What is a business model?

A business model is a format of work structure that helps companies define the characteristics of their business. In a business model, a company states what they do and what they create, who they sell to and who buys it, and how much money they make versus how much it costs to produce profits. In other words, a business model helps a company determine how it will create value. Business models tell investors and customers how a particular company plans to solve certain business problems, and in doing so, what the potential upside of the business model might hold. If a company cannot live up to its business model, then it may choose to cease operations.

What is it important to learn about business models?

It's important to learn that business models are the modern assessment vehicle for how businesses are viewed. Learning about business models can help you articulate your own vision down the road when you have great ideas for businesses and need to interest investors in your idea. When a business forms, it needs to develop and make a case for a business model to gather the basic assumptions about the company's business goal. A business model can also help you learn what path a company will take to chase any potential work opportunity.

What careers can I work in by learning business models?

When you learn about business models, the knowledge you gain can help you find career work in technology companies, advertising agencies, financial consultancies, banking, manufacturing, and other fields. This is because researching, developing, and creating a business model requires insightful thought and analysis about the business opportunity, the target market, and the potential for the business model. As you learn about business models, you start to acquire tips and techniques that help define what the business is and in what direction it's headed. That knowledge can help you grow your career faster within a corporation or a startup.

How can taking online courses help me learn about business models?

Taking online courses to learn about business models is a smart way to gain real-world insights into how certain companies have evolved to bring their products into the world. You will be exposed to both business innovators and opportunistic dreamers who figured out a way to sell a business model to investors, customers, and the world at large. When you gain this knowledge, you'll have the tools to go out and develop your own business model to create your own success.

What are the benefits of taking an online Business Model course?

Online Business Model courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your existing knowledge or learn new Business Model skills. With a wide range of Business Model classes, you can conveniently learn at your own pace to advance your Business Model career skills.

What Business Model courses are best for training and upskilling employees or the workforce?

When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Business Model, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here .

Best Business Model Courses & Certificates [2025]

Explore the Business Model Course Catalog

Status: Preview
Kennesaw State University
Business Model Canvas: A Tool for Entrepreneurs and Innovators (Project-Centered Course)
Skills you'll gain: Value Propositions, Business Modeling, Customer Analysis, Business Strategy, Business Planning, Entrepreneurship, Target Market, Customer Relationship Management, Marketing Channel, Strategic Partnership, Cost Management, Innovation, Resource Management, Revenue Management
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
665 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Pennsylvania
Business and Financial Modeling
Skills you'll gain: Risk Modeling, Probability Distribution, Mathematical Modeling, Regression Analysis, Portfolio Management, Predictive Modeling, Business Modeling, Spreadsheet Software, Financial Modeling, Financial Statements, Predictive Analytics, Process Optimization, Financial Statement Analysis, Capital Budgeting, Financial Forecasting, Decision Making, Peer Review, Google Sheets, Return On Investment, Microsoft Excel
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
11K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Maryland, College Park
Entrepreneurship: Launching an Innovative Business
Skills you'll gain: Customer Analysis, Commercialization, Business Modeling, Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Market Opportunities, Business Planning, Customer Insights, Product Development, Entrepreneurial Finance, Market Analysis, Ideation, New Business Development, Marketing Strategies, Sales Strategy, Product Marketing, Product Design, Sales Presentations, Fundraising, Finance
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
2.3K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Status: AI skills
Microsoft
Microsoft Business Analyst
Skills you'll gain: Stakeholder Management, Microsoft Power Platform, Stakeholder Engagement, Gap Analysis, User Story, Business Process Improvement, Requirements Analysis, Process Improvement, Software Development Life Cycle, Requirements Elicitation, Microsoft Excel, Business Requirements, Microsoft Visio, Data Modeling, Agile Methodology, Scrum (Software Development), Excel Formulas, Business Analysis, Power BI, Data Analysis
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
1.1K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Virginia
Entrepreneurship: Growing Your Business
Skills you'll gain: Income Statement, Financial Accounting, Design Thinking, Financial Analysis, Annual Reports, Balance Sheet, Customer experience strategy (CX), Business Modeling, Corporate Sustainability, Business Planning, Environmental Issue, Business Ethics, Environmental Social And Corporate Governance (ESG), Professional Development, Leadership Development, Employee Coaching, Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Finance, HR Tech
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
7.6K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Coursera Project Network
Business Strategy: Business Model Canvas Analysis with Miro
Skills you'll gain: Business Modeling, Business Analysis, Value Propositions, Business Strategy, Business Planning, New Product Development, Product Development, Customer Analysis, Entrepreneurship, Presentations, Productivity Software
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
140 reviews
Intermediate · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours

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Explore topics outside of work

Status: Preview
The State University of New York
Launch Your Online Business
Skills you'll gain: Target Audience, Branding, E-Commerce, Customer Analysis, Brand Management, Web Content, Web Analytics, Entrepreneurship, Product Quality (QA/QC), Business Modeling, Web Design and Development, Marketing Strategies, Business Planning, Business Operations, Value Propositions, Content Strategy
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
856 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
University of Virginia
Business Strategy
Skills you'll gain: Business Strategy, Growth Strategies, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Strategic Thinking, Competitive Analysis, Mergers & Acquisitions, Stakeholder Management, Business Development, Business Planning, Plan Execution, Peer Review, New Business Development, Strategic Decision-Making, Business Ethics, Governance, Organizational Strategy, Corporate Strategy, Milestones (Project Management), Innovation, Analysis
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
4.6K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Virginia
Innovating with the Business Model Canvas
Skills you'll gain: Design Thinking, Customer experience strategy (CX), Business Modeling, Business Planning, Business Process, Process Design, Growth Strategies, Business Strategy, Strategic Planning, Innovation, Customer Analysis, Business Priorities, Strategic Partnership, Product Strategy, Operational Excellence, Product Management, Value Propositions, Customer Relationship Management, Strategic Prioritization
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
308 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Coursera Project Network
Business Analysis & Process Management
Skills you'll gain: Process Analysis, Business Process, Business Analysis, Business Process Modeling, Process Flow Diagrams, Process Management, Business Solutions, Stakeholder Management, Organizational Structure
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
6.8K reviews
Beginner · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Status: Preview
Yale University
Financial Markets
Skills you'll gain: Financial Market, Investment Banking, Portfolio Management, Finance, Capital Markets, Financial Services, Corporate Finance, Derivatives, Investments, Financial Regulation, Risk Management, Behavioral Economics, Equities, Underwriting, Securities (Finance), Lending and Underwriting, Market Dynamics, Governance, Insurance, Environmental Social And Corporate Governance (ESG)
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
31K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Pennsylvania
AI For Business
Skills you'll gain: AI Personalization, Machine Learning Methods, HR Tech, Data Ethics, Large Language Modeling, Generative AI, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), Machine Learning Algorithms, Big Data, Data Governance, Applied Machine Learning, Machine Learning, Human Resources, Analytics, Risk Modeling, Artificial Intelligence, Credit Risk, Customer Engagement, Governance, Business Transformation
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
1.5K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months