25 Best Online Business Courses
In this world that changes at such a rapid pace, you need to keep improving in order to stay competitive.
If you work for a company, making yourself indispensable means that when push comes to shove, your employer will not want to let you go.
If you run your own business or work freelance, expanding your skillset also translates into more potential clients or customers.
So if you’ve got some free time at home, what better way to spend it than learning new business skills?
What Is an Online Course?
An online course is a course of study that you take on the internet, usually through video lessons and readings.
They typically come in 2 forms:
- Some online courses offer credit for students enrolled in college or university.
- Others offer professional training or certification, without college credits.
Online platforms for learning have become more popular in recent years, estimated at $190 billion in 2018, with a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7% from 2019 to 2025.
Are Online Business Courses Worth It?
Business skills are some of the best things to learn online because you get access to the best universities while staying in the comfort of your home.
One challenge to taking online courses is that you need to have the personal drive to see through your commitment to the course.
Studies show that the average completion rate for Massive Open Online Courses can reach as low as 15%.
Therefore, taking an online business course will be worth it as long as you discipline yourself to see it through, and then apply what you learn in your workplace or business.
The key to remember is that you are taking the courses not only for the certificate, if any, but for important skills you can take away and use for improving your business or job.
What Are the Best Online Business Courses?
Some online business courses come with a fee, while others are free. Here we have compiled a list of the best online business courses that will go a long way in improving operations in your business or organization:
Accounting Online Courses
Check out these online accounting courses that you can take to improve your business:
1. Financial Accounting from Harvard Business School Online
Price: $1,600
Understanding financial accounting is a crucial skill for any business owner. Whether you have zero prior knowledge or are just looking for a refresher, what better school to learn from than Harvard?
2. Principles of Accounting
Price: Free
In this free accounting course on Alison, you will learn the basic principles of accounting, starting with the accrual principle and revenue and cash. Then you will learn the components of financial statements, working capital, and cash flow.
3. Accounting Coach
Price: Free, with Pro versions at $49 and $99
Learn anything you want related to accounting with this website offering free accounting courses! The $49 Pro version gives you lifetime access to video classes, visual tutorials, quick tests, and many more, while the $99 version gives you certificates for the different topics.
4. Managerial Accounting and Corporate Control
Price: Free, $499 for a certificate
This free managerial accounting course, part of edX’s MicroMaster’s Program, will give you the basics of what you need to know about management accounting. Learn how managers use internal data to make informed decisions in the business. You will also be trained to make accounting reports for assisting corporate decisions.
Leadership and Management Online Courses
Improve your leadership skills and your business with these management courses:
5. Management Essentials from Harvard Business School Online
Price: $1,600
With more people venturing into business without having any business background, taking this management course on the basic tools and strategies of management will help you plan a way forward with your organization.
6. Leadership: Practical Leadership Skills
Price: $18.99
Learn the basics of successful leadership through this online leadership course on Udemy. The course teaches practical skills in delegation, becoming a better boss, running a highly effective team, and developing a healthy work-life balance.
7. Leading People and Teams Specialization
Price: 7-day free trial, $49 per month after trial ends
This leadership course on Coursera, offered by the University of Michigan, will teach you how to create and communicate your vision effectively with your team. Using the Michigan Model of leadership, you will learn how to set organizational goals and manage team talent to improve performance.
Business Communication Online Courses
Good communication is vital to any successful business. Brush up on your skills with these online business communication courses.
8. Effective Business Communication
Price: Free, add $50 for a certificate
This business communication online course on Udemy teaches you to be effective at both oral and written communication in your business. Learn the basics of developing clear communication skills to promote interpersonal relationships and reaching short- and long-term organizational goals.
9. Business Communication at Rochester Institute of Technology
Price: FREE!
Learn how to communicate effectively in your business through best practices. This free course will also help you choose the best way to organize your information for maximum understanding among your readers.
10. Effective Communication: Writing, Design, and Presentation
Price: 7-day free trial, $49 per month after trial ends
This Coursera Specialization course teaches everything you need to know about communicating effectively in your business. This includes powerful oral communication, clear written expression, and even the skill of making excellent presentations.
11. Negotiation, Mediation, and Conflict Resolution from ESSEC Business School
Price: Offers 7-day free trial and $49 per month thereafter, with financial aid available
Managers in different fields, including public administration, NGOs, and business, will learn valuable skills through this negotiation course on successful negotiation. The course also covers tools needed for managing cross-cultural issues.
Starting a Business Online Courses
Want to start your own business? These courses can help you get started.
12. How to Make a Living Online
Price: $22.99
Through this Creator Academy course on Udemy, you will learn how to earn money from creating online content. This includes tips on creating video and audio content for YouTube and other platforms.
