An online business course can be a great way to add to your skillset and position you for career advancement or entrepreneurial success. With the volume of online business courses available, it can be hard to know which ones are the best quality and value. We reviewed dozens of online business courses covering various topics and skills to find the best ones for a range of student needs. Our best online business courses offer high-quality, flexible instruction at affordable price points.
Top 9 Online Business Courses
- Business Foundations Specialization – Wharton School of Business via Coursera – Best Overall
- Start a Profitable Online Business – Creative Live – Best for Online Business Owners
- Becoming an Entrepreneur – MIT via edX – Best for Entrepreneurs
- Google Project Management Certificate – Google via Coursera – Best Project Management Course
- Legal Foundations for Entrepreneurs – University of Maryland via Coursera – Best Business Law Course
- Fundamentals of Finance and Accounting for Non-Financial Managers – American Management Association – Best Finance Course
- Key Technologies for Business Specialization – IBM via Coursera – Best IT Course
- Professional Certificate in Digital Marketing – University of Maryland via edX – Best Marketing Course
- Introduction to Negotiation – Yale University via Coursera – Best Negotiating Course
How We Chose the Best Online Business Courses
As business is a broad topic, we selected our list of top picks by focusing on standout courses in specific areas or skills. We identified the most common business topics students focus on and reviewed specific courses within those topics.
In addition to the best overall online business course, our list recommends the top courses in business-related areas of study like finance, entrepreneurship, marketing and IT. Our list includes individual classes that can be completed in a few hours as well as course sequences that can take a few weeks or months to complete.
Our evaluation process included:
- In-depth review of each course’s syllabus, descriptions, videos, reading materials and assignments
- Research into faculty qualifications and accomplishments
- Review of third-party instruction platforms
- Analysis of student reviews and comments
The programs that met the following four criteria earned a place on our list.
Comprehensive curriculum
Even within specific business subtopics, there’s a lot of information to cover. When choosing the best courses for individual subjects, we sought those with content that is robust and in-depth enough to give students a solid understanding of the topic. Many of the courses on our list, like the University of Maryland’s Professional Certificate in Digital Marketing, are a series of courses covering multiple skill areas. We also prioritized courses that include certificates, so students have a tangible demonstration of their achievements for employers.
Flexibility
One of the reasons students seek online courses is they offer more flexible access to education than traditional in-person classes. With the exception of the American Management Association’s Fundamentals of Finance and Accounting for Non-Managers courses, all online business courses on our list can be completed on-demand, with no synchronous class meetings and minimal weekly time commitments. We also considered course length, featuring courses that can be completed in a few weeks to a few months of study.
Faculty and institution
Who you’re learning from matters, which is why we also considered the school or organization offering the courses we evaluated. Many of the online business courses on our list are taught by faculty from renowned higher education institutions like Wharton School of Business, Yale University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Others, like the Key Technologies for Business specialization, are taught by experts from industry-leading organizations like IBM, ensuring that students are getting access to the most up-to-date information from leaders in their fields.
Value
Online business courses may also appeal to students because they’re typically significantly cheaper than a two- or four-year degree program. To ensure students are getting the most for their money, we factored the cost of the course into our reviews.. Several options on our list, including MIT’s Becoming and Entrepreneur course, can be audited for free. There are also a number of courses available through providers like CreativeLive that offer monthly subscriptions, so students can continue learning even after their initial course has ended.
Top 9 Online Business Courses
Business Foundations Specialization – Wharton School of Business via Coursera
Intelligent Award: Best Overall
There are many skills and topics that fall under the umbrella of business. The Business Foundations Specialization course, offered by the University of Pennsylvania’s (UPenn) Wharton School of Business through Coursera, addresses the most essential of those principles, including marketing, operations, finance, and human resources. This beginner-level course features six classes and is a great overview for students who are looking for an introduction to business basics, which is why we chose it as our best overall online business course.
What We Like
The Business Foundations Specialization course gives students all over the world access to Ivy League-caliber business education without the Ivy League price tag. The specialization consists of six classes — Introduction to Marketing, Introduction to Financial Accounting, Managing Social and Human Capital, Introduction to Corporate Finance, Introduction to Operations Management and a capstone project.
With the exception of the capstone project, students can enroll in classes in any order, allowing flexibility to focus on the areas they need to study most. Students also have the option of enrolling in individual courses though they must complete the whole sequence to earn a certificate of completion. All six courses can be completed in six to seven months with approximately two hours of study per week.
We like that, as a Coursera course, students have the option to audit the course free. However, if they want access to all course materials and the shareable certificate of completion, they’ll need to enroll in the paid course.
What We Didn’t Like
Although the Business Foundations Specialization course can be completed in less than a year, seven months might be more time than students want to commit to an online course. Students have the option of enrolling in individual courses, if that suits their schedules better. However, for the full benefits of this course, we recommend completing the whole six-course sequence. Pricing for the course on Coursera could also be more transparent.
What Students Are Saying
Coursera has a 4.5 star rating on G2 and 3.3 stars on Trustpilot. Users who like the platform commend it for offering the option to audit a course for free and for giving them access to high-quality universities like UPenn. The top complaints from dissatisfied students include confusion over payment policies and poor customer service experiences.
Start a Profitable Online Business – CreativeLive
Intelligent Award: Best for Online Business Owners
For students who are seeking an online course that can help them start or grow their own e-commerce business, we recommend taking a closer look at CreativeLive’s Start a Profitable Online Business course. Founded in 2009, CreativeLive connects learners all over the world with experts and innovators to help share knowledge and empower individuals. This class breaks down key strategies for creating a successful online venture, including product development, marketing, communications and finding resources to help your online business succeed.
What We Like
Taught by entrepreneur, business coach and author Lewis Howes, CreativeLive’s Start a Profitable Online Business course features 14 lessons that cover both basic and advanced e-business topics. Howes gives a step-by-step breakdown of the process of launching a business, including how to develop a product that sells, strategies for generating leads, tools for online marketing, and how to drive traffic to your website.
Students get even more bang for their buck with guest speakers like James Wedmore, an authority on video marketing, and Derek Halpern, an expert on using new media to attract customers.
We also like the wealth of downloadable class materials, including infographics and workflows, that students receive with the course. Purchasing Start a Profitable Online Business as a standalone class will give students lifetime access to all of the course materials. Additionally, CreativeLive gives students the option to subscribe to the platform, which hosts more than 1,900 classes in a wide variety of subjects.
What We Didn’t Like
CreativeLive doesn’t offer free classes, and outside of a sample video, there’s no trial option. Therefore, students must make an upfront financial commitment if they want to purchase this or another CreativeLive course. This class is available for $149, and subscriptions to CreativeLive start at $13 per month, but a free trial or money-back guarantee might make it easier for students to make the financial commitment to the course.
What Students Are Saying
Creative Live has 3.9 stars on Trustpilot and 4.5 stars on G2. Positive feedback about the platform includes praise for its accessibility, affordability and the high quality of instruction and video content. Many users also report liking the platform’s free daily video feature. Negative comments focus on poor customer service experiences.
Becoming an Entrepreneur – MIT via edX
Intelligent Award: Best for Entrepreneurs
It seems like everyone these days wants to be an entrepreneur, but doing so is easier said than done. Luckily, this course from MIT provides the foundation of knowledge and skills necessary for innovative individuals to turn their ideas into tangible products and services. Becoming an Entrepreneur, which is offered through online educational platform edX, is designed to guide individuals through the process of founding their own company, regardless of their background or business experience.
What We Like
This is yet another course that gives students access to a leading university — in this case, MIT — at a fraction of the cost of a full degree from that institution. Students can audit the course for free, but they must enroll in a paid track to access all course materials and receive a certificate upon successful completion of the program.
The instructors for this course include MIT professor Martin Culpepper and Laurie Stach, formerly of MIT, who is the founder and executive director of LaunchX, which helps young people develop and launch their business ideas. Stach, in particular, is an engaging and dynamic speaker who injects humor in her sessions and explains concepts clearly.
The instructors will take you from ground zero through the phases of business ownership, such as learning how to read your customers and how to test your products. You’ll delve into the top myths of entrepreneurship, defining your goals, identifying business opportunities and pitching to customers.
What We Didn’t Like
As a beginner-level course, Becoming an Entrepreneur focuses on foundational knowledge and entrepreneurial skills. While this may be ideal for individuals who have no prior business experience, it might be too basic for students who already have a background in entrepreneurship. Those who want to deepen existing entrepreneurial skills might be better served finding an intermediate or advanced level course.
What Students Are Saying
While there aren’t any ratings published for this course on edX, student testimonials on the site recommend this course for individuals planning to start their own businesses. Former students point out that the course presents useful content in an easy-to-understand manner. The edX platform has 4.5 stars on G2 and 3.3 stars on Trustpilot.
Google Project Management Certificate – Google via Coursera
Intelligent Award: Best Project Management Course
The ability to successfully shepherd projects from ideation to completion is an in-demand skill across many industries. Google’s Project Management Certificate course, available through Coursera, will help students gain the theoretical and practical knowledge they need to fulfill entry-level project management roles. This expert-designed course introduces students to industry-standard project management software and best practices for problem-solving, communication and leadership. Students who complete the course receive a Google Career Certificate, a valued credential among employers.
What We Like
Google’s Project Management Certificate program features a comprehensive curriculum that provides students with an immersive understanding of the key practices and skills they need to obtain an entry-level project management position.
Over the course of six classes, students will cover foundations of project management, project initiation, project planning, project execution, and the Agile project management approach. They will also complete a capstone project for hands-on experience.
This curriculum is designed for maximum flexibility, with 100% online courses that students can start immediately upon enrollment. Students can work at their own pace; those who complete about 10 hours’ worth of work per week can expect to complete the course in six months.
Students who successfully complete this course will receive a professional certificate from Google. We also like that this program qualifies students for over 100 hours of project management education, which helps them prepare for Project Management Institute certifications like the globally recognized Certified Associate in Project Management credential.
What We Didn’t Like
Although students can audit the courses in this program for free, they must pay for the individual course or subscribe to Coursera to receive their Google certificate. This course is also specifically designed for beginners with no prior project management experience, so students seeking intermediate or advanced training in this area may want to explore other course options. Lastly, the course is also only available in English currently.
What Students Are Saying
The Google Project Management Certificate course has 4.8 stars out of 64,979 ratings on Coursera. The Coursera platform has 4.5 stars on G2 and 3.3 stars on Trustpilot.
According to student testimonials on Coursera, the course provides valuable knowledge about project management and leadership, and instructors are knowledgeable and present the material in an engaging manner.
Legal Foundations for Entrepreneurs – University of Maryland via Coursera
Intelligent Award: Best Business Law Course
Understanding the various laws and regulations that govern business practices is essential to running a successful company. Any individual who is considering operating their own business should start with a basic understanding of business law, which is why we recommend the University of Maryland’s Legal Foundations for Entrepreneurs class. Offered through Coursera, this comprehensive, fully online course covers key legal areas including contracts, business plans and organization, legal counsel, employment law and more.
What We Like
The University of Maryland’s Legal Foundations for Entrepreneurs is designed to walk students through all of the key elements of law that impact entrepreneurs. This beginner-level class starts with introductory lessons on legal fundamentals before launching into a step-by-step walk-through of forming and incorporating a business, developing a business plan, hiring employees and more.
Content is delivered in the form of brief videos, reading assignments and practice quizzes. Individual sections can be completed in an hour or less, making this a convenient program for individuals with limited time. As a Coursera course, students can enroll in the program anytime and start learning. Students who enroll in a paid version of this course will receive a certificate when they finish.
We also like that this course is part of a larger specialization, which includes two other courses. Students who want a deeper understanding of business law for entrepreneurs can apply this course to the specialization.
What We Didn’t Like
As this course focuses on the legal aspects of entrepreneurship, it might not satisfy the needs of all students, especially those who are looking to dig deeper into other types of business law, like contracts, formation law or intellectual property. Students should also be aware that if they want to receive a certificate, they’ll have to buy the course or pay for a Coursera subscription.
What Students Are Saying
The Legal Foundations for Entrepreneurs course has 4.9 stars on Coursera, with 29 ratings. The Coursera platform has 4.5 stars on G2 and 3.3 stars on Trustpilot. Users like that the platform gives them access to high-quality instruction from top institutions. The most common negative comments for Coursera focus on their paywall for certificates and certain features.
Fundamentals of Finance and Accounting for Non-Financial Managers – American Management Association
Intelligent Award: Best Finance Course
For students who are seeking an understanding of finance and accounting within a business context, we recommend the Fundamentals of Finance and Accounting for Non-Financial Managers course provided by the American Management Association (AMA). This non-profit association is dedicated to providing educational resources that prepare individuals for successful management careers. This course will help those with limited financial management experience gain essential skills in accounting and bookkeeping, assessing revenue and expenses, understanding cash flow and balance sheets, and more.
What We Like
Finance and accounting can be intimidating subjects, especially for those who don’t have previous experience in these areas. Therefore, we like that this course starts by breaking down the basics, like key financial terms and the accounting process, before working up to more advanced concepts such as elements of cost accounting and debt vs. equity financing. Overall, students will gain a deep understanding of the essential elements of finance and accounting, which they can apply to their own businesses or use as transferable skills when applying for jobs.
This course utilizes both video-based modules and livestreaming course seminars, so students benefit from a variety of instruction methods. Video modules cover Introduction to Accounting and Introduction to Finance. For the virtual sessions, learning objectives and content are clearly outlined for each class meeting.
We also like that credits for this course can be applied to professional development requirements for various business credentials.
What We Didn’t Like
The cost of AMA’s Fundamentals of Finance and Accounting for Non-Financial Managers is $2,345 for AMA members and $2,595 for non-members, making it one of the most expensive courses on our list and potentially putting it out of financial reach for some students. The live instruction component also means it’s less flexible than some of the other courses on our list.
What Students Are Saying
The AMA doesn’t have any reviews on Trustpilot and only has two reviews on G2,though they are both 5 stars. Although published reviews aren’t specifically for the Finance and Accounting course, students who participated in other AMA classes say they were informative, interactive and helped them prepare for career advancement.
Key Technologies for Business Specialization – IBM via Coursera
Intelligent Award: Best IT Course
Even if you’re not planning on becoming an IT professional, having a foundational understanding of business technology is a highly valuable and transferable skill. We included IBM’s Key Technologies for Business Specialization, which is available through Coursera, in our top picks because this sequence of three courses focuses on three essential, cutting-edge IT topics — cloud computing, data science and artificial intelligence. The curriculum is developed and taught by IBM experts with years of experience in their areas of specialization.
What We Like
When it comes to learning about the most current essential technology tools for business, there’s perhaps no better teacher than IBM. The multinational tech giant has designed and delivered a course that covers core concepts within three areas that are driving growth and innovation. For students with basic computer literacy but little tech experience, this is an ideal introduction to what types of technology are used in the business world.
The curriculum, which is taught by IBM experts Rav Ahuja and Alex Aklson, explores artificial intelligence, data science and cloud computing through a business lens. The three classes in this specialization teach students the basics of these technologies, as well as how to leverage them for maximum productivity and innovation in their own businesses. In addition to IBM software, the course also introduces students to other leading software and service providers, including AWS, Google, Microsoft and more.
