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Starting a business can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be this way. With the right guidance, knowledge and tools in your arsenal, you can confidently start your journey as an entrepreneur.
If you have an idea and are getting close to taking the 1st step, consider an online course to teach you the fundamentals. You can also use an entrepreneur class to level up your expertise if this isn’t your 1st rodeo.
There are options for all skill levels and budgets, and you can get started right away. Benzinga is here to help you find the perfect fit.
Quick Look: Best Entrepreneur Courses
Here’s a sneak peek at Benzinga’s top picks:
- The Essential Guide to Entrepreneurship by Guy Kawasaki from Udemy
- Entrepreneurship Foundations by LinkedIn Learning
- Entrepreneurship 1: Developing the Opportunity by the University of Pennsylvania
- Entrepreneurship 2: Launching Your Start-Up by the University of Pennsylvania
- Entrepreneurship 3: Growth Strategies by the University of Pennsylvania
- Employee to Entrepreneur by LinkedIn Learning
- Entrepreneurship 4: Financing and Profitability by the University of Pennsylvania
- Body Language for Entrepreneurs by Udemy
- Canva Graphic Design for Entrepreneurs - Design 11 Projects by Udemy
What Makes an Entrepreneur Course Great?
With so many online entrepreneur courses to choose from, how do you know which are worth your time and money? Keep the following factors in mind as you evaluate and narrow down your options to pick the best class for you.
Led by Reputable Instructors
The course facilitator should have entrepreneurial experience and know-how to communicate vital concepts in a way that’s easy to comprehend. Read reviews from past and current students to get a feel for their teaching style. It’s also best to view the instructor’s biography to gauge their industry experience.
Self-Paced
Avoid options that impose strict deadlines to ensure you receive an exceptional online learning experience. Otherwise, you risk rushing through the lectures and assignments and not getting the information you need to grow your business.
Budget-Friendly
Entrepreneur courses come at all skill levels and price points. Only consider options that work for your budget. If money’s tight, start with a free class and move on to paid selections as you free up disposable income in your spending plan.
Our Top Picks
We’ve scoured the web to bring you the best entrepreneur courses. Our top picks are from leading online learning providers, including Coursera, LinkedIn Learning and Udemy.
Below you’ll find the classes organized by skill level: beginners, intermediate students and advanced students. There’s also a description and enrollment fee included with each selection to help you make an informed decision.
Entrepreneur Courses for Beginners
Start with these introductory courses if you’re a new entrepreneur.
1. The Essential Guide to Entrepreneurship by Guy Kawasaki from Udemy
Who it's for: Beginners
Price: On sale
Are you ready to launch your dream business? Take the guesswork out of getting started with this highly rated course from Udemy. It’s taught by Canva Chief Evangelist Guy Kawasaki and will prepare you to open the door to your dream business with confidence.
You will discover critical elements of entrepreneurship, how to polish your business plan, the do’s and don’ts of an entrepreneur and so much more.
The Essential Guide to Entrepreneurship by Guy Kawasaki features 8 sections:
- Introduction
- Launching
- Pitching
- Fundraising
- Building a Team
- Social Media
- Evangelizing
- Conclusion
Join over 20,000 who’ve enrolled in this course to learn the ropes of entrepreneurship. You can register in minutes and get full lifetime access to 4 hours of on-demand video, 5 articles and 27 downloadable resources.
2. Entrepreneurship Foundations by LinkedIn Learning
Who it's for: Beginners
Price: Included with the monthly membership
In a little over 1 hour, advertising guru Kim Kaupe details what it takes to become a successful entrepreneur. She provides instruction using a step-by-step approach and sheds light on obstacles that may arise as you embark on your journey. You’ll also learn how to evaluate future opportunities, raise capital and identify tools you need to thrive as you work to scale your new entity.
Entrepreneurship Foundations features these segments:
- Introduction
- What Is Your Why?
- So You’re Saying There’s a Chance…
- Money Talks
- Find Your Team of Superheroes
- Marketing 101
- Scale Your Business
- Self-Management
- Launch Your Business
It’s free to enroll with a monthly LinkedIn membership. Or you can get a free seat in the course by signing up for a 1-month trial.
3. Entrepreneurship 1: Developing the Opportunity by the University of Pennsylvania
Who it's for: Beginners
Price: Free
Entrepreneurship 1: Developing the Opportunity is the 1st course in the Entrepreneurship Specialization from the University of Pennsylvania. It’s designed for new entrepreneurs who want to learn the foundational concepts and a methodology to test, validate and prototype business ideas.
Take a quick glance at what each module entails:
- Introduction and Course Materials
- Module 1: Introduction to Entrepreneurship
- Module 2: Opportunity Analysis
- Module 3: Markets, Need-Finding and Planning
- Module 4: Pitching, Testing and Prototyping
You’ll watch a series of video lectures and read supplementary materials to learn the essentials. There’s also a quiz at the end of each module to assess your comprehension of the lessons.
Expect to spend 11 hours working through the course material.
Intermediate Entrepreneur Courses
These intermediate courses are ideal for entrepreneurs who are past the planning stage and want to launch or scale their business.
4. Entrepreneurship 2: Launching Your Start-Up by the University of Pennsylvania
Who it's for: Intermediate students
Price: Free
Entrepreneurship 2: Launching Your Start-Up is the second part of the Entrepreneurship Specialization from the University of Pennsylvania. This class delves into what it takes to create a scalable business model and launch strategy for your new business.
