22 Best Free Online Business Courses

Looking to learn Business?

Then I’ve got the resource for you!

There is an incredible amount of high-quality resources and courses online from a variety of platforms and institutions.

So I’ve gone and made a shortlist of the best free courses around.

Be sure to check out the entire list as you’ll find all online business skills for free at a high level in this article.

Happy learning!

Our Favorite Free Online Business Course

Excel Skills for Business: Essentials

Excel

Excel Skills

In this beginner level course in English with subtitles in 9 different languages, you will learn the essentials of Microsoft excel and by the end of the course you will be able to perform basic calculations with formulas and functions, be able to format spreadsheet layouts and create visual interpretations of data through charts and graphs. This course will set you on the path to become a confident user.  During this course you will use downloadable excel, workbooks and data sets with examples and practical challenges to provide you with practice opportunities at the same time as discovering new and useful features within excel. Adding this software to your skill set is an invaluable asset to your employ-abilities. Skills acquired: Microsoft excel, spreadsheets, charts and graphs

Duration: Approx 26 hours over 6 weeks Rating: 4.9/98%

What are the Top Free Online Business Courses

After much research on all online Business Courses on offer, we have found the top 22 business courses to make it easier for you to choose

22 Business Fundamentals-Effective Communication

bfbc

Business Fundamentals

In this online course in English, you will receive a practical grounding utilizing different types of communication media to boost your effectiveness, save you time, and reduce stress. Discover the principals of writing emails, reports and proposals and refine your ability to make convincing presentations and conduct effective meetings. Your communication skills will develop with sensitivity to cultural and personal differences. This is an EOCCS accredited course. Skills acquired: Communication, Personal Effectiveness and Time Management. Duration: 3 hours per week for 4 weeks. Rating: 4.8

21 Grow to Greatness:Smart Growth for Private Businesses II

Part 2

Grow to Greatness II

This course is in English only, and focuses on common human resource challengers faced by businesses attempting to grow. Part 1 is not a prerequisite for taking this course.  You will learn different costs and how they are representation graphically also calculating and allocations of overhead rates in traditional and activity based costing systems. Further, the cost-volume-profit analysis will be discussed to show the break even point and profit generation. Finally you will be taught to define costs and benefits relevant for management decisions as apposed to those that are irrelevant. Skills acquired: Planning, Entrepreneurship, Business Intelligence, Innovation, Strategic Management. Duration: Approx 9 hours over 5 weeks. Rating: 4.8 

20 Cost and Economics in Pricing Strategy

cost

Cost and Economics

A beginners course in English with subtitles in 6 languages, and shows you the economic factors behind pricing based on cost and it also shows the positives and negatives of a cost- based pricing approach. This course offers practical and research-based models and methods in order for you to set prices that maximize profit. By the end of the course you will be able to see opportunities for price discrimination and be able to analyze and apply different pricing models. Skills acquired: Cost-based Pricing, Channel and Direct-to-consumer pricing, Pricing Strategy, Price discrimination and Price Elasticity of demand. Duration: Approx 12 hours over 4 weeks. Rating: 4.8/93%

19 Entrepreneurship 3:Growth Strategies

E3

Entrepreneurship 3

English is the only medium for this course.  Successful start-ups grow smartly and not necessarily quickly. The course is designed to create understanding of the necessary elements of successful scaling including a broad view of demand creation, acquiring customers and forecasting demands. You will be taught effective marketing using digital marketing, social media, public relations, search engine optimization, and pricing.

Further, you will learn the essentials of creating a sales process, partnerships and supplier relationships, and examine the essential of attracting the developing and keeping effective talent.By the end of the course you will have a broad picture of your expansion strategy for your enterprise.

Skills acquired: Strategic management, Growth Strategies, Marketing and Entrepreneurship

Duration: Approx 8 hours over 4 weeks. Rating: 4.8/94%

18 Entrepreneurship 4:Financing and Profitability

Entrepreneurship 4

Available in English with subtitles in 5 different languages. This course will cover a variety of financing options and the better ones to choose from. The financing models include bootstrapping, organic growth, debt, and risk capital. Also covered n the course is a very good overview of equity financing which will include types of investors which include angels, venture capital, and crowd funding. Terms in the financing and exit modes and which strategy may suit best is also covered. On completion of this course you will understand the look of success and how it can be financed. You will also received feedback on your pitch. Skills acquired: Venture Capital, Exit Strategy, Finance and Entrepreneurship

Duration: Approx 6 hours over 4 weeks. Rating: 4.8/95%

17 More Introduction to Financial Accounting

More Intro to Financial Acc

This course is in English with subtitles in 4 different languages. The precursor to this course is the (Introduction to Financial Accounting) course. In this course however, you will learn how to read a financial statement provided by a company and to understand its contents and analyze the financial information provided which will help you to make more informed decisions. You will be working with various types of assets, liabilities, and stockholders’ equity.  Accounts receivable issues like Factoring and Securitization will be discussed along with the issues surrounding customers purchasing on credit.

The topic of LIFO (Last in first out) inventory will also be covered. You will also be looking at long lived assets, good will, intangible assets, liabilities and long term debt in the company as well as the time value of money. Finally, you will look at deferred taxes and shareholders equity before proceeding to do a complete financial statement analysis.Skills acquired: Financial Accounting, Financial Statement, Accounting, Generally accepted Accounting Principals (GAAP) and Accounting terminology

Duration: Approx 17 hours over 6 weeks. Rating: 4.8/95%

16 Entrepreneurship 1: Developing the Opportunity

E1

Entrepreneurship 1

This is an introductory course in English with subtitles in 8 different languages, which will introduce the concepts of, and the definition of entrepreneurship. It will profile the entrepreneurship and discuss the difference between this and entrepreneurial management. Further, techniques for identifying opportunity, assessing the opportunity, testing and creating a model. So by the end of this course you will know if you fit the profile of an entrepreneur and be prepared to move to the next phase which is Launching the start-up. Skills acquired: Discovery-driven planning, Elevator Pitch, Planning, Entrepreneurship. Duration: Approx 11 hours over 4 weeks. Rating: 4.8/96%

15 Entrepreneurship 2:Launching your Start-Up

E2

Entrepreneurship 2

This course is in English and has subtitles in 4 other languages, continuing from Entrepreneurship 1. Now that you have your model and clearly understanding of the opportunity you will need to create a blueprint business model. This course will give you a complete breakdown of the essential requirements of creating a start-up. Also in this course you will receive knowledge about a lean approach, pivoting, when to quit your normal job, the ;pitch you will use, effective team management, building your external team, advisory and professional service members.

By the end of this course you will have established your strategy for launch knowing who needs to be hired, management and some legal aspects involved. Skills acquired: Brand Management, Choosing advisors, Brand, Entrepreneurship and Strategic Management. Duration: Approx 8 hours over 4 weeks. Rating: 4.8/96%

14 Advanced Business Strategy

ABS

Advanced Business Strategy

This is an entry level strategic analysis course is in English with sub titles in 9 different languages, and follows on from Foundations of Business Strategy. You will learn the tools to analysis strategy in the dynamics of competition and strategies to survive through disruption of industry. This course also covers how and when to enter foreign markets and how engaging with external stakeholders creates value.Skills acquired: Strategic management, Strategic thinking, Business Strategy and Business competition. Duration of course: 10 hours over 4 weeks. Rating: 4.8/97%

13 Financial Account Fundamentals

FAF

Financial Acc Fundamentals

A beginner level course in English, with subtitles in 8 different languages. This course will teach you the basics of financial accounting using videos, financial records of small business and activities that will take you through the balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statements. You will learn how to record transactions and prepare these statements and analysis them to access a company,s financial health. By the end of the course you will be able to make journal entries to record transactions, use t-accounts.  You will be able to show how the three statements fit together and to prepare these financial statements. Skills acquired: Financial Accounting, Accounting, Financial Statement and Balance Sheet. Duration: Approx 14 hours over 5 weeks. Rating: 4.8/97%

12 Firm Level Economics:Consumer and Producer Behaviour

FLE

Firm Level Economics

The course is I English with subtitles in 7 different languages, in this course you will see how market based pricing systems act as a rationing device encouraging or discouraging production and consumption to find a balance in the allocation of resources. In this course you will be able to describe consumer activity through the demand curve and producer supply through the supply curve.

You will also be able to note the equilibrium point and explain how tax and price effects the equilibrium.  The course shows through cost theory how firms can optimize given their own costs.

Skills acquired: Economics, Consumer Behaviour, Supply and Demand and Cost. Duration: 17 hours over 5 weeks. Rating: 4.8/97%

11 Foundations of Business Strategy

Foundations of Business Strategy

This is a beginner course in English with subtitles in 9 different languages, in this course you will learn the meaning and importance of business strategy and swot analysis as well as competitor and environmental analysis. You will explore your industry,s structure and how competition affects profitability through the five forces tool. You will be shown how to perform a capabilities analysis and use this to guide your decision making. Lastly, you will get to understand competitive positioning in relation to your competition though strategy maps. Skills acquired: Capabilities Analysis, Business Strategy, Competitive Position, Strategic Analysis and Industry Structure

Duration: Approx 9hours over 4 weeks. Rating: 4.8/97%

10 Foundations of Everyday Leadership

f everyday

Foundations of Everyday Leadership

Given in English medium with Arabic subtitles in this foundational course, you will explore individual and group decision making and managing motivation and learning why inclusiveness may be the most important skill in your toolbox. Key to this course is understanding of why and how leadership skills are essential to an organizations success. You will learn to use your leadership skills to effectively work with other’s and teams and how to apply the foundations to everyday situations.  

Skills acquired:  Group Decision-Making, Managing Motivation, Individual Decision-Making, Communication in Small Groups and Leadership Duration: 16 hours over 4 weeks. Rating: 4.8/97%

09 Introduction to Marketing

Introduction to Marketing

This course is in English with subtitles in 9 different languages. It covers customer loyalty, branding, customer centricity, and practical marketing strategies. This course teaches brand equity as a key element to keep customers in a business environment which constantly emerging start-ups. The customer centricity is not customer service but is customer focused and a determination of the customers needs because it is important to focus on the correct customers to enhance strategic advantage. Finally the marketing strategies will unfold the drivers that influence customers and will show how these are executed before making your investment. Skills acquired: Positioning in Marketing, Marketing, Marketing Strategy and Customer Satisfaction. Duration: Approx 10 hours over 5 weeks. Rating: 4.8/97%

08 Private Equity and Venture Capital

Screenshot 2022-06-21 165423

Private Equity & V C

This is a course in English with subtitles in 8 different languages, and you will require an understanding of the basics of Corporate Financing, Accounting Principals with prior knowledge of Private Equity and Venture Capital not required but recommended. This course analyses Private equity and the Venture Capital business. Learners will glean a good understanding of the mechanisms behind the creation and development of a firm and the support it can attract from the financial system. The course will show how private equity investors provide finance through equity companies to start-ups all the way through to more mature businesses. Private equity (called Venture Capital at the start-up stage) deals with scouting, advising, valuations, deal making and financing.

Skills acquired: Valuation (Finance), Venture Capital, Venture Capital Financing and Private Equity

Duration: Approx 10 hours over 5 weeks..Rating: 4.8/97%

07 Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content

Viral Marketing

The course is in English and has subtitles in 8 different languages, if you wonder why some things become highly successful and others do not, then this is the right course for you. Within this course you will learn the ideas behind viral marketing, how things catch on and the application of these ideas to be more successful in your own marketing of your product, brands and other ideas. You will also learn how to increase your influence above the line. How to leverage the power of the social network system to spread your influence. The leader will show and teach strategies for your usage to create viral campaigns. At the end of the course you will be crafting content and transmissible content.

Skills acquired: Social Network, Viral Marketing, Marketing and Marketing Strategy

Duration: Approx 4 hours over 4 weeks. Rating: 4.8/97%

06 Becoming a Changemaker:Introduction to Social Innovation

changemaker

Becoming a changemaker

This is a beginner level study in English with subtitles in 9 different languages, exploring the field of social innovation and entrepreneurship for those who want to increase their social impact, and will take you through an exploration of the problems surrounding us and how to start innovating for solutions. If you want to be challenged to start engaging with the manifold spaces around you then by the end of this course you will have designed your own approach to social innovation.

Skills acquired: Sustainability, Innovation, Social Entrepreneurship and Entrepreneurship

Duration: Approx 20 hours over 6 weeks. Rating: 4.8/98%

05 Business Writing

BW

Business Writing

This is a beginners course in English with subtitles in 9 different languages. This course will teach you to write clearly and effectively as this is one of the most important skills you should develop for success in the business world. You will learn how to apply the 10 top principals of good business writing and how to use simply tools to improve your writing and execute organization and structure. From the beginning you will already be equipped to improve your writing. The skills learnt provided an adequate foundation that you can also apply to graphic design and presentations to the best of your ability. Skills Acquired: Grammar, Communication, Business Writing and Writing

Duration: Approx 13 hours in 4 weeks. Rating: 4.8/98%

04 Successful Negotiations:Essential Strategies and Skills

Successful Neg

The course is in English with subtitles in 12 different languages. This course consists of a series of interactive videos ranging from 5 to 20 minutes each and include tests to evaluate your understanding about negotiations. You can watch the videos under your own timeline or you can watch them all at once. Module 6 will test your negotiation skills.  You can negotiate with a friend or use (discussions) to find another partner on the same course who will give you feedback on our skills. To assist you in your negotiations the course lecturer has provided free negotiating planning tools including a free app which are available at http://negotiationplanner.com/

Thereafter take the exam and to successfully complete you must answer 80% or more of the questions correctly. It is a mastery exam meaning that you can take the exam as many times as you would like until you have mastered the course.

The Spanish and Portuguese course are available on https://www.coursera.org/learn/negociacion/

Or https://www.coursera.org/learn/negociacao/ respectively.

Skills acquired: Strategic Negotiations, Communication,Negotiation, Decision Tree. Duration: Approx 17 hours over 7 weeks. Rating: 4.8/99%

03 What is Corruption:Anti-Corruption and Compliance

What is Corruption

In this course in English with subtitles in 5 different languages, you will learn how to distinguish between giving a gratuity and how paying a bribe is a criminal offence. Bribery comes in many forms and is easily disguised and exists almost throughout the world. The compliance programs from Governmental level to Corporate to small business has become imperative. Examined during this course is where corruption mainly exists, how it comes to exists, its implications and results thereto. The focus is also on strategies for the creation of compliance procedures and policies that will help to prevent and address corruption. Much of the course is spent on building policies and procedures that will help you to address corruption and you will also learn methods for preventing corruption within your organization as well as red flags and mechanisms to identify corruption at its onset.

Skills acquired: Risk Management, Operations Management, Corruption and Strategic Planning

Duration: Approx 12 hours over 4 weeks. Rating: 4.9/93%

02 Introduction to Negotiations:A Strategic Playbook for Becoming a Principled and Persuasive Negotiator

Introduction to Negotiation

This English course has subtitles in 9 different languages. It will instruct you to be a better negotiator.  It develops skills for you in analyzing and shaping your negotiations, enabling you to put forward a principled argument that will convince others. Search beneath surface conflict and be able to predict, interpret and shape the course of the negotiation. Through the medium of case studies you will have real life business situations to negotiate with your fellow students, and through them you will get feedback on how you did and be able to compare with others who dealt with the same scenario. By the end of this course you will be able to prepare for negotiations, make ultimatums, dealings with people of different perspectives and includes negotiations when you have no power or over email.

Skills acquired: Game theory, Negotiation, Collaboration and Principled negotiations. Duration: Approx 32 hours over 9 weeks. Rating: 4.9/97%

01  Excel Skills for Business: Essentials

Excel

Excel Skills

In this beginner level course in English with subtitles in 9 different languages, you will learn the essentials of Microsoft excel and by the end of the course you will be able to perform basic calculations with formulas and functions, be able to format spreadsheet layouts and create visual interpretations of data through charts and graphs. This course will set you on the path to become a confident user.  During this course you will use downloadable excel, workbooks and data sets with examples and practical challenges to provide you with practice opportunities at the same time as discovering new and useful features within excel. Adding this software to your skill set is an invaluable asset to your employ-abilities. Skills acquired: Microsoft excel, spreadsheets, charts and graphsDuration: Approx 26 hours over 6 weeks Rating: 4.9/98%