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

Politecnico di Milano
Platform Thinking: what’s beyond Uber?
Skills you'll gain: Innovation, Strategic Thinking, Systems Thinking, Technology Strategies, Digital Transformation, Business Modeling, Business Transformation, Business Development, Market Opportunities, Business Strategy
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
63 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
IBM
IBM Business Intelligence (BI) Analyst
Skills you'll gain: Dashboard, Data Storytelling, Data Warehousing, SQL, Data Presentation, Database Design, Data Visualization, MySQL, Presentations, Descriptive Statistics, Extract, Transform, Load, Business Intelligence, Data Visualization Software, Tableau Software, Stored Procedure, Interactive Data Visualization, Regression Analysis, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Excel Formulas, Microsoft Excel
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
13K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Business English for Non-Native Speakers
Skills you'll gain: Business Writing, Business Correspondence, Interviewing Skills, Business Communication, Business Ethics, Data Visualization, Presentations, Target Audience, Report Writing, Writing, Business Analysis, Analysis, Communication, Communication Strategies, Verbal Communication Skills, Intercultural Competence, Public Speaking, Concision, Cultural Diversity, Persuasive Communication
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
2.5K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
University of Maryland, College Park
Innovation for Entrepreneurs: From Idea to Marketplace
Skills you'll gain: Commercialization, Product Planning, Innovation, New Product Development, Product Development, Team Building, Entrepreneurship, Product Testing, Customer Insights, Market Opportunities, User Research, Business Modeling, Business Strategy, Competitive Analysis
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
693 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Business Strategy
Skills you'll gain: Business Strategy, Organizational Strategy, Strategic Leadership, Corporate Strategy, Strategic Thinking, Strategic Planning, Business Management, Business Modeling, Strategic Decision-Making, Competitive Analysis, Resource Management, 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
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, Data Visualization, Business Process Improvement, Business Intelligence, Financial Modeling, Interactive Data Visualization, Microsoft Excel, Excel Formulas, Business Process, Probability Distribution, Business Risk Management
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
15K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
University of Virginia
Foundations of Business Strategy
Skills you'll gain: Business Strategy, Strategic Thinking, Business Strategies, Competitive Analysis, Strategic Planning, Organizational Strategy, Strategic Decision-Making, Market Analysis, Risk Analysis, Analysis
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
3.1K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of Pennsylvania
Entrepreneurship 3: Growth Strategies
Skills you'll gain: Growth Strategies, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Digital Marketing, Performance Measurement, Entrepreneurship, Customer Acquisition Management, Business Metrics, Marketing Strategies, Cost Management, Market Dynamics, Business Strategies, Search Engine Optimization, Human Resources Management and Planning, Talent Management, Forecasting, Organizational Structure, Public Relations
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
1.4K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of Virginia
New Models of Business in Society
Skills you'll gain: Entrepreneurship, Philanthropy, Corporate Sustainability, Stakeholder Engagement, Business Ethics, Stakeholder Management, Environmental Social And Corporate Governance (ESG), Environmental Issue, Business Modeling, Business Strategy, Business, Business Transformation, Profit and Loss (P&L) Management, Company, Product, and Service Knowledge, Value Propositions, Employee Engagement
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
4K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
IBM
IBM Business Analyst
Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Requirements Elicitation, Risk Mitigation, Business Analysis, Business Process Modeling, Data Presentation, Risk Analysis, Resource Allocation, Process Optimization, Data Visualization, Requirements Management, Risk Management, Business Requirements, Interactive Data Visualization, Stakeholder Management, Work Breakdown Structure, Scope Management, Excel Formulas, Microsoft Excel, Analysis
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
12K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
IBM
Generative AI for Business Intelligence (BI) Analysts
Skills you'll gain: ChatGPT, Generative AI, Interactive Data Visualization, Business Intelligence, Data Presentation, Infographics, Data Visualization, OpenAI, Dashboard, Data Storytelling, Business Analytics, Artificial Intelligence, IBM Cloud, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), Query Languages, SQL, Data Analysis, Software Development Tools, Image Analysis, Technical Communication
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
5.2K reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Entrepreneurship
Skills you'll gain: Entrepreneurship, Market Opportunities, Innovation, Ideation, Business Planning, Entrepreneurial Finance, Leadership Development, Business Development, New Product Development, Business Strategy, Competitive Analysis, Market Research, Presentations, Financial Modeling, Fundraising
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
286 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months