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 Pennsylvania
Customer Analytics
Skills you'll gain: Descriptive Analytics, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Marketing Analytics, Predictive Analytics, Customer Insights, Customer Analysis, Business Analytics, Analytics, Marketing, Data Collection, Marketing Strategies, Data Analysis, Market Research, Regression Analysis, Consumer Behaviour
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
12K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Rutgers the State University of New Jersey
Business Intelligence and Competitive Analysis
Skills you'll gain: Competitive Intelligence, Competitive Analysis, Market Intelligence, Management Consulting, Business Strategy, Business Intelligence, Business Analytics, Market Analysis, Benchmarking, Data Analysis, Performance Analysis, Trend Analysis, Variance Analysis, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Financial Analysis
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
232 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Microsoft
Data for Business Analysts Using Microsoft Excel
Skills you'll gain: Excel Formulas, Microsoft Excel, Pivot Tables And Charts, Spreadsheet Software, Data Analysis, Data Presentation, Business Metrics, Data Cleansing, Data Manipulation
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
191 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of Virginia
Business Strategy in Practice (Project-centered Course)
Skills you'll gain: Peer Review, Organizational Strategy, Business Research, Project Management, Business Strategy, Competitive Analysis, Business Analysis, Strategic Decision-Making, Business Communication, Analysis, Report Writing, Strategic Communication, Business Writing, Presentations
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
187 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Corporate Strategy
Skills you'll gain: Stakeholder Management, Corporate Strategy, Mergers & Acquisitions, Business Strategy, Global Marketing, Strategic Thinking, Organizational Strategy, Governance, Strategic Partnership, Corporate Finance, Business Ethics, Value Propositions, New Business Development, Growth Strategies, Strategic Decision-Making
Build toward a degree
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
1.1K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of Pennsylvania
Improving Communication Skills
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
2K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU)
Competitive Strategy and Organization Design
Skills you'll gain: Mergers & Acquisitions, Customer Retention, Business Research, Business Strategy, Organizational Structure, Organizational Strategy, Peer Review, Game Theory, Strategic Thinking, Competitive Analysis, Strategic Partnership, Product Strategy, Report Writing, Business Consulting, Growth Strategies, Organizational Effectiveness, Strategic Decision-Making, Management Consulting, Organizational Change, Compliance Management
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
3.7K reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Fundação Instituto de Administração
Macroeconomics for Business Management
Skills you'll gain: International Finance, Business Economics, Economics, Economic Development, Market Dynamics, Business Planning, Business Strategy, Investments
Build toward a degree
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
429 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free
Università Bocconi
Food & Beverage Management
Skills you'll gain: Food and Beverage, Hospitality, Restaurant Management, Product Knowledge, Product Quality (QA/QC), Global Marketing, Market Dynamics, Business Strategy, Consumer Behaviour, Competitive Analysis
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
4.9K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Intuit
Bookkeeping Basics
Skills you'll gain: Bookkeeping, QuickBooks (Accounting Software), Financial Statements, Accounting, Accounting Records, Balance Sheet, Income Statement, General Ledger, Business Ethics, Accrual Accounting, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Cash Flows, Journals
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
5.9K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Google
Attract and Engage Customers with Digital Marketing
Skills you'll gain: Search Engine Marketing, Search Engine Optimization, Target Audience, Digital Marketing, Persona Development, Web Analytics and SEO, Marketing, Customer Engagement, Customer Acquisition Management, Advertising, Marketing Strategies, Lead Generation
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
6.9K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
EDHEC Business School
Investment Management with Python and Machine Learning
Skills you'll gain: Investment Management, Portfolio Management, Text Mining, Asset Management, Network Analysis, Data Visualization Software, Investments, Financial Data, Unstructured Data, Predictive Modeling, Web Scraping, Financial Management, Machine Learning, Financial Statements, Applied Machine Learning, Financial Market, Financial Analysis, Risk Analysis, Python Programming, Financial Modeling
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
1.8K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months