It consists of these 4 modules:
- Module 1: Preparing to Launch: Essential Components
- Module 2: Building the Team
- Module 3: Networks, Professional Services and Intellectual Property
- Module 4: Branding, Strategy and Summary
You will walk away with the skills and expertise needed to plan and execute an effective launch. Plus, you will better understand the legalities of starting your own business.
It takes 8 hours to finish the course.
Be sure to complete Entrepreneurship 1: Developing the Opportunity before you enroll.
5. Entrepreneurship 3: Growth Strategies by the University of Pennsylvania
Who it's for: Intermediate students
Price: Free
Entrepreneurship 3: Growth Strategies is another component of the Entrepreneurship Specialization from the University of Pennsylvania.
Once you’ve hashed out your business plan and taken the necessary action to launch your business, you can use the information provided in this course to help you scale your operation successfully. There are lessons on customer acquisition, demand generation, diffusion, adoption, forecasting demand and so much more.
This 8-hour class includes 4 modules:
- Module 1: Acquiring Customers and Forecasting Demand
- Module 2: Marketing and PR
- Module 3: Cost Structures, Pricing and Tracking
- Module 4: Creating and Scaling Company Culture
It’s best if you take Entrepreneurship 1: Developing the Opportunity and Entrepreneurship 2: Launching Your Start-Up before you sign up.
6. Employee to Entrepreneur by LinkedIn Learning
Who it's for: Intermediate students
Price: Included with the monthly membership
Are you ready to leave your professional career behind and leap into the wonderful world of entrepreneurship? Consider this course from Madecraft, a full-service learning content company, to show you how to make the transition without getting overwhelmed.
Facilitator Dana Robinson reveals a practical step-by-step method for drafting and executing an exit strategy. He divides the video lectures into these segments:
- The Golden Handcuffs
- The Big Idea Myth
- Networking
- Business Planning
- Find Your Superpower
- Marketing
- Scaling
- Execution
- Take Action
- Conclusion
Get started today for free with a monthly LinkedIn membership. Not yet a member? Sign up for a 1-month trial to get started for free.
Advanced Entrepreneur Courses
Soar your business to new heights with these advanced entrepreneur courses.
7. Entrepreneurship 4: Financing and Profitability by the University of Pennsylvania
Who it's for: Advanced students
Price: Free
Entrepreneurship 4: Financing and Profitability is also a part of the Entrepreneurship Specialization from the University of Pennsylvania and focuses on getting the funding it needs to operate at an optimal level.
Here’s a look at the course syllabus:
- Business Models and Keeping Customers
- Financing, Valuation and Terms
- Private and Public Financing, and Calculating Breakeven
- Elements of the Pitch and Exit Strategies
When you reach the final module, you will better understand various financial models, equity financing, key terms, and how to finance your way to success.
Prepare to spend at least 6 hours on the videos, readings and quizzes. Also consider completing Entrepreneurship 1: Developing the Opportunity, Entrepreneurship 2: Launching Your Start-Up and Entrepreneurship 3: Growth Strategies before you sign up.
8. Body Language for Entrepreneurs by Udemy
Who it's for: Advanced students
Price: On sale
Behavioral investigator Vanessa Van Edwards brings you this Udemy bestseller on nonverbal communication. It explores how your body language can be leveraged to become a more influential business owner and ultimately boost your income.
Body Language for Entrepreneurs features these sections:
- Foundations of Body Language
- Customer Relations
- Your Nonverbal Brand
- Your Team
- High-Pressure Business Situations
- Final Steps
When you register today, you will unlock a vault of valuable resources that includes 5.5 hours of on-demand video and 2 downloadable resources to help you get the most from your online learning experience.
9. Canva Graphic Design for Entrepreneurs - Design 11 Projects by Udemy
Who it's for: Advanced students
Price: On sale
Strapped for cash and need to create compelling designs for your business? Instead of sucking your business account dry by investing in a graphic designer, you can use Canva to develop visually-appealing, polished graphics. This popular course will show you how.
Canva Graphic Design for Entrepreneurs - Design 11 Projects is offered at an extremely affordable price and boasts over 39,000 enrollments. Here’s what the class covers:
- Social Media Graphics
- Create a Blog Title Image
- Facebook Cover
- Inspirational Quote Facebook Post
- Facebook Ad
- Twitter Header
- Twitter Post
- YouTube Thumbnail
- YouTube Channel Art
- Google+ Photo
- Pinterest Graphic
- Bonuses
Ready to get started? Sign up today for instant access to 3.5 hours of on-demand video
and 1 article. You’ll get a certificate of completion when you reach the finish line.
Get Started with an Entrepreneur Course
Whether you’re a newbie, veteran or struggling entrepreneur, there’s a course for you. Start with an option from our list of recommendations to get one step closer to your entrepreneurial goals.
These classes are facilitated by reputable instructors and offered at a price point that won’t break the bank. Best of all, you can work at your own pace around your busy schedule.
Southern New Hampshire University Online
SNHU Online Offers:
- Flexible schedules
- Affordable tuition
- Online tutoring
- Access to electronic research materials
- Specialized academic advising
- Supportive online community