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

Status: New
Status: Free
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Healthcare Innovation: Need/Opportunity Identification
Skills you'll gain: Needs Assessment, Stakeholder Engagement, Innovation, Market Opportunities, Health Policy, Strategic Decision-Making, User Research, Stakeholder Communications, Organizational Strategy, Healthcare Industry Knowledge, Health Technology, Feasibility Studies, Prioritization, Complex Problem Solving, Root Cause Analysis, Return On Investment
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: New
Status: Free
Coursera Instructor Network
GenAI for Cash Flow Managers: Optimizing Liquidity Planning
Skills you'll gain: Cash Flow Forecasting, Cash Management, Accounts Payable, Financial Forecasting, Risk Management, Generative AI, Data Ethics, Risk Mitigation, Financial Data, Business Process Automation, Accounts Receivable, Workflow Management, Regulatory Compliance, Compliance Training, International Financial Reporting Standards, Artificial Intelligence, ChatGPT, Automation, Prompt Engineering, Dashboard
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: New
Status: Free
Coursera Instructor Network
GenAI for Compensation Analysis in Law Firms
Skills you'll gain: Compensation Management, Compensation Analysis, Compensation Strategy, Compensation and Benefits, People Analytics, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Benchmarking, Labor Compliance, Payroll, Generative AI, Employee Retention
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: New
Dartmouth College
Simulation for Digital Transformation
Skills you'll gain: Simulation and Simulation Software, Business Transformation, Digital Transformation, Systems Thinking, Complex Problem Solving, Advanced Analytics, Operations Research, Predictive Analytics, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Verification And Validation, Process Optimization, Risk Management, Python Programming, Statistical Methods, Decision Making, Probability & Statistics
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Google Cloud
Responsible AI: Applying AI Principles with GC - 简体中文
Skills you'll gain: Governance, Data Ethics, Business Ethics, Governance Risk Management and Compliance, Google Cloud Platform, Compliance Auditing, Accountability, Auditing, Ethical Standards And Conduct, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), Continuous Improvement Process
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Master of Business Administration (iMBA)
Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Management Accounting, Fund Accounting, Operations Management, Mergers & Acquisitions, Financial Statement Analysis, Marketing, Risk Management, Machine Learning Algorithms, Business Strategy, Financial Auditing, Descriptive Statistics, Variance Analysis, Process Improvement, Marketing Analytics, Generative AI, Financial Market, Strategic Decision-Making, Data Collection, Corporate Tax
Earn a degree
Degree · 1 - 4 Years
Illinois Institute of Technology
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Skills you'll gain:
Earn a degree
Degree · 1 - 4 Years
Status: New
Board Infinity
Fundamentals of Test Case Design
Skills you'll gain: Software Testing, Test Planning, Test Case, Software Quality Assurance, Software Technical Review, Quality Assurance, Verification And Validation, Software Documentation, Requirements Analysis, Technical Communication
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Emory University
Mastering Business Essentials: Operations
Skills you'll gain: Operations Management, Manufacturing Operations, Supply Chain Management, Business Operations, Quality Management, Production Management, Supply Chain Planning, Six Sigma Methodology, Transportation, Supply Chain, and Logistics, Operational Efficiency, Process Improvement, Lean Methodologies, Logistics, Business Priorities
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Google Cloud
Responsible AI: Applying AI Principles with GC - 繁體中文
Skills you'll gain: Data Ethics, Artificial Intelligence, Business Ethics, Google Cloud Platform, Ethical Standards And Conduct, Compliance Training, Auditing, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), Accountability, Continuous Improvement Process, Safety and Security
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: New
Dartmouth College
Prescriptive Analytics
Skills you'll gain: Operations Research, Analytics, Business Analytics, Process Optimization, Digital Transformation, Predictive Analytics, Advanced Analytics, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Strategic Decision-Making, Business Mathematics, Data Science, Process Analysis, Complex Problem Solving, Python Programming, Linear Algebra
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: New
Packt
Master AWS DynamoDB
Skills you'll gain: Amazon DynamoDB, Amazon Web Services, NoSQL, Database Management, Database Design, Development Environment, Command-Line Interface, Application Programming Interface (API), Software Development Tools, Performance Tuning, Data Structures, Scalability
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months