We also like that a variety of subtitles are available for this course, including Arabic, Vietnamese, Spanish and more.
What We Didn’t Like
Although many Coursera courses are available to audit for free, the Key Technologies for Business specialization isn’t one of them. Students can do a 7-day trial of the course, but they must enter their credit card information and cancel their subscription within 7 days if they choose not to continue the course. Finally, this course is only available to those who subscribe to Coursera; it is not available for individual purchase.
What Students Are Saying
IBM’s Key Technologies for Business Specialization course has 4.7 stars with 1,169 ratings on Coursera. Overall, the Coursera platform has 4.5 stars on G2 and 3.3 stars on Trustpilot.
Student testimonials on Coursera praise this course for helping them gain confidence, develop problem-solving skills and prepare to launch their own businesses.
Professional Certificate in Digital Marketing – University of Maryland via edX
Intelligent Award: Best Digital Marketing Course
In our increasingly connected world, digital marketing skills are more important than ever, which is why we included the University of Maryland’s Professional Certificate in Digital Marketing on our list of best online business courses. Available through edX, this four-course certificate program covers fundamental and advanced digital marketing concepts and practices, including analytics, social media and online advertising. Students will leave this course with the knowledge to develop successful digital marketing strategies for their own business or other companies.
What We Like
Through this online course, students get access to top UMD faculty, like P.K. Kannan, an award-winning marketing expert and researcher. Kannan and his colleagues teach four foundational courses essential for understanding digital marketing strategy in the 21st century.
This flexible, on-demand course is designed for individuals who have limited time (the anticipated workload is 3-5 hours per week). It doesn’t sacrifice depth for convenience, however. Each module consists of four weeks of lessons that drill down into topics like fundamentals of digital marketing, tools and techniques for digital marketing analytics, online advertising and social media, and digital customer analytics. Students who complete all four courses in the specialization will receive a professional certificate confirming their successful completion of the course.
We also like how this course is rooted in the most current digital marketing best practices and innovations. Upon completing this course, students will be equipped with up-to-date knowledge to market their businesses or pursue jobs within digital marketing.
What We Didn’t Like
The total cost of the four-course specialization is $796, which is among the higher price points on our list. Students can enroll in each course individually, so they don’t have to pay the whole sum upfront, but the price per class remains the same. Students must pay for the course in order to receive their completion certificate, though students can audit the classes for free.
What Students Are Saying
edX doesn’t publish ratings for individual courses. However, the platform has 4.5 stars on G2 and 3.3 stars on Trustpilot. Users praise edX for offering a wide variety of courses from renowned institutions and having an easy-to-navigate, user-friendly platform. Most of the negative feedback on edX focuses on the cost of courses.
Introduction to Negotiation – Yale University via Coursera
Intelligent Award: Best Negotiation Course
No matter where your professional journey takes you, strong negotiating skills will come in handy. Yale University’s Introduction to Negotiation course, available through Coursera, is a straight-forward, beginner-level course that introduces the necessary skills and strategies for becoming an effective negotiator. Over the course of four sessions, students will use case studies to develop a framework for analyzing negotiation tactics and hone their persuasive abilities so they can bring their best selves to the negotiating table.
What We Like
This course offers students the opportunity to learn negotiating tactics from an expert on the subject and earn a certificate from a prestigious Ivy League university — what’s not to like?
Instructor Barry Nalebuff has written six books on negotiating and game theory, and he advised the NBA in their negotiations with the National Basketball Players Association. In addition to this experience, he brings an engaging, conversational presentation style to the videos that make up the bulk of the course. We also like how the course includes perspectives from other expert negotiators like Herb Cohen and Linda Babcock.
Besides videos, students in this on-demand, flexible course will learn through reading assignments, quizzes, case studies, and feedback. Beyond strategy and tactics, the course also digs into specific negotiating scenarios, like negotiating over email and how factors like gender dynamics can play into negotiations.
This course is offered in English with a variety of subtitles including Spanish, French, Russian, and more.
What We Didn’t Like
This course is designed to be completed in nine weeks, though the recommended time commitment for each week varies. This may make it a little more challenging for students to fit into their schedules, or it might take a student longer than nine weeks to complete the course. Students have the option to complete the course for free, but they must purchase the course for $49 to obtain the completion certificate.
What Students Are Saying
This course is rated 4.9 stars on Coursera, with 4,435 total reviews. Overall, the Coursera platform has 4.5 stars on G2 and 3.3 stars on Trustpilot. Students like that Coursera gives them access to courses and instructors from top universities like Yale. The most common complaints are regarding the platform’s payment policies and customer service.
What to Consider Before Signing Up for an Online Business Course
Your education goals
Why are you taking an online business course? Are you looking to gain a specific skill to apply for a promotion? Are you currently in a different field and want to try business? Do you want to start your own company? Your answers will determine which online business course is right for you, in terms of course content, cost and provider. With so many online business courses available, it’s important to be as clear as possible about what you want when searching. Otherwise, it can quickly become overwhelming.
Your learning style
While there are numerous benefits to online learning, the truth is it’s not for everyone. Do you learn better through personal interaction and hands-on experience versus watching video lectures or reading lessons? Are you self-motivated and able to hold yourself accountable, or do you need real-time guidance and support from an instructor? Enrolling in an online course isn’t beneficial if the delivery method doesn’t match your learning style, so these considerations will help you determine if online learning is the best path toward the knowledge you seek.
Your budget
Online business courses can range from free to a few thousand dollars, so it’s important to establish a budget before selecting a course. If you’re taking a course for fun or to try out an unfamiliar subject, you may not want to invest a lot of money. Free classes are a good option in this situation. However, if your goal is to earn a credential that can lead to career advancement or a salary increase, it might be worth investing in a paid program that includes a certificate of completion.
Your availability
Even though most online business courses are designed to be flexible and accessible to even the busiest of students, they do still require a commitment of time and energy. Think about how much time you can realistically devote to online lessons and assignments so you can find a course that suits your needs. For maximum flexibility, look for courses that deliver lectures in an on-demand format. If having a scheduled class fits into your life better, you can look for a course with a set meeting time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What jobs can I get after completing a business course?
According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook, there are many jobs that fall under the umbrella of business, including accountants, human resource specialists, market researchers, budget analysts and more. The scope of potential employment opportunities broadens even more when you consider the transferable skills, such as project management, leadership and creative problem-solving, that you can gain from an online business course. If you’re seeking a specific job, find a business course designed to give you the training you need to qualify for that job.
Are there free online business courses?
Yes, many schools and companies offer online business courses for free. However, if you’re registering for a free online business course, it’s important to read the fine print to find out exactly what you’re getting. In most cases, a free course only gives a student limited-time access to basic course features, like video lessons, readings and homework assignments. For premium features like certificates of completion, graded assignments and unlimited access to course materials, students will typically have to upgrade to a paid course or subscription.
How long is the average online business course?
The length of online business courses varies depending on the course’s structure, content and credentials. A single video lecture might be less than an hour, but a sequence of courses culminating in a certificate may take a few weeks or months to complete. Most online business courses include the length of the course and how many hours per week students will spend in class in the course description. However, be sure to note whether time estimates include time outside of class for completing homework assignments, projects and readings.
What courses should I take to start my own business?
Starting your own business is a massive undertaking, but online business courses can provide you with a solid foundation for success. The basic skills that entrepreneurs need include management and leadership, finance and accounting, marketing, technology proficiency, public speaking, writing, human resources and business strategy. Some providers may offer a full entrepreneurship-focused course that covers all of this knowledge. In other cases, students may want to gather this information on a piece-meal basis, with individual courses from different schools and providers.
Interested in a degree instead?
Learn more about online degrees, their start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.