Want to establish a successful career as an entrepreneur, financial manager, or human resource manager? Introduction to business textbooks will equip you with the essential knowledge and skills to work in a business environment. Whether you’re a student or working full time, this article will outline the best business courses for beginners.
Intro to business courses come in a wide range of formats. An introduction to business course will cover essential economic activities, different lines of business, business practices, and basic business plans. If you want to learn business for beginners, read on.
What Is Business?
Business refers to activities that offer a product or service to consumers intending to make a profit. It’s also used to describe organizations or entities that engage in professional, commercial, industrial, and charitable activities. A business objective is what drives operations in the long run.
Usually, companies or organizations will ensure business continuity when they focus on accomplishing customer satisfaction in their lines of business. Depending on the field of the business, companies will create appropriate business plans and business practices.
Businesses can be categorized into four types: service, manufacturing, hybrid, and merchandising. Larger businesses may have different strategic management schemes than independent businesses, with more branches of management and a hierarchical management approach.
How to Learn Business for Beginners
- Courses. Courses are a flexible way to learn business aspects for beginners. They provide a flexible learning environment that meets your needs whether you’re working full time or not. Most courses cover key concepts in economic activities, financial accounting, and business practices.
- Bachelor’s degree programs. A Bachelor’s Degree in Business can offer thorough education in business practices. You may cover topics like financial management, business disputes, and production and operations management. The program may take longer than a course, but it equips you with more comprehensive knowledge and helps you with your career development.
- Summits. Some accredited colleges or universities will organize summits to teach students and key employees business skills across a wide range of industries. You can find different options, like spring summits, to suit your needs and schedule.
- Conferences. There are several international business conferences, according to the World Academy of Science, Engineering, and Technology. Through these conferences, you can learn the basics of business and economic activities of major industries. In addition, you will get pro tips on operations regarding the business industry, helping you establish a successful investment.
- Bootcamps. Employers consider bootcamp graduates well prepared for employment, and it’s a great way for you to secure your dream job fast. A bootcamp’s curriculum will provide students with up-to-date knowledge and current business examples and help them kickstart their careers in business sooner.
Best Business Courses for Beginners
| Course Name | Provider | Price | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| BUS 104: Introduction to Business | California State University Northridge | $1,932 | 1 hour and 15 minutes |
| AEM 1200: Introduction to Business Management | Cornell University | $1,620 per credit, 3 credit course | 3 weeks |
| Introduction to Business Specialization | Coursera | Free | 2 hours |
| Introduction to Business Management | King’s College London | $15.83 | 4 hours |
| Introduction to Business | Lumen | Free | Self-paced |
| Introduction to Business | Northcentral Technical College | $141 per credit, 3 credit course | 1 month |
| GEB 1011: Introduction to Business | Pasco-Hernado State College | $378 for Florida residents, $1,430 for non-residents | 3 hours |
| BUS 101: Introduction to Business | Saylor Academy | Free | 68 hours |
| Introduction to Business | Udemy | $84.99 | 6.5 hours |
| Introduction to Business | University of Southern California | $9,575 | 4 weeks |
The Best Intro to Business Courses: Explained
Business foundations courses include business structure concepts like the elements of a company, economic systems, and forms of ownership in a business. A wide range of courses is available to meet your needs. Below are some of the best business courses for beginners.
BUS 104: Introduction to Business | California State University Northridge
This course on introduction to business includes business foundations content and is suitable for non-business majors. It introduces you to the American enterprise system, business structures, economic foundations, and concepts of business organizations.
To ensure student success, California University makes the course available for lifelong learning students and those in general education programs. Scheduled for spring and fall, the course is flexible and allows you to work around your other responsibilities.
AEM 1200: Introduction to Business Management | Cornell University
Cornell University offers a comprehensive business introductory course that uses a balanced approach. Through this course, you will learn the role of business and management in organizations. You will familiarize yourself with the business environment and topics such as human resources, finance, marketing, and distribution strategy in line with trends like technological innovations.
Other focus areas include globalization, leadership, teamwork, entrepreneurship, ethics, and operations. In addition, Cornell University offers unrivaled flexibility through its numerous options for course location, including online courses.
Introduction to Business Specialization | Coursera
Coursera offers a free online introductory business course. This reputable course provider extends numerous benefits to learners, including 100 percent access to various resources, a completion certificate, and a flexible schedule. The course equips you with skills like leadership, strategic planning, business resources management, and expense control.
If you hold entry-level business employment, you can count on this course to improve your knowledge and skills. Before you complete the course, you will prepare three projects using strategic planning, digital marketing, cash flow, and ratios. This business simulation will facilitate the easy application of business concepts when you transition to real-world situations and work for a firm.
