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

University of New Mexico
International Business II
Skills you'll gain: International Finance, Entrepreneurship, Global Marketing, Business Management, New Business Development, Business, Organizational Structure, Workforce Management, Organizational Strategy, Economics, Market Dynamics, Cultural Diversity
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
791 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
ESSEC Business School
Strategic Business Analytics
Skills you'll gain: Marketing Analytics, Business Analytics, Forecasting, Peer Review, Data Presentation, Predictive Analytics, R Programming, Customer Analysis, Information Technology, Digital Transformation, Business Marketing, Advanced Analytics, Marketing Strategies, Statistical Analysis, Complex Problem Solving, Analytics, Business Analysis, Data Synthesis, Data Analysis, Data Storytelling
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
1.3K reviews
Advanced · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Business Strategy
Skills you'll gain: Business Strategy, Organizational Strategy, Strategic Leadership, Business Modeling, Strategic Decision-Making, Competitive Analysis, 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
Coursera Project Network
Business Model Canvas
Skills you'll gain: Target Market, Value Propositions, Cost Control, Customer Analysis, Business Modeling, Strategic Partnership, Marketing Channel, Entrepreneurship, Business Strategy, Resource Management, Revenue Management
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
51 reviews
Intermediate · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Status: Free Trial
University of Virginia
Foundations of Business Strategy
Skills you'll gain: Business Strategy, Strategic Thinking, Competitive Analysis, Organizational Strategy, Strategic Decision-Making, Market Analysis, Analysis, Business Economics, Value Propositions
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
3.2K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
Macquarie University
Excel Skills for Business: Intermediate I
Skills you'll gain: Microsoft Excel, Dashboard, Spreadsheet Software, Excel Formulas, Data Analysis Expressions (DAX), Data Visualization, Consolidation, Business Reporting, Data Management, Data Cleansing, Automation
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
17K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Virginia
Business Growth Strategy
Skills you'll gain: Growth Strategies, Mergers & Acquisitions, Business Strategy, New Business Development, Innovation, Organizational Strategy, Competitive Analysis, Market Dynamics, Market Opportunities, Strategic Decision-Making, Business Valuation, Risk Management
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
688 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
University of Washington
Business English: Networking
Skills you'll gain: Business Writing, Business Correspondence, Professional Networking, English Language, Writing, Oral Expression, Business Communication, Rapport Building, Telephone Skills, Language Competency, Relationship Building, Verbal Communication Skills, Grammar, Vocabulary, Scheduling
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
3.4K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Coursera Project Network
NGO Startup Analysis with Nonprofit Business Model Canvas
Skills you'll gain: Stakeholder Engagement, Grant Writing, Resource Allocation, Strategic Decision-Making, Proposal Development, Resource Management, Business Strategy, Business Modeling, Value Propositions, Social Work
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
19 reviews
Intermediate · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Status: Free Trial
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Business Analytics
Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Marketing Analytics, Data Presentation, Data Visualization, Extract, Transform, Load, Business Analytics, Data Collection, Data Quality, Exploratory Data Analysis, Data Visualization Software, Regression Analysis, Network Analysis, Tidyverse (R Package), Internal Controls, Business Intelligence, Data Processing, Data-Driven Decision-Making, R Programming, Robotic Process Automation, Analytics
Build toward a degree
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
1.1K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of California, Irvine
High-Impact Business Writing
Skills you'll gain: Business Writing, Business Correspondence, Concision, Editing, Grammar, Proofreading, Business Communication, Report Writing, Global Marketing, Writing, Target Audience, Communication, Virtual Teams, Press Releases, Persuasive Communication, Presentations, Communication Strategies
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
3.9K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
Tecnológico de Monterrey
Design and innovation of business model
Skills you'll gain: Business Modeling, Business Architecture, Entrepreneurship, Storytelling, Design Thinking, Business Strategy, Strategic Planning, Innovation, Business Process, Systems Thinking, Presentations, Media and Communications, Business Analysis, Business Research, Market Opportunities, Data Visualization, Value Propositions, Competitive Analysis
3.9
Rating, 3.9 out of 5 stars
8 reviews
Advanced · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks