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Whether you already work in business, want to transition into the field, or aspire to be your own boss, online business courses teach the skills to succeed, which you can learn from the comfort of your own home.

Business courses online range from introductory to advanced, designed to accommodate your busy schedule. Taking online business classes also gives you an opportunity to explore the world of business and decide if a degree in the discipline is in your future. 

10 online business courses to prepare you for career advancement

Top academic institutions around the world offer online business courses, as do numerous well-respected individuals and groups within the business industry. 

Business courses online vary in content and scope. Many provide information on specific aspects of business like marketing, accounting, strategy, and entrepreneurship. Others offer intensive, comprehensive knowledge about business as a whole. Take a look at our list of 10 online business courses to find the one for you.

Babson College's Financial Accounting Made Fun:Eliminating Your Fears

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Cost: Free, optional upgrade available

Length and format of course:Self-paced, estimated to last four to six weeks

What you'll learn: In this class, students learn the fundamentals about how to use financial statements. The course explores financial statement preparation and assessment by introducing learners methods and metrics to calculate performance ratios. The course also trains students to create and present financial forecasts. 

Who will this course most benefit? The introductory course benefits individuals entering the field of business, starting their own business, or looking to enhance their financial skills. 

Brunchwork's Business Intensive

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Cost: $1499 for basic course,$1840 for advanced

Length and format of course:Weekly meetings with 14 live video sessions, professional presentations, weekly speakers, and projects distributed over an online system

What you'll learn:Emphasizing eight business skills, the intensive course incorporates interactive projects to engage learners. Students gain fundamental understanding of strategy and finance, pricing, web development, and communication and presentation. Additional areas of emphasis include sales and influence, customer research, marketing, and branding. 

Who will this course most benefit? Designed as a comprehensive program to build business skills, the course is designed for busy professionals. 

Cornell's Structuring Business Agreements for Success

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Cost:Free, optional upgrade available

Length and format of course:Five weeks, instructor-led sessions.

What you'll learn: Enrollees in Cornell's Structuring Business Agreements for Success course learn about laws that govern business and society as they develop skills to construct legal documents. The course trains students to evaluate contracts and covenants, assess the benefits and challenges of various provisions, and how to assign risk in an agreement. 

Who will this course most benefit? As an introductory course, this class would benefit individuals who need to understand contracts and agreements present in daily life benefit from the comprehensive content. The class also provides understanding of common legal terms and concepts, useful for professionals and nonprofessionals alike.

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Project Management Institute's Online Courses

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Cost: Varies

Length and format of course:Varies 

What you'll learn:PMI offers foundational, intermediate, and advanced courses on numerous aspects of project and program management. As students learn topics such as Agile, digital intelligence, and business leadership, they also receive continuing education and professional development credit as needed. 

Who will this course most benefit? PMI is a world-recognized leader in project and program management. Current business professionals and individuals looking to enter the field can find a course that benefits them. 

Steve Blank's How to Build a Startup

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Cost:Free

Length and format of course:One month of self-paced content with interactive quizzes

What you'll learn: The class leads students through content on business models and customer development, value proposition, and distribution channels before moving into content on revenue models and partnership. The ninth and final lesson focuses on resources, activities, and costs.

Who will this course most benefit? This class serves aspiring entrepreneurs by looking at each step in the process of building a startup. At the end of the course, students will have created a real business model.

University of California, Berkeley's Effective Business Writing

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Cost:Free, optional upgrade available

Length and format of course:Four weeks, instructor led

What you'll learn: Students in UC Berkeley's Effective Business Writing course learn to write effective and efficient business communications such as letters, emails, and reports. Learners explore formatting, concision, and streamlining as they develop business writing skills. Through instruction and exercises alike, individuals create documents using the techniques and approaches learned in the class.

Who will this course most benefit? Any business professional benefits from learning how to organize, condense, and present clear information via writing. Individuals looking to get into business also gain essential writing skills. 

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US Small Business Administration (SBA) Learning Platform

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Cost:Free

Length and format of course:Self-guided content varies in length; some in-person content with additional options to register interest for upcoming programs

What you'll learn:SBA provides several online learning resources, including the Learning Center and Ascent for Women. Learning Center courses train individuals to plan, launch, manage, market, and grow their business. SBA also offers entrepreneurial training to individuals transitioning their businesses, spouses, and executives of small businesses in underserved cities. 

Who will this course most benefit? SBA's content meets the needs of entrepreneurs, business professionals, and leaders in the field. Ascent for Women specifically supports women interested in starting or growing a small business. 

Wharton's Business Strategy