriptors, Statistical Distributions, and Application to Business Decisions: Rice University
Finance for Non-Financial Professionals: University of California, Irvine
Business Analytics Capstone: University of Pennsylvania
Increase Engagement to your Instagram Business Profile : Coursera Project Network
Advanced Portfolio Construction and Analysis with Python: EDHEC Business School
L'innovation managériale en pratique: ESSEC Business School
Managing Big Data with MySQL: Duke University
FinTech and the Transformation in Financial Services: Copenhagen Business School
Effectuation : l'entrepreneuriat pour tous: emlyon business school
Cybersecurity: Developing a Program for Your Business: Kennesaw State University

Business Plan Courses Online