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

Status: New
IESE Business School
Mastering the Art of Scaling and Convincing Investors
Skills you'll gain: Entrepreneurship, Business Valuation, Market Analysis, Competitive Analysis, Presentations, Fundraising, Market Research, Strategic Decision-Making, Strategic Thinking, New Business Development, Return On Investment, Due Diligence, Value Propositions, Mergers & Acquisitions, Negotiation, Investments, Financial Analysis, Innovation
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Macquarie University
Excel Skills for Business: Essentials
Skills you'll gain: Microsoft Excel, Data Visualization, Spreadsheet Software, Excel Formulas, Data Management, Data Entry, Productivity Software
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
50K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
IBM
IBM AI Foundations for Business
Skills you'll gain: Large Language Modeling, Artificial Intelligence, Data Literacy, Data Mining, Generative AI, Data Ethics, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), Big Data, Information Architecture, Strategic Decision-Making, Enterprise Architecture, ChatGPT, Cloud Computing, Data Analysis, Data Science, Deep Learning, Machine Learning, Data Strategy, Business Strategy, Business Process Automation
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
94K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Business Strategy
Skills you'll gain: Business Strategy, Organizational Strategy, Strategic Leadership, Strategic Thinking, Business Management, Business Modeling, Strategic Decision-Making, Competitive Analysis, Value Propositions, Market Analysis, Innovation, Analysis
Build toward a degree
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
2K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Berklee
The Business of Music Production
Skills you'll gain: Music, Contract Negotiation, Musical Composition, Intellectual Property, Lawsuits, Peer Review, Music History, Active Listening, Legal Proceedings, Constructive Feedback, Law, Regulation, and Compliance, Ethical Standards And Conduct, Instrumental Music, Legal Strategy, Media Production, Professional Networking, Music Theory, Post-Production, Digital Assets, Business Management
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
5.2K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Macquarie University
Excel Skills for Business: Intermediate I
Skills you'll gain: Microsoft Excel, Dashboard, Spreadsheet Software, Excel Formulas, Data Analysis Expressions (DAX), Data Visualization, Consolidation, Business Reporting, Data Management, Data Cleansing, Automation
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
17K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Coursera Project Network
Business Model Canvas
Skills you'll gain: Target Market, Value Propositions, Cost Control, Customer Analysis, Business Modeling, Strategic Partnership, Marketing Channel, Entrepreneurship, Business Strategy, Resource Management, Revenue Management
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
51 reviews
Intermediate · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Status: Free Trial
IBM
Introduction to Data Science
Skills you'll gain: SQL, Jupyter, Data Literacy, Data Mining, Peer Review, Data Modeling, Relational Databases, Stored Procedure, Databases, Data Science, Big Data, Query Languages, Data Cleansing, Data Visualization Software, GitHub, Business Analysis, Cloud Computing, Data Analysis, Digital Transformation, R Programming
Build toward a degree
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
99K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Duke University
Excel to MySQL: Analytic Techniques for Business
Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Database Design, Dashboard, MySQL, Relational Databases, SQL, Tableau Software, Business Analytics, Business Metrics, Data Visualization Software, Analytics, Data Visualization, Business Process Improvement, Business Intelligence, Financial Modeling, Microsoft Excel, Business Process, Probability Distribution, Business Risk Management, Predictive Modeling
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
15K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Virginia
Foundations of Business Strategy
Skills you'll gain: Business Strategy, Strategic Thinking, Competitive Analysis, Organizational Strategy, Strategic Decision-Making, Market Analysis, Analysis, Business Economics, Value Propositions
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
3.2K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
Berklee
Music Business Foundations
Skills you'll gain: Contract Negotiation, Music, Intellectual Property, Music History, Law, Regulation, and Compliance, Ethical Standards And Conduct, Professional Networking, Business Management, Talent Management, Marketing Management
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
2.6K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
IBM
IBM & Darden Digital Strategy
Skills you'll gain: Strategic Thinking, Digital Transformation, Business Strategy, Cloud Computing Architecture, Competitive Analysis, Cloud Services, Large Language Modeling, Artificial Intelligence, Business Transformation, Cloud Security, Cloud Technologies, Cloud Infrastructure, Big Data, Cloud Platforms, Data Analysis, Statistical Analysis, Cloud Hosting, Generative AI, Product Lifecycle Management, Business Technologies
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
45K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months