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10 Free Great Online Courses For Business - Online Course Report
10 Free Great Online Courses For Business - Online Course Report
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You don’t need to spend a small fortune on an MBA to learn about business. In the world of
online learning, there are hundreds of educational opportunities just waiting to be seized.
Today’s digital learning platforms have plenty of free courses in business for all skill levels,
from beginners to those who are well-established in the field.
The best free online business courses offer an easy-to-use interface and expert instruction
from industry leaders. We’ve scoured the web looking for the top-rated courses and applied
an exclusive methodology (https://www.onlinecoursereport.com/free/our-methodology/) to
them to present only the most suitable and practical options. They are listed below in
descending order with our top picks first.
Featured Programs
Featured Programs
Disclaimer: Some courses may include an affiliate link. Courses were chosen first based on the
methodology with affiliate links only added after the ranking was complete.
Whether you are just starting out as a small business owner or freelancer, or you’ve got a
well-established operation with hundreds of employees, you will likely find something on
this curated list to pique your interest. Following the review, we will cover some frequently
asked questions about how online courses work.
The course explores how artificial intelligence, advanced technologies, and automation are
disrupting traditional industries and changing the face of business all over the world.
Students will learn through short talks, podcasts, readings, quizzes, and exercises about the
new skill sets required in the 21st century.
Cost: Free
Curriculum: Introductory
Pros:
•Fascinating content
•Optional certification is only $5
Cons:
•None
Upon successful completion, students will be awarded official certification from HubSpot,
which can be displayed on a resume, CV, LinkedIn page, or website.
Cost: Free
Certificate: Yes
Curriculum: Introductory
Pros:
Cons:
•Too short
Upon completion, you will receive a Learner Achievement Verification Report, or you can
opt to purchase a certificate from the site’s online shop for around $20.
For business owners looking to develop a substantial web presence, there has never been a
better time. As consumers take their purchasing power online, companies need to adapt to
the changing landscape of how marketing is done, and this free online business course is
just what beginners need to get the ball rolling.
Cost: Free
Curriculum: Introductory
Pros:
•Sponsored by Google
•Easy-to-use platform
Cons:
•Students wishing to obtain a verified certificate will need to purchase it in the online store
This 14-hour course can be completed in about four weeks of study but can also be taken
at your own pace. Each week’s lessons feature videos, readings, and quizzes taught by two
faculty members at the Darden School of Business at UV and provides an excellent
overview of business strategy. Topics covered in this free online business course include:
• Strategy maps
Cost: Free
Pros:
Cons:
You can take the course for free if you already have a LinkedIn premium membership (most
business owners do) or sign up for a trial and access the classes at no charge for a month.
Cost: Free with LinkedIn Premium Try a free trial for Linkedin Learning. (https://linkedin-
learning.pxf.io/zagxbm)
Certificate: Yes
Curriculum: Introductory
Pros:
Cons:
This engaging four-week course is being provided by Babson College, a top-ranked school
for entrepreneurship education. Taught by Assistant Professor Jennifer Bailey, it is easily
one of our favorite free online courses in business, as it is quite thorough. The course
examines real-world operational challenges in starting any new business venture and
considers frameworks, setups, and tools for a variety of industries.
Each module features a different concept and includes case studies, readings, and lectures
that keep users engaged and interested. Certificates for the online business course can be
obtained at the paid level of edX; however, the lessons of each module can be audited for
free. Auditing the course allows you to read and view all of the content.
Cost: Free
Certificate: Yes, with a fee
Curriculum: Introductory
Pros:
Cons:
• Learning how to write useful emails and make productive phone calls
Cost: Free
Curriculum: Introductory
Pros:
Cons:
• The course has set start times, so you need to plan accordingly
MIT’s Open Source Learning platform offers this comprehensive course on how to launch a
successful startup company. It is a graduate-level course led by William Aulet, Howard
Anderson, and Professor Matt Marx.
The free business course online shows students how to identify and quantify market
opportunities, covering conceptualizing, planning, and starting a technology-based
enterprise. Students will learn how to develop detailed business plans for a startup. The
course can be taken by anyone who wants to start their own business, grow an existing
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business, or move into management roles in a startup. It is also helpful for students who
wish to understand the entrepreneurial process better.
MIT’s MOOC courses have no set schedule and can be started at any time with no sign-up
or hassles. The classes are not graded or certified, but they do cover the same material as
the original course taught at the Institute.
Cost: Free
Certificate: No
Curriculum: Intermediate
Pros:
•Excellent reputation
Cons:
Taught by Editor-in-Chief at BigCommerce Tracey Wallace, this short course contains nine
quick lessons that can be accessed for free on the Skillshare platform. The free online
business course takes just over an hour. Students will learn about the current state of E-
commerce and how to identify a niche, evaluate its viability, and conduct market analysis.
Tracey also covers how to set up your store and how to do so for maximum profitability.
There are over 475 similar short online courses (https://www.skillshare.com/search?
query=business&enrollmentType=free) available on the Skillshare platform, as well as many
longer sessions that can be accessed via a monthly membership.
Cost: Free
Certificate: No
Curriculum: Introductory
Pros:
• Short and easy-to-digest lessons
• Video tutorials
Cons:
• Too short
Taught by Professor Nader Tavassoli of London Business School, this engaging free online
course in business is designed to change the perception of brands as being the identity of
an organization and instead teach students to see them as a whole customer experience. It
is approximately 25 hours long and provides a comprehensive overview of branding and
the psychology behind it, including:
• How brands can change the culture of a company’s human resource practices
• How to evaluate the ROI of brands across an organization and how to use employee-
based equity to improve results
The course concludes with a peer-reviewed assignment that asks students to reflect on
what they have learned throughout the lessons.
Cost: Free
Pros:
•Well-reviewed
Cons:
•Certification is only offered at the paid level
The abundance of free online business courses is truly staggering, and a result of the tech-
based world we live in. Many aspects of business, marketing, and technology intersect and
overlap. There are a variety of online learning platforms and MOOCs one can access to
learn about nearly every aspect of business they choose. If you are thinking about taking
some online business courses, you might have some questions. In this section, we will
attempt to provide you with answers.
Some choose to take classes because they want to start a business. Other people want to
grow their existing businesses. For many people, taking courses in business can improve
their chances of being hired or enhance their productivity and prospects of a promotion at
work.
There are as many reasons to choose online business courses as there are personalities
and interests, and even if you aren’t an entrepreneur, you can still benefit from some of the
skills and principles taught in many of these courses.
The Course I Want to Take Says It’s Free. Why Does It Look Like There
Is a Fee Involved?
Graded components or completion certificates for free online business courses are typically
found behind a paywall. This means you might be offered a trial or a membership fee that
gives you unlimited access to a learning platform’s course catalog.
You may also opt to pay a small fee to acquire a shareable badge or certification.
All of the courses on our list have been chosen because they cost students nothing to take
in audit mode. If you want to upgrade to the paid components of a class, you are free to do
so, but it is not a requirement.
If you need a digital certificate but can’t afford it, some platforms offer financial assistance.
You can contact individual providers for more information.
Disclaimer: Some courses may include an affiliate link. Courses were chosen first based on the
methodology with affiliate links only added after the ranking was complete.
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