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

Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (ADP)
Certificate Overview and Introduction to Recruiting
Skills you'll gain: Full Cycle Recruitment, Personal Development, Recruitment, Professional Development, Value Propositions, Recruitment Strategies, Talent Acquisition, Job Analysis, Self-Awareness, Human Resources, Talent Sourcing, Organizational Structure
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free
University of Maryland, College Park
Digital Marketing 2
Skills you'll gain: Pay Per Click Advertising, Marketing Analytics, Search Engine Optimization, Analytics, Big Data, Google Analytics, Digital Marketing, Search Engine Marketing, Paid media, Web Analytics, Web Analytics and SEO, Online Advertising, Digital Advertising, Marketing Effectiveness, A/B Testing, Applied Machine Learning, Marketing Automation, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML)
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: New
Packt
AWS Step Functions – Automate Complex Tasks with Workflows
Skills you'll gain: Debugging, Amazon Web Services, AWS CloudFormation, Business Process Automation, Automation, Amazon S3, AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM), Amazon CloudWatch, Serverless Computing, API Gateway, Amazon DynamoDB, JSON, Data Validation
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: New
University of Alberta
How to be a People Leader
Skills you'll gain: Conflict Management, Team Leadership, Organizational Leadership, Diversity and Inclusion, Leadership and Management, People Management, Rapport Building, Leadership, Occupational Safety And Health, Leadership Development, Communication, Professionalism, Collaboration, Safety Culture, Stress Management, Empathy, Employee Engagement, Mental Health, Compassion, Active Listening
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: New
Whizlabs
Exam Prep: Google Cloud Certified Cloud Digital Leader
Skills you'll gain: Google Cloud Platform, Cloud Computing, Kubernetes, Cloud Security, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), Cloud Storage, Data Storage, Analytics, Serverless Computing, Containerization, Cloud Infrastructure, Computer Networking, Virtual Machines, Scalability
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: New
Google Cloud
Looker Studio Pro Essentials - 日本語版
Skills you'll gain: Looker (Software), Collaborative Software, User Accounts, Team Management, Data Security, Management Reporting, Business Reporting, Data Management, Google Cloud Platform, Data Sharing, Scheduling, Auditing
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: New
University of Alberta
Creating a Workplace People Want to Be
Skills you'll gain: Safety Culture, Diversity Equity and Inclusion Initiatives, Stress Management, Organizational Leadership, Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Occupational Safety And Health, Employee Performance Management, Trustworthiness, Culture Transformation, Team Leadership, Strategic Leadership, Leadership, Employee Engagement, Resilience, Mental Health, Empathy, Communication
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
IBM
Capstone Project: Applying UX/UI Design in Real World
Skills you'll gain:
Intermediate · Course
Status: New
Simplilearn
Advanced GenAI Tools Course
Skills you'll gain: Generative AI, Collaborative Software, Innovation, Business Process Automation, Workflow Management, Content Creation, Automation, Technology Strategies, Prompt Engineering, Productivity Software, Business Technologies, Business Workflow Analysis, Strategic Thinking, Team Building, Artificial Intelligence, Prototyping, Video Editing
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: New
Packt
HashiCorp Certified - Consul Associate Course
Skills you'll gain: Data Centers, Infrastructure as Code (IaC), Security Controls, System Configuration, Microservices, Proxy Servers, Service Oriented Architecture, Data Store, Systems Architecture, Encryption, Scalability
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: New
Packt
Database Management and Core Application Development
Skills you'll gain: ASP.NET, Database Development, C# (Programming Language), Back-End Web Development, Database Management, Database Design, Object-Relational Mapping, Application Frameworks, Model View Controller, Web Applications, Software Design Patterns, Authentications, Maintainability, Business Logic, Authorization (Computing), Data Modeling, Performance Tuning, Data Migration, Data Mapping, Data Validation
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Google Cloud
Gemini for Data Scientists and Analysts - 한국어
Skills you'll gain: Customer Insights, Customer Analysis, Machine Learning Methods, Artificial Intelligence, Sales Strategy, Generative AI, Google Cloud Platform, Predictive Analytics, Analytics, Customer Data Management, Time Series Analysis and Forecasting, Marketing Strategies, Data Modeling
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks