What is a business model?

A business model is a format of work structure that helps companies define the characteristics of their business. In a business model, a company states what they do and what they create, who they sell to and who buys it, and how much money they make versus how much it costs to produce profits. In other words, a business model helps a company determine how it will create value. Business models tell investors and customers how a particular company plans to solve certain business problems, and in doing so, what the potential upside of the business model might hold. If a company cannot live up to its business model, then it may choose to cease operations.

What is it important to learn about business models?

It's important to learn that business models are the modern assessment vehicle for how businesses are viewed. Learning about business models can help you articulate your own vision down the road when you have great ideas for businesses and need to interest investors in your idea. When a business forms, it needs to develop and make a case for a business model to gather the basic assumptions about the company's business goal. A business model can also help you learn what path a company will take to chase any potential work opportunity.

What careers can I work in by learning business models?

When you learn about business models, the knowledge you gain can help you find career work in technology companies, advertising agencies, financial consultancies, banking, manufacturing, and other fields. This is because researching, developing, and creating a business model requires insightful thought and analysis about the business opportunity, the target market, and the potential for the business model. As you learn about business models, you start to acquire tips and techniques that help define what the business is and in what direction it's headed. That knowledge can help you grow your career faster within a corporation or a startup.

How can taking online courses help me learn about business models?

Taking online courses to learn about business models is a smart way to gain real-world insights into how certain companies have evolved to bring their products into the world. You will be exposed to both business innovators and opportunistic dreamers who figured out a way to sell a business model to investors, customers, and the world at large. When you gain this knowledge, you'll have the tools to go out and develop your own business model to create your own success.

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

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

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

When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Business Model, 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 Model Courses - Learn Business Model Online

Explore the Business Model Course Catalog

University of California, Irvine
Communication in the 21st Century Workplace
Skills you'll gain: Communication Strategies, Communication, Business Communication, Interpersonal Communications, Cultural Diversity, Collaboration, Telecommuting, Diversity Awareness, Virtual Teams, Adaptability, Empathy, Self-Awareness
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
3.8K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: AI skills
IBM
IBM Data Engineering
Skills you'll gain: NoSQL, Data Warehousing, Apache Hadoop, SQL, Extract, Transform, Load, Apache Airflow, Web Scraping, Linux Commands, Database Design, IBM Cognos Analytics, MySQL, Apache Spark, Data Pipelines, Apache Kafka, Database Management, Bash (Scripting Language), Shell Script, Jupyter, Generative AI, Professional Networking
Build toward a degree
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
58K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free
University of Glasgow
MBA Essentials
Skills you'll gain: Business Administration, Leadership Studies, Marketing Strategies, Digital Transformation, Supply Chain Management, Marketing, Financial Data, Innovation, Corporate Sustainability, Accounting, Business Modeling, Change Management, Business Economics, Project Management, Business Strategies, Global Marketing, B2B Sales
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
189 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: New
IBM
IBM Relational Database Administrator
Skills you'll gain: Data Warehousing, SQL, Extract, Transform, Load, Apache Airflow, Web Scraping, Linux Commands, Database Design, Database Administration, MySQL, Data Pipelines, Apache Kafka, Database Management, Bash (Scripting Language), Shell Script, Database Architecture and Administration, Data Transformation, IBM DB2, Relational Databases, Jupyter, Generative AI
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
57K reviews
Intermediate · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free
The University of Sydney
Design-Led Strategy: Design thinking for business strategy and entrepreneurship
Skills you'll gain: Design Thinking, Innovation, New Product Development, Business Modeling, Product Design, Service Design, Product Development, Business Strategy, Business Strategies, Market Research, Corporate Strategy, User Research, User Feedback, Persona Development, Product Testing, Customer Insights
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
1.2K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free
University of New Mexico
International Business II
Skills you'll gain: International Finance, Entrepreneurship, Global Marketing, Business Management, New Business Development, Business, Organizational Structure, Workforce Management, Business Operations, Business Strategy, Economics, Market Dynamics
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
785 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Digital Marketing
Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Data Visualization, Email Marketing, Google Analytics, Digital Marketing, Analytics, Marketing Communications, Business Analytics, Content Marketing, Marketing Strategies, Marketing Analytics, Social Media Marketing, Marketing, Web Analytics, Strategic Marketing, Digital Communications, Integrated Marketing Communications, Media Strategy, Performance Analysis, Trend Analysis
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
23K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
University of Pennsylvania
Entrepreneurship 2: Launching your Start-Up
Skills you'll gain: Entrepreneurship, Branding, Lean Methodologies, Team Building, Business Strategy, Strategic Partnership, New Product Development, Team Management, Presentations, Innovation, Professional Networking, Law, Regulation, and Compliance
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
2K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
IBM
IBM Data Management
Skills you'll gain: Dashboard, Data Storytelling, Data Warehousing, SQL, Data Presentation, Data Governance, Data Security, Data Migration, Database Design, Data Visualization, MySQL, Interactive Data Visualization, Descriptive Statistics, Data Mining, Cloud Storage, Data Visualization Software, Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Extract, Transform, Load, IBM DB2, Excel Formulas
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
16K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Coursera Project Network
Introduction to Business Analysis Using Spreadsheets: Basics
Skills you'll gain: Google Sheets, Spreadsheet Software, Data Presentation, Data Analysis, Data Visualization Software, Productivity Software, Business Analysis, Data Manipulation, Descriptive Statistics, Statistics, Excel Formulas, Data Cleansing, Mathematical Software
4.3
Rating, 4.3 out of 5 stars
997 reviews
Beginner · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Illinois Tech
Operations and Process Management
Skills you'll gain: Process Improvement, Process Management, Business Process, Process Analysis, Business Process Improvement, Performance Improvement, Quality Improvement, Process Mapping, Operations Management, Quality Management, Return On Investment, Change Management, Risk Management, Business Technologies, Project Management, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Emerging Technologies
Build toward a degree
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
139 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of Pennsylvania
Introduction to Spreadsheets and Models
Skills you'll gain: Regression Analysis, Spreadsheet Software, Google Sheets, Excel Formulas, Financial Modeling, Microsoft Excel, Probability Distribution, Forecasting, Risk Analysis, Probability & Statistics, Business Modeling, Statistical Analysis, Simulation and Simulation Software, Process Improvement and Optimization, Decision Tree Learning
4.2
Rating, 4.2 out of 5 stars
3.8K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks