10 Best Online Business Courses For Elevating Your Business Skills

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10 Best Online Business Courses

So, should you take one of these online business courses or enroll in an MBA program? Great question — I’ve thought about this one a lot.

In 2020, the only result a brand name, full-time MBA program can guarantee is a six-figure debit in your bank account.

Full-time tuition at top schools is north of $200k. And that number doesn’t include the opportunity cost of leaving the workforce for two years, nor does it factor in the interest on any loans you take out.

Pre-COVID, the core benefits of MBA programs were the on-campus career fairs and on-site employer visits. But with the current state of the world, these events aren’t happening anymore. Traditional recruiters of business school grads are nowhere to be found. MBA jobs are declining at an alarming rate.

While I don’t think an MBA is worth it anymore, investing in building your business skills has never been more important. And with a computer, Internet connection, and the right online business course, you can replicate (and even exceed) the knowledge and network an MBA program promises — at a fraction of the cost.  

So, let’s get you started! We put together a summary of the 10 best online business courses:

10 Best Online Business Courses

1. Finance – Fundamentals of Finance and Accounting for Non-Financial Managers

Basic finance skills are important for everyone. It’s crucial to understand how the bottom line works and how you and your team play into it. You don’t need to be an accounting pro, but knowing the fundamentals is key.

In this course, dive into: uncovering profitability drains, justifying purchases, interpreting financial reports, and adequately demonstrating your value and ROI to your boss — something every single employee should be able to do.

2. Strategy & Business Management — 2-Month Business Intensive 

Do you want to build a comprehensive business skill set? Is networking and career support really important to you? Good news: The brunchwork Business Intensive teaches eight core business skills while also building your network.

In this two-month course, you’ll complete hands-on projects, including: refining and testing a business concept, creating a McKinsey-caliber presentation, analyzing financial reports, developing a business strategy, crafting a marketing and sales plan, conducting user interviews, building a no code website, and more. 

There are also weekly guest speakers such as former Presidential Candidate Andrew Yang, PayPal Founding COO David Sacks, Ellevest Cofounder and CEO Sallie Krawcheck, and Peloton Cofounder Graham Stanton.

100% active learning, the Business Intensive is a great way to transition from a passive consumer of business knowledge to an active business leader with a well-rounded skill set and network. The Business Intensive serves as a robust business management course.

3. Negotiation – Introduction to Negotiation: A Strategic Playbook for Becoming a Principled and Persuasive Negotiator

 From term sheets, to your salary, to getting the best possible discount on your new car — good negotiating skills will help you get exactly what you want (and deserve), both professionally and personally.

Learn how to craft strategic arguments that yield optimal results. Plus, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to practice and receive invaluable feedback. 

 4. Productivity — Work Smarter, Not Harder: Time Management for Personal & Professional Productivity

Don’t let all of your business skills go to waste due to a lack of time management and productivity prowess. Get better at setting goals, prioritizing tasks, managing your schedule, and delegating strategically.

Everyone has their own time management barriers, and this course will help you overcome each one by introducing you to several productivity tricks and tools.

5. Marketing – Become a Digital Marketer

Digital marketing skills are in high demand. And though many of us are quite technologically savvy, digital marketing is not nearly as easy as it seems. Rather, it’s quite complex and involves several different strategies and moving parts.

Get up to speed on omni-channel marketing, marketing analytics, social media strategy, customer retention, and more. By the end, you’ll be able to overcome the “digital skills gap” many traditional marketers face today.

6. Sales and Business Development — Sales Training: Building Your Sales Career

Do you think you know what it takes to be successful in a sales career? You might be surprised at what the real answer is.

No matter where you’re at in your sales career, this course will teach you more about: active and passive buyers, getting buyers’ attention and building relationships, and the critical importance of being able to understand the buyer’s context and perspective.

Start closing more deals today.

7. Public Speaking — Essential Public Speaking

Good public speaking skills are essential for everyone. They’ll help you gain the confidence to present a deck to a client, share company transitions with your team, and speak up in any meeting. Decrease your speech anxiety and improve your communication skills once and for all.

And the best part about this course? There’s a huge virtual reality component in which you can practice speaking in a variety of virtual scenarios, like in an auditorium and a board room. 

8. Branding – Brand Identity and Strategy

A strong brand identity is key to a company’s success. Just look at timeless brands like Coca-Cola, Apple, and Disney, and newer companies like Allbirds, Warby Parker, and Glossier.

A solid brand tells a company’s story in a way that connects with customers, draws them in, and keeps them coming back for a long time. Learn all the branding tips and tricks you need.

9. Project Management — PMP Certification Training Course

This is the perfect way to prepare for the Project Management Professional (PMP) exam, the gold standard in the field. But it’s still incredibly valuable even if a certification isn’t in your future.

Learn the ins and outs of the core competencies project managers need, including successfully managing people across teams, so you can seamlessly take projects from zero to completion.

10. Design – Graphic Design Bootcamp: Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign

 Whether you want to create a logo, event announcements, or beautiful backgrounds for your website, basic graphic design skills are incredibly useful to have.

In this bootcamp, learn how to work with three of the best design tools — Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign — plus how to leverage them for both print and digital projects. Take your branding and marketing assets to the next level all on your own. 

Paulina Karpis is the co-founder and CEO of brunchwork, a co-learning company that delivers modern business education. brunchwork teaches thousands of millennial professionals annually via a online business management class, membership, and a popular newsletter.