The course will also teach you the basic entrepreneurial skills you need to move from an ordinary content creator to one that effectively monetizes your content. This can be a helpful tool for you to start making money while staying home.
13. Starting an Online Business from Oxford Home Study Centre
Price: £310 in Full Payment, £385 in Instalments
This online business course, broken down into 4 intensive modules, will help you discover how to succeed in this time of increased connectivity. The course starts with a study of contemporary online business, and moves on to teaching you how to create a professional business plan and plan effective strategies for web marketing.
Finance and Investment Online Courses
Get introduced to the world of finance with these finance and investment courses.
14. Financial Markets from Yale University
Price: Currently FREE, add $49 for a certificate
This finance course gives an overview of methods and ideas for managing risks and fostering entrepreneurship. It will introduce you to risk management and principles in finance to understand how the banking, securities, and insurance industries work in the real world.
15. The Complete Financial Analyst Course 2020 from Udemy
Price: $194.99, currently discounted at $18.99
Running a business requires you to understand numbers, and this Financial Analyst course at Udemy will teach you the skills you need to analyze and manipulate these numbers. You will also learn basic skills in computer programs like Microsoft Excel and Powerpoint.
16. Introduction to Investments from IIMB
Price: FREE, add $50 for a verified certificate
Learn all you need to know about security valuation and equity markets through this online investment course offered through edX. The unique look at domestic and international markets will broaden your perspective while you learn about market efficiency and valuation.
Marketing Online Courses
Marketing knowledge is always a valuable skill, whether you’re starting a business or building your own brand.
17. Market Research and Consumer Behavior from IE Business School
Price: Offers 7-day free trial and $49/month thereafter, with financial aid available
Learn important skills about researching your market and understanding consumer behavior with this online Market Research and Consumer Behavior course through Coursera. IE Business School, based in Madrid, was recently featured as one of the top business schools in the world.
18. Diploma in Digital Marketing
Price: Free
This online marketing course on Shaw Academy will show you everything you need to learn about digital marketing. You can use these skills to improve your current role in a company, or to start your own online business. Learn about the different options you can use for marketing today in the digital world.
Business Software Online Courses
The right software—and knowing how to use it—can make all the difference for your business.
19. Beginner to Pro in Excel: Financial Modeling and Valuation
Price: $194.99, currently discounted to $22.99
Master financial modeling in Microsoft Excel and gain a much sought-after skill for a business position. In this Microsoft Excel course offered at Udemy, you will also learn how to design professional charts, evaluate companies, and create models for different business scenarios.
20. Google Docs Essential Training
Price: Free with LinkedIn Learning 1 month free trial, or $34.99 to buy
Learn everything you need to know about using Google Docs in this online course. Discover how to build documents with rich formatting, tables, and images, and share them with your colleagues for efficient, real-time collaboration.
21. Microsoft Collaboration: SharePoint, Teams, and Groups
Price: Free with LinkedIn Learning 1 month free trial, or $44.99 to buy
In this online course, learn how to collaborate across your organization with Microsoft Team, SharePoint, and Office 365 Groups. The course will teach you how to create shared content on cloud storage, share lists, and other important skills for collaborating effectively.
Strategic Planning Online Courses
These courses can help you plan for your business’s success.
22. Budget Planning from Oxford Home Study Centre
Price: £310 in Full Payment, £385 in Instalments
Businesses and organizations rely greatly on accurate and effective budgeting. Learn the necessary skills for budget planning that will form a solid foundation for your business or the organization you work with.
23. Strategic Management from Wharton University of Pennsylvania
Price: $537.30 for the full program experience
This strategic management course offers a professional certificate and will teach you how to identify the competitive edge of your business so you can refine a strategy that drives profits. You will also get to improve your leadership skills and find opportunities for your business.
24. Project Management MicroMasters Program from RIT
Price: $810 for the full program experience
This graduate-level project management course will give you intensive knowledge and the skills needed for successful project management. You will learn how to manage a team effectively, one of the most in-demand skills today. When you earn your MicroMasters Program certificate, you can then apply to RIT’s School of Individualized Study for a master’s degree that you can customize.
25. Retail Fundamentals from Dartmouth College
Price: FREE and $99 for a verified certificate
In this retailing course, learn the basic components of running a retail business, such as inventory management, assortment planning, pricing, and demand forecasting. You will explore the challenges that face retailers and find techniques and methods to address these issues.
Online Courses in Business
If there’s one thing that will guarantee growth for you and your business, it’s a constant desire to learn new things.
Take advantage of the many online courses and other resources available to you so you can develop the skills you need to succeed and stay ahead.
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