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

Explore the Business Plan Course Catalog

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Accounting Foundations Graduate Certificate
Skills you'll gain: Data Visualization, Data Storytelling, Management Accounting, Fund Accounting, Operations Management, Mergers & Acquisitions, Financial Statement Analysis, Marketing, Risk Management, Machine Learning Algorithms, Extract, Transform, Load, Business Strategy, Financial Auditing, Descriptive Statistics, Process Improvement, Marketing Analytics, Generative AI, Financial Market, Strategic Decision-Making, Corporate Tax
Credit offered
Graduate Certificate · 6 - 12 Months
IIT Roorkee
Executive MBA
Skills you'll gain: New Product Development, Mergers & Acquisitions, Capital Budgeting, Supply Chain, Integrated Marketing Communications, Business Marketing, Sales Process, FinTech, Innovation, Succession Planning, Management Accounting, Statistical Process Controls, Product Management, Marketing Management, Revenue Management, Sampling (Statistics), Production Schedule, Project Portfolio Management, Financial Statement Analysis, Strategic Marketing
Earn a degree
Degree · 1 - 4 Years
University of London
Bachelor of Science in Marketing
Skills you'll gain: Process Design, Global Marketing, Consumer Behaviour, Statistical Analysis, Organizational Change, Process Mapping, Customer Retention, Integrated Marketing Communications, Advertising, Innovation, Mergers & Acquisitions, Performance Measurement, Training and Development, Virtual Teams, Databases, International Finance, Research, Team Management, Economic Development, Cultural Diversity
Earn a degree
Degree · 1 - 4 Years
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Graduate Certificate in Digital Marketing
Skills you'll gain: Data Visualization, Data Storytelling, Management Accounting, Fund Accounting, Operations Management, Mergers & Acquisitions, Financial Statement Analysis, Marketing, Risk Management, Machine Learning Algorithms, Extract, Transform, Load, Business Strategy, Financial Auditing, Descriptive Statistics, Process Improvement, Marketing Analytics, Generative AI, Financial Market, Strategic Decision-Making, Corporate Tax
Credit offered
Graduate Certificate · 6 - 12 Months
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Entrepreneurship and Strategic Innovation Graduate Certificate
Skills you'll gain: Data Visualization, Data Storytelling, Management Accounting, Fund Accounting, Operations Management, Mergers & Acquisitions, Financial Statement Analysis, Marketing, Risk Management, Machine Learning Algorithms, Extract, Transform, Load, Business Strategy, Financial Auditing, Descriptive Statistics, Process Improvement, Marketing Analytics, Generative AI, Financial Market, Strategic Decision-Making, Corporate Tax
Credit offered
Graduate Certificate · 6 - 12 Months
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Magíster en Inversiones y Finanzas Aplicadas
Skills you'll gain: Descriptive Analytics, FinTech, Financial Statements, Business Analytics, Business Valuation, Derivatives, Financial Statement Analysis, Strategic Decision-Making, Portfolio Management, Customer Analysis, Risk Analysis, Corporate Finance, Credit Risk, Digital Transformation, Cloud Security, Governance, Financial Analysis, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Investments, Financial Data
Earn a degree
Degree · 1 - 4 Years
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Certificado en Finanzas Corporativas
Skills you'll gain: Financial Statements, Financial Statement Analysis, Accrual Accounting, Derivatives, Digital Transformation, Business Valuation, Financial Analysis, Financial Reporting, Balance Sheet, Accounting, Income Statement, Corporate Strategy, Value Propositions, Securities (Finance), Investment Management, Capital Budgeting, Return On Investment, Corporate Finance, Technology Strategies, Business Strategy
Credit offered
Mastertrack · 6 - 12 Months
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Master of Science in Accounting
Skills you'll gain: Data Visualization, Data Storytelling, Management Accounting, Fund Accounting, Operations Management, Mergers & Acquisitions, Financial Statement Analysis, Marketing, Risk Management, Machine Learning Algorithms, Extract, Transform, Load, Business Strategy, Financial Auditing, Descriptive Statistics, Process Improvement, Marketing Analytics, Generative AI, Financial Market, Strategic Decision-Making, Corporate Tax
Earn a degree
Degree · 1 - 4 Years
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Certificado en Gestión de Inversiones
Skills you'll gain: Financial Statements, Financial Statement Analysis, Portfolio Management, Accrual Accounting, Investments, Financial Analysis, Financial Reporting, Balance Sheet, Financial Market, Accounting, Income Statement, Finance, Financial Modeling, Capital Markets, Financial Data, Financial Trading, Behavioral Economics, Cash Flows, Asset Management, Risk Management
Credit offered
Mastertrack · 6 - 12 Months
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Certificado en Toma de Decisiones Basadas en Datos
Skills you'll gain: Descriptive Analytics, Business Analytics, Database Design, NoSQL, Statistical Reporting, SQL, Data Ethics, Digital Transformation, Query Languages, Data Mining, Databases, Data Analysis, R Programming, Big Data, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Predictive Analytics, Organizational Structure, Business Transformation, Organizational Strategy, Value Propositions
Credit offered
Mastertrack · 6 - 12 Months
Georgetown University
Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies
Skills you'll gain: Vulnerability Assessments, Operations Management, Data Storytelling, Business Strategy, Competitive Intelligence, Design Thinking, Survey Creation, Cyber Threat Intelligence, Social Justice, Descriptive Statistics, Environment, Business Ethics, Capital Budgeting, Market Opportunities, Storytelling, Marketing Planning, Leadership Studies, International Relations, Artificial Intelligence, Policy Development
Earn a degree
Degree · 1 - 4 Years
HEC Paris
Trust Based Leadership University Certificate
Skills you'll gain:
University Certificate · 6 - 12 Months