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 Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Master of Science in Accounting
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, Corporate Tax, Global Marketing
Earn a degree
Degree · 1 - 4 Years
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Magíster en Business Analytics
Skills you'll gain: Revenue Management, Customer Analysis, Descriptive Analytics, FinTech, Database Design, People Analytics, Time Series Analysis and Forecasting, Biostatistics, Predictive Analytics, Statistical Reporting, Digital Transformation, Deep Learning, Risk Analysis, Bayesian Statistics, Cloud Security, Network Model, Data Visualization, Assertiveness, Web Scraping, Governance
Earn a degree
Degree · 1 - 4 Years
O.P. Jindal Global University
MBA Business Analytics
Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Operations Management, Design Thinking, Data Visualization, Active Listening, Environmental Social And Corporate Governance (ESG), Working Capital, Database Management, Sampling (Statistics), Project Estimation, Financial Statement Analysis, Business Analytics, Global Marketing, Financial Accounting, Predictive Analytics, Big Data, Marketing, Business Economics, Emerging Technologies, People Management
Earn a degree
Degree · 1 - 4 Years
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Certificado en Toma de Decisiones Basadas en Datos
Skills you'll gain: Descriptive Analytics, Business Analytics, Database Design, NoSQL, Statistical Reporting, SQL, Data Ethics, Digital Transformation, Query Languages, Data Mining, Databases, Data Analysis, R Programming, Big Data, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Predictive Analytics, Organizational Structure, Business Transformation, Business Strategy, Organizational Strategy
Credit offered
Mastertrack · 6 - 12 Months
S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research
Post Graduate Diploma in Management Online
Skills you'll gain: Mergers & Acquisitions, Search Engine Marketing, Working Capital, Operations Management, Business Valuation, Competitive Analysis, Manufacturing Operations, Design Thinking, Business Strategy, Supply Chain Management, Digital Transformation, Consumer Behaviour, Persuasive Communication, Integrated Marketing Communications, Organizational Leadership, Team Management, Organizational Change, Change Management, Financial Statement Analysis, Portfolio Management
Earn a degree
Degree · 1 - 4 Years
HEC Paris
Trust Based Leadership University Certificate
Skills you'll gain:
University Certificate · 6 - 12 Months
Google Cloud
Preparing for Your Cloud Architect Journey - Português
Skills you'll gain: Cloud Computing Architecture, Cloud Security, Cloud Solutions, Solution Architecture, Network Planning And Design, Google Cloud Platform, System Implementation, Process Optimization, Cloud Management, Business Requirements, Scalability, Cost Management
Advanced · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: New
Coursera
Test, Learn, Evolve: Usability Testing in Figma
Skills you'll gain: Usability Testing, Usability, Figma (Design Software), User Experience Design, User Centered Design, UI/UX Research, User Research, Prototyping, Test Planning
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Amazon Web Services
Amazon Connect: Introduction to the Administrative Interface
Skills you'll gain: Dashboard, Report Writing, Business Reporting, Management Reporting, Performance Reporting, Ad Hoc Reporting, Real Time Data, Call Center Experience, Administration, Workforce Management
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Georgetown University
Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies
Skills you'll gain: Vulnerability Assessments, Operations Management, Data Storytelling, Business Strategy, Design Thinking, Competitive Intelligence, Survey Creation, Cyber Threat Intelligence, Social Justice, Descriptive Statistics, Environment, Business Ethics, Capital Budgeting, Market Opportunities, Storytelling, Marketing Planning, International Relations, Artificial Intelligence, Policy Development, Political Sciences
Earn a degree
Degree · 1 - 4 Years
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Certificado en Modelos Analíticos para la Toma de Decisiones de Negocio
Skills you'll gain: Descriptive Analytics, Business Analytics, Statistical Reporting, Data Visualization, Data Mining, Dimensionality Reduction, Data Analysis, R Programming, Scientific Visualization, Statistical Modeling, Big Data, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Data Visualization Software, Predictive Modeling, Predictive Analytics, Data Modeling, Analytics, Advanced Analytics, Regression Analysis, Statistical Visualization
Credit offered
Mastertrack · 6 - 12 Months
University of Colorado Boulder
Engineering Management Graduate Certificate
Skills you'll gain: User Story, Supplier Management, Project Schedules, Sustainability Reporting, Project Closure, Goal Setting, Engineering Management, Financial Analysis, Milestones (Project Management), Financial Statement Analysis, Cost Estimation, Environmental Social And Corporate Governance (ESG), Team Leadership, Stakeholder Management, Agile Project Management, Self-Awareness, Capital Budgeting, Personal Development, Project Risk Management, Cost Management
Credit offered
Graduate Certificate · 6 - 12 Months