Introduction to Business Management | King’s College London
This online course equips learners with the necessary knowledge and skills to manage a business. You will learn business terminology, key concepts, marketing functions, and how to use certain tools like a balance sheet. You will also practice business acumen and cover key aspects of business, including managing information, money, human activity, and yourself.
The course teaches you how to communicate professionally in different business situations. In case you decide to venture into entrepreneurship, it familiarizes you with growth aspects and teaches how to deal with business difficulties. You can make the most of top-notch learning materials and additional content from the provider to reach your academic goals.
Introduction to Business | Lumen
This intro to business course gives you a deep understanding of business basics. The course builds its curriculum on business model examples and case studies to help you apply the knowledge you acquire in the job market. This course’s key topics include business, marketing products, ethics, employee relations, and operations.
The course provider leverages content such as text, simulations, and videos, familiarizing learners with the changing business landscape. It prepares you for a business program and your career, offering a great learning experience through course features such as 100 percent access to supplemental learning resources like PowerPoint and a Learning Management System (LMS) integration.
Introduction to Business | Northcentral Technical College
This three-credit course focuses on the evolution of entrepreneurship and business. During this course, you will analyze the legal, ethical, and global business environments, including business regulation. You will also assess the functional approach of IT, marketing management, operations management, and human resource management.
The university provides different class sections to choose from. To access detailed explanations of this course, you just need to select a class number. The institution strives to create a conducive learning environment for everyone with its educational resource and instruction modes, which include hybrid, in-person, and online formats.
GEB 1011: Introduction to Business | Pasco-Hernando State College
PHSC provides an introductory business course that covers functional topics in business, emphasizing areas such as marketing, quantitative tools, raw materials management, and financial management. The GEB 1011 course, scheduled for spring, provides multiple learning options, including online, remote, and hybrid.
The hybrid remote lessons will be on the East Campus, the hybrid on-campus classes on the West Campus, and the remote lessons on the West and Spring Hill campuses. This means that whether you’re working full time or not, you can take advantage of the different geographic locations and flexibility to gain knowledge in business.
BUS 101: Introduction to Business | Saylor Academy
Saylor Academy is a renowned course provider that offers this top-quality business course for beginners. It equips students with essential knowledge of the role of business. The course covers foundations of business such as legal forms of business ownership, business simulation, and entrepreneurship.
The academy focuses on multicultural aspects of different markets to empower its learners to contribute to the business environment and secure great job opportunities. As an accredited educational institution, Saylor Academy gives you an edge over the competition during the hiring process. Upon completion, you will receive a certificate to show prospective employers that you are a competent professional.
Introduction to Business | Udemy
Looking for a college business course that will introduce you to the business world and its disciplines? Udemy’s intro to business is the ideal program. It covers different sub-specialties like marketing, entrepreneurship, human resource management, operations, and economics.
The course offers an overview of the systems in businesses to help you accomplish your business objectives. It provides necessary skills and information in multiple business structure types and gives you clear options for a career path.
Introduction to Business | University of Southern California
Do you need help running your business? If so, the University of Southern California course teaches you how to manage a business. During this Introduction to Business course, you will familiarize yourself with different factors that determine a business’s long-term success, including finance, operations, marketing strategies, and leadership, and how all these work independently.
This course covers business ethics and social responsibility, financial accounting, and marketing. The instructors offer invaluable insights on entrepreneurship and sole proprietorship. In addition, you get exposure to modern business practices, for instance, creativity and innovation, sustainability, and a diverse workforce.
Is Learning Business Worth It?
Yes, learning business is worth it as it equips you with the necessary knowledge and skills to venture into the business world. Whether you want to be an entrepreneur or a business manager, the best business courses for beginners help you establish a successful career and offer strategic management tools.
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Even if you do not want to pursue a career in business, an introductory business course can help you understand personal financial statements, the mentality behind the activity of buying, and the functions of bank loans and credit unions. Moreover, a business course for beginners will give you more insight into the use of credit cards, forms of ownership, employee benefit plans, and other essential life tools. Most courses also offer incredible flexibility to suit your work schedule.
Introduction to Business FAQ
You can find the best introductory business textbooks on online platforms such as McGraw Hill, Open Textbook Library, and OpenStax College Success. You can also explore additional resources on Amazon or college websites.
A course on Introduction to business covers business fundamentals and the best business practices, helping you kickstart your career. It also builds basic concepts on which you can advance your education and move on to pursue higher education degrees like a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration.
Business fundamentals refer to the basic concepts and skills required to run a business. By understanding how companies operate, you can leverage different business elements like risk management functions to make effective business decisions that will make your organization successful. Business fundamentals will help you develop essential business skills.
You can get good online business introductory courses for free from reputable providers such as Udemy and Coursera. However, there aren’t many such courses, and the access to useful features can be limited compared to paid options. You can always take a free introduction to business course and then build on these business foundations with a paid course to make the most of your learning experience.
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