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

IBM
GenAI for Executives & Business Leaders: An Introduction
Skills you'll gain: Generative AI, Data Ethics, Artificial Intelligence, Business Transformation, Business Leadership, Business Ethics, Governance, Digital Transformation, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Business Strategies, Customer experience improvement, Customer Service
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
366 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of Virginia
Digital Product Management
Skills you'll gain: Usability Testing, Agile Product Development, New Product Development, Continuous Delivery, Agile Software Development, User Story, Product Management, Agile Methodology, Product Testing, Agile Project Management, Team Performance Management, Team Management, Design Thinking, Team Building, Team Leadership, Product Improvement, Customer Analysis, Innovation, Analytics, Business Analytics
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
9.6K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
IBM
Excel Basics for Data Analysis
Skills you'll gain: Excel Formulas, Microsoft Excel, Data Cleansing, Data Analysis, Data Import/Export, Spreadsheet Software, Data Wrangling, Data Quality, Pivot Tables And Charts, Google Sheets, Data Manipulation, Data Visualization Software, Information Privacy
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
9.5K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Corporate & Commercial Law II: Business Forms, Financing & Governmental Regulation
Skills you'll gain: Bankruptcies, Securities (Finance), Commercial Laws, Loans, Banking, Financial Regulations, Regulation and Legal Compliance, Business, Financial Regulation, Organizational Structure, Governance, Mergers & Acquisitions
Build toward a degree
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
381 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of Pennsylvania
Foundations of Positive Psychology
Skills you'll gain: Resilience, Goal Setting, Emotional Intelligence, Positivity, Personal Development, Optimism, Research Methodologies, Overcoming Obstacles, Research Design, Empathy, Productivity, Cognitive flexibility, Relationship Building, Self-Awareness, Qualitative Research, Research, Positive Behavior Support, Psychology, Self-Motivation, Critical Thinking
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
8.1K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
English for Effective Business Writing
Skills you'll gain: Business Writing, Business Correspondence, Business Communication, Writing, Writing and Editing, Concision, Persuasive Communication, English Language, Grammar, Language Competency, Target Audience, Vocabulary
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
442 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free
Coursera Project Network
Getting Started with Microsoft Excel
Skills you'll gain: Microsoft Excel, Excel Formulas, Spreadsheet Software, Productivity Software, Microsoft 365
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
12K reviews
Intermediate · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Google
Analyze Data to Answer Questions
Skills you'll gain: Data Validation, Spreadsheet Software, Data Analysis, Analytics, Data Manipulation, Excel Formulas, Data Compilation, Pivot Tables And Charts, SQL, Data Integration, Data Transformation, User Feedback
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
12K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free
University of London
How to Finance and Grow Your Startup – Without VC
Skills you'll gain: Entrepreneurial Finance, Business Modeling, Entrepreneurship, Product Development, Customer Analysis, Growth Strategies, Business Development, Financial Modeling, Customer Acquisition Management, New Business Development, Market Analysis, Revenue Management, Business Strategy, Cash Flows, Strategic Partnership
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
469 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of California, Davis
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Skills you'll gain: Keyword Research, Search Engine Optimization, Web Analytics and SEO, Content Creation, Social Media Strategy, Competitive Analysis, Target Audience, Client Services, Content Marketing, Peer Review, Social Media Marketing, Consumer Behaviour, Google Analytics, Presentations, Marketing, Forecasting, Digital Marketing, Expectation Management, Content Strategy, User Research
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
13K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
University of Michigan
Python 3 Programming
Skills you'll gain: Unified Modeling Language, JSON, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Software Design, Debugging, Object Oriented Design, Data Processing, Web Scraping, Unit Testing, Programming Principles, Data Import/Export, Restful API, Python Programming, Image Analysis, Data Manipulation, Jupyter, Maintainability, Data Structures, Software Engineering, File Management
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
23K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free
Università Bocconi
Food & Beverage Management
Skills you'll gain: Food and Beverage, Hospitality Management, Restaurant Management, Product Quality (QA/QC), Global Marketing, Market Dynamics, Business Strategy, Consumer Behaviour, Value Propositions, Competitive Analysis, Innovation, Brand Management, Growth Strategies
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
4.9K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months