Business plan courses can help you learn market analysis, financial forecasting, operational planning, and effective pitching techniques. You can build skills in identifying target audiences, crafting value propositions, and developing marketing strategies. Many courses introduce tools like SWOT analysis, business model canvases, and financial modeling software, which can enhance your ability to create comprehensive and persuasive business plans.

Michigan State University
Skills you'll gain: Financial Statements, Intellectual Property, Value Propositions, Financial Statement Analysis, Business Planning, Design Thinking, Ideation, Innovation, Income Statement, Entrepreneurship, Self-Starter, Customer Acquisition Management, Business Modeling, Product Development, Balance Sheet, Market Opportunities, New Product Development, Verification And Validation, Milestones (Project Management), Leadership
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

University of Maryland, College Park
Skills you'll gain: Customer Analysis, Value Propositions, Closing (Sales), Entrepreneurial Finance, Entrepreneurship, Business Planning, Sales Strategy, Ideation, Sales Pipelines, Innovation, Customer Insights, Risk Management, Risk Analysis, Proposal Development, New Product Development, Business Modeling, Strategic Thinking, Market Analysis, Fundraising and Crowdsourcing, Finance
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

Harvard Business Review
Skills you'll gain: Business Planning, Operating Budget, Budget Management, Business Strategy, Resource Allocation, Business Strategies, Budgeting, Resource Management, Marketing Operations, Project Planning, Organizational Strategy, Marketing Strategies, Capital Budgeting, Variance Analysis, Organizational Development, Competitive Analysis, Financial Planning, Goal Setting, Finance
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

University of Virginia
Skills you'll gain: Growth Strategies, Business Strategy, Strategic Thinking, Plan Execution, Strategic Planning, Mergers & Acquisitions, Competitive Analysis, Organizational Strategy, Business Ethics, Peer Review, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Business Planning, Corporate Strategy, Strategic Leadership, Strategic Decision-Making, Governance, Stakeholder Management, New Business Development, Business Research, Analysis
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

University of Pennsylvania
Skills you'll gain: Financial Statements, Operations Management, Customer Analysis, Operations, Operational Efficiency, Financial Statement Analysis, Operational Excellence, Return On Investment, Accrual Accounting, Human Capital, Process Improvement and Optimization, Process Analysis, Branding, Marketing, People Management, Capital Budgeting, Finance, Peer Review, Project Design, Corporate Finance
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

University of Washington
Skills you'll gain: Oral Expression, Negotiation, Proposal Writing, Presentations, Events and Conferences, Verbal Communication Skills, Persuasive Communication, Event Planning, Sales Presentations, Event Management, Proposal Development, Peer Review, Business Communication, Communication, Business Writing, Public Speaking, Business Planning, Business Correspondence, Professional Networking, English Language
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

University of Virginia
Skills you'll gain: Financial Statements, Financial Accounting, Balance Sheet, Financial Reporting, Financial Statement Analysis, Design Thinking, Accounting, Innovation, Journey Mapping, Process Design, Entrepreneurship, Philanthropy, Courage, Leadership Development, Corporate Sustainability, Stakeholder Engagement, Professional Development, Business Ethics, Finance, HR Tech
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

Microsoft
Skills you'll gain: Excel Formulas, Process Flow Diagrams, Microsoft Power Platform, Business Process Modeling, User Story, Business Requirements, Stakeholder Management, Data Modeling, Process Modeling, Microsoft Excel, Software Development Life Cycle, Requirements Analysis, Requirements Elicitation, Quality Management, Diagram Design, Power BI, Microsoft Visio, Stakeholder Engagement, Business Analysis, Data Analysis
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months

Skills you'll gain: Process Analysis, Process Modeling, Business Process, Business Analysis, Process Mapping, Process Management, Process Flow Diagrams, Business Process Modeling, Business Modeling, Stakeholder Management, Stakeholder Analysis, Computer Literacy
Beginner · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
University of Pennsylvania
Skills you'll gain: Risk Modeling, Risk Management, Cash Flow Forecasting, Business Modeling, Mathematical Modeling, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Statistical Modeling, Portfolio Management, Forecasting, Regression Analysis, Financial Modeling, Risk Analysis, Data Modeling, Business Analytics, Data Presentation, Quantitative Research, Presentations, Spreadsheet Software, Predictive Modeling, Microsoft Excel
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Skills you'll gain: Quality Management, Project Closure, Scope Management, Team Management, Project Management Life Cycle, Product Quality (QA/QC), Sprint Retrospectives, Project Management, Project Planning, Agile Project Management, Quality Assessment, Quality Assurance, Backlogs, Team Leadership, Project Scoping, Agile Software Development, Stakeholder Communications, Change Management, Web Presence, Interviewing Skills
Build toward a degree
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months

Johns Hopkins University
Skills you'll gain: Risk Modeling, Operations Research, Regression Analysis, Excel Formulas, Microsoft Excel, Business Analytics, Risk Analysis, Business Risk Management, Business Modeling, Financial Modeling, Resource Allocation, Statistical Analysis, Decision Intelligence, Mathematical Modeling, Process Optimization, Financial Analysis, Statistical Methods, Spreadsheet Software, Predictive Analytics, Transportation Operations
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Careers related to business planning are diverse and can be found in various sectors. Some potential job titles include Business Analyst, Project Manager, Business Development Manager, and Entrepreneur. These roles often involve creating and implementing business strategies, analyzing market trends, and ensuring that business objectives are met. Additionally, positions in consulting firms or startups may require strong business planning skills to help organizations grow and adapt.
Some of the best online courses for learning about business planning include Planning: Principled, Proposing, Proofing, and Practicing to a Success Plan and Action-Driven Business Plan: From the ‘Classroom' to the World. These courses provide practical insights and frameworks that can help you create effective business plans.
Typical topics covered in business plan courses include market analysis, competitive analysis, financial projections, marketing strategies, and operational planning. Courses may also address how to present a business plan effectively and the importance of adapting the plan as the business evolves. Understanding these topics can provide a comprehensive foundation for creating a successful business plan.
For training and upskilling employees in business planning, courses like IBM Business Analyst Professional Certificate and Google Business Intelligence Professional Certificate can be particularly beneficial. These programs equip learners with essential skills in data analysis and strategic planning, which are crucial for effective business decision-making.