What is a business plan?

A business plan is a document in which you write out the goals for your business, the steps you'll take to achieve those goals, and the timeframe in which you want to achieve them. You can use a business plan both as an aspirational document to motivate you to perform well in your business and as a tool to attract investors to your business venture. Your business plan may also include strategies for the marketing and promotion of your business. If you consult your business plan regularly, you'll be able to find incentives and encouragement to help you reach the goals you set.

Why is it important to learn to write a business plan?

When you write a business plan, it can serve as a blueprint for developing and growing your business. Your business plan serves as a means of accountability to yourself for the business you seek to start. The goals you set in your business plan, along with the steps and timeframe you map out for reaching those goals, will be your prime motivator for success. When you've written your business plan well, it can help you reach your goals more effectively and efficiently. You can also use your business plan as a way to attract investors. Lenders are more likely to fund your business if you're able to show them a workable plan.

How can online courses on Coursera help me learn how to write a business plan?

Online courses on Coursera can help you write an effective business plan by showing you both the fundamentals and practical applications of business plan development. The suite of online courses on Coursera can show you the basics of entrepreneurship, or you can study deeper topics like social media for startups, business for entrepreneurs in creative fields, and how to seek international financing for your business. Think of online courses on Coursera as a source of knowledge that can help you achieve success as a business owner.

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

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

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

When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Business Plan, 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 Plan Courses & Certificates [2025]

Explore the Business Plan Course Catalog

Status: Free Trial
Michigan State University
How to Start Your Own Business
Skills you'll gain: Financial Statements, Intellectual Property, Value Propositions, Business Planning, Design Thinking, Ideation, Innovation, Income Statement, Entrepreneurship, Customer Acquisition Management, Business Modeling, Product Development, Balance Sheet, Market Opportunities, Verification And Validation, Creative Thinking, Lean Methodologies, Resource Management, Financial Modeling, Leadership
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
1.3K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Preview
Universitat de Barcelona
The entrepreneur's guide for beginners
Skills you'll gain: Entrepreneurship, Market Opportunities, Business Planning, Lean Methodologies, Business Modeling, New Business Development, Business Development, Fundraising, Value Propositions, Target Audience
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
531 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: New
Status: Free Trial
Coursera Instructor Network
Foundations of Business Strategy and Research
Skills you'll gain: Qualitative Research, Market Research, Strategic Decision-Making, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Quantitative Research, Innovation, Target Audience, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Sustainable Business, Benchmarking, Business Acumen, Value Propositions, Descriptive Statistics, Performance Measurement, Ideation, Team Performance Management, Competitive Analysis, Risk Management, Business Strategy, Data Analysis
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
175 reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Preview
The State University of New York
Launch Your Online Business
Skills you'll gain: Branding, Marketing and Public Relations, Entrepreneurship, Content Creation, Video Production, Marketing, Copywriting, Business Modeling, Presentations, Customer Engagement, Value Propositions, E-Commerce, Web Design and Development, Photography, Persona Development
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
868 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Coursera Project Network
Create a Business proposal with Visme for businesses
Skills you'll gain: Proposal Writing, Business Writing, Proposal Development, Sales Presentations, Presentations, Value Propositions, Content Creation, Business Strategy, Entrepreneurship
3.6
Rating, 3.6 out of 5 stars
11 reviews
Beginner · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Status: Free Trial
University of Virginia
Business Strategy
Skills you'll gain: Growth Strategies, Business Strategy, Strategic Thinking, Plan Execution, Mergers & Acquisitions, Competitive Analysis, Organizational Strategy, Business Ethics, Peer Review, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Corporate Strategy, Strategic Leadership, Business Planning, Strategic Decision-Making, Governance, Stakeholder Management, New Business Development, Business Research, Analysis, Project Management
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
4.6K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

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Status: Preview
ESSEC Business School
L'entrepreneuriat social: faire son business plan
Skills you'll gain: Business Modeling, Market Research, Business Planning, Entrepreneurship, Sustainable Business, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Marketing, Performance Measurement, Target Market, Customer Analysis, Stakeholder Analysis, Business Development, Needs Assessment, Social Work, Target Audience, Product Marketing, Entrepreneurial Finance, Governance, Financial Forecasting
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
122 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
University of Maryland, College Park
Entrepreneurship: Launching an Innovative Business
Skills you'll gain: Customer Analysis, Commercialization, Product Planning, Business Modeling, Strategic Decision-Making, Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurial Finance, Market Opportunities, Business Planning, New Product Development, Sales Strategy, Sales Pipelines, Ideation, Sales Presentation, Product Development, Team Building, Product Strategy, Capital Markets, Finance
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
2.3K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Pennsylvania
Entrepreneurship 1: Developing the Opportunity
Skills you'll gain: Entrepreneurship, Market Opportunities, Product Development, Ideation, Target Market, New Product Development, Competitive Analysis, Innovation, Business Planning, Strategic Thinking, Business Analysis, Analysis, Business Development, Needs Assessment, Customer Insights, Planning, Technology Strategies
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
4.4K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Coursera Project Network
Business Analysis & Process Management
Skills you'll gain: Process Analysis, Business Process, Business Analysis, Workflow Management, Process Management, Process Flow Diagrams, Business Process Modeling, Stakeholder Management, Stakeholder Analysis, Computer Literacy
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
6.9K reviews
Beginner · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Coursera Project Network
Create a business mind map with Coggle
Skills you'll gain: Business Planning, Product Management, Market Analysis, Process Mapping, Collaborative Software, Business Modeling, Version Control, Business Strategy, Organizational Skills
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
34 reviews
Beginner · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Status: Preview
HEC Paris
Entrepreneurship Strategy: From Ideation to Exit
Skills you'll gain: Ideation, Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Creativity, B2B Sales, Sales, Business Planning, Business Strategy, Business Development, Self-Awareness, Global Marketing, Human Resources, Fundraising and Crowdsourcing, Financial Analysis, Cash Management, Recruitment, Team Building
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
1.2K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks