If you are going to open your own business, you must first of all realize that this is very difficult bread. You won’t be able to earn money quickly and continue to relax. Business is a continuous process that requires complete dedication and great responsibility. Moreover, in-depth knowledge of methods is required entrepreneurial activity. And what type of activity to devote oneself to, where and from whom to learn how to run a business is a completely separate topic.

You'd have to be crazy not to take advantage of that mass useful information that the Internet provides. Video tutorials, forums, discussions, any webinar or online course today can be found in global network V a huge number. And another question arises: how to choose the most correct, most useful courses and, most importantly, free business training? It is no secret that a novice entrepreneur does not always have the opportunity to spend money on purchasing these courses. We are happy to provide you with a list of online training materials that won't cost you a penny. With one click, you can start learning the basics of marketing, finance, business management, website creation and much more. These courses also provide their students with special tools to bring them to life. This may be the best chance for you, your team and your business to get back on its feet.

1. Basics of entrepreneurship. University of California course

Business is an exciting but risky career move. To increase your chances of success, it would be wise to familiarize yourself with the basics of entrepreneurship by taking this effective and free course.

This interactive course contains from 4 to 8 hours of video lessons, as well as materials recommended for self-study. You will learn everything you need, gain skills and tools, marketing strategies, features of a business plan and much more.

2. How is a startup built?

Those who are going to build a business from scratch will need some practical advice. How to Build a Startup is different from any traditional textbook offered by an academic institution, and it focuses on teaching entrepreneurs how to quickly come up with ideas, test the market, and carve out a niche in it.

This course also requires the active participation of the student. During your studies, you can choose your own course of action, even creating your own exercises and projects. You don’t have to blindly rely on someone else’s idea; the course is aimed at creative people. You can use this course to find out for sure how much your proposed product will be in demand in the market and how quickly the return on business will be.

3. Business financing is a sore subject

Need financing but don't know where to start? The University of Maryland's online pro course can teach you how to raise money for your business. Even if you don't have initial capital.

The course is presented in video lecture format, and each session takes place over four weeks, with a frequency of 3 to 5 hours of lectures per week. Designed for both beginners and existing entrepreneurs. Upon completion, you will learn all about the capital structure of successful businesses and how to find investors.

4. Use your imagination

No matter what business you are in, every business needs creativity. Awaken hidden possibilities that are most likely dormant within you, a free course called “Awaken Your creative potential”, which is offered on coursera by specialists from the State University of New York. You will realize that you are capable of more and learn how to use your inner reserves in both your professional and personal life.

The course requires time from 3 to 4 hours per week and involves classes in the form of video lessons, expert assessments. Weekly discussions on the forum will also be very useful. In addition to learning how to recognize and harness your own creative potential, you'll gain the skill to teach the same to others, which can help you as you build your business.

5. Business ethics in business and real life

It is important for an entrepreneur to understand the role of ethics in business. "Business Ethics for the Real World" is a free online course from Santa Clara University School. World Wide Web, and it is focused on any type of professional and entrepreneurial activity. This course will be very useful for both beginning businessmen or students, and experienced professionals.

The course does not impose its own postulates, it allows participants to work at their own pace and is aimed at learning ethical theory, which can be applied in real situations that often arise in business.

6. 21 important lessons for a businessman

Many people say that business is higher mathematics. In fact, there are so many difficulties, unpredictability and even pitfalls associated with it for the ignorant beginner that it will be useful to learn from those who have already gone through all this on own experience. This is what the course “21 Important Lessons for Entrepreneurs” is dedicated to. 450 students have already rated it five stars, noting that it outlines the most important aspects of the initial stage of their business.

The duration of the course is two hours in total. It is divided into 23 online lectures.

7. Introduction to Marketing

What's the point of running a business if people don't buy your product? The Introduction to Marketing course, a product of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, will teach you to “get to the root” and anticipate the needs of your customers.

The training takes place over four weeks and requires active training of approximately 5-6 hours per week. Learn everything you need to know about brand positioning and communication, learn how to accelerate decision-making, enter new markets, the marketing planning process and proven marketing strategies.

8. Quick start on WordPress

Many new or existing businessmen do not yet have a website, but understand how important it is to manage their business online. This is important even if you plan to outsource the design and content of your website. You can start exploring all the features of the most popular web platform. Training is free.

This course offers 10 free videos that you can watch for an hour to learn step-by-step how to create simple one-page websites in WordPress.

There's no need to go into everything technical details webmaster's work. The course will take you to your goal step by step. You will learn how to choose the best web hosting provider, how to install and use WordPress panels, how to choose a design theme, how to create content and much more.

9. Get started quickly using social networks

Surely you have a Facebook page or Twitter profile. Why not use it to promote your business? Place your business logo on your account. Now these will be the pages of your product or service. You won't believe how quickly your business will start to gain momentum. You will have regular clients and customers. Simple posts in cyberspace will help you successfully sell your product.

Of course, this path is also not the easiest; everywhere has its own subtleties. How to promote your product on social media - this is taught in a special video course “Social Media 101”. Training includes step by step instructions on marketing techniques on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Google+, YouTube, as well as on maintaining your own blog.

10. How to reason and argue?

The ability to express one’s thoughts, defend one’s opinion, reason about matters - required quality for an entrepreneur. Duke University offers a special course called Think Again: How to Reason and Argue. How to discuss problems with business colleagues, how to learn to make decisions independently, give reasons for them, distinguish what is important from what is unimportant - he teaches all this this course. It is worth remembering that it is absolutely free. The 12-week course contains a series of video lectures and exercises.

11. Project planning and management

Among the courses listed that stand out is Fundamentals of Project Planning and Management (University of Virginia).

Poor project planning and sloppy execution will not bring success. If you want to grow as a businessman, you need to learn the basics of project management. This course is four weeks long and requires you to spend 2 to 4 hours of your time per week to listen to video lectures and participate in practical exercises, discussions and quizzes.

You will learn exactly how to plan your business, understand what makes a project unsuccessful, learn to set clear goals for the project, and prioritize goals.

12. Marketing in the digital world

Experienced entrepreneurs know that the Internet is playing an increasingly important role in marketing - even for small local businesses that operate primarily offline. To dive into the world of online marketing, take a course called Marketing in a Digital World offered by the University of Illinois.

For this course, you will be required to spend 6 to 8 hours per week watching video lectures, as well as participating in training for a total of 12 weeks. Each week an example is reviewed for students real company, which you'll use to learn the fundamentals of marketing and how they've shifted towards the digital world.

13. The better the leader, the richer the life.

An entrepreneur needs to brush up on his leadership skills from time to time. This will come in handy when it comes time to hire more employees or hold the attention of a larger audience. A free course offered by specialists at the University of Pennsylvania is called “Better Leaders, Richer Lives.” Training in this system will help you develop the necessary leadership skills.

The course lasts 10 weeks and will require 3 to 8 hours of your time each week, includes video lectures and weekly assignments, along with several exam options taken at the end. You will learn practical and proven leadership techniques that will help you identify your core values ​​and earn the trust of those around you.

14. Financial accounting

Can't afford to hire an accountant to run your business? Perhaps you should try to master accounting yourself and manage your financial affairs yourself? This knowledge can be obtained for free with the Introduction to Financial Accounting course offered by the University of Pennsylvania Business School.

You will be required to complete a course of video lectures (6 to 8 hours per week), discussions and tests over a total of four weeks. The course includes information about key principles, all special vocabulary and terminology of accounting are provided.

15. Operations management

Anyone who wants to effectively manage their own business must have some basic knowledge to control production. The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania offers a free Introduction to Operations Management course.

The course takes place over four weeks, with 5 to 7 hours of study time per week for video lectures, discussions and tests. By the end of the course, you will be able to identify bottlenecks in your business, correct problems that are slowing down productivity, and come up with new ways to improve business processes.

Being an entrepreneur is not easy, and it is quite possible that you will feel quite overwhelmed at times. But when you have learning opportunities, useful resources that offer academic and practical knowledge, and are free, you can rest assured about your business.

How to get free and discounted HR training for SMEs?

In Moscow, there are several types of preferential training for SMEs:

1. Free programs training for SMEs and start-up entrepreneurs

The State Budgetary Institution "Small Business of Moscow", with the assistance of the Department of Science, Industrial Policy and Entrepreneurship, is implementing training programs for employees of small and medium-sized businesses. Participants can be beginners or experienced entrepreneurs who want to expand their knowledge in their chosen field, improve the skills of their employees, or acquire useful contacts in a professional environment.

Who can take part in the programs?

  1. Managers and employees of small and medium-sized businesses.
  2. State civil servants of the city of Moscow, responsible for supporting, developing and regulating the activities of SMEs.
  3. Aspiring entrepreneurs from:
  • military personnel transferred to the reserve and adult members of their families;
  • students;
  • women who have returned from parental leave or persons on parental leave;
  • persons with disabilities.
  • Participants in the Presidential Management Training Program.
  • How much does it cost to participate in the program?

    Training is free. All expenses are compensated by the Moscow Government. For some types of educational programs, training may be partially paid.

    All educational programs taught by experienced teachers in courses designed specifically for entrepreneurs. All courses have a practical orientation.

    After completing the training, you will learn how to competently draw up a business plan, how to attract clients for business development, how to properly manage a company and gain other useful knowledge necessary for every entrepreneur.

    How to enroll in the program?

    • select the program of interest on the mbm.ru portal in the “Training” section;
    • go through the registration procedure;
    • sign up for a program of interest;
    • get a link to download the directions;
    • send Required documents to the organization providing training;
    • come with a printed referral to the educational institution offered by the Program.

    After checking the correctness of the documents provided, the representative educational organization will contact you and invite you to training.

    2. Presidential program management training

    A program has been organized for Moscow residents distance learning « Modern entrepreneur» - advanced training courses in the areas of “Marketing” and “Entrepreneurship”.

    Participation in the program free, financed by the Moscow Government. Muscovites who have and are receiving higher or secondary vocational education can participate.

    The program lasts one month and does not imply a break from your main job. Upon completion, a state-issued certificate of advanced training is issued.

    The program is implemented by the Moscow Department of Science, Industrial Policy and Entrepreneurship, the State Budgetary Institution “Small Business of Moscow” and the Moscow State Industrial University.

    There are two types of advanced training within the program - courses “Entrepreneurship and Business Model Building” and “Need Satisfaction Marketing”.

    The study consists of two parts - remote (virtual) from November 1 to November 16, and full-time (in the classroom) from November 22 to November 30.

    In the distance learning form, there will be independent study of materials, viewing of video lectures in the amount of 6 academic hours (45 minutes each) per course and participation in webinars. All webinars will take place on weekends. Participation in webinars - important point, since the probability of passing to the second, full-time part of the training depends on this. Webinars for each listener - 21 academic hours per program.

    Full-time training - one weekend (Saturday + Sunday). Upon successful completion, a certificate of advanced training in the relevant profile will be issued.

    What you need to do to register for the program

    1. Choose one of two (or both) courses of the program:

    2. Register for the program on the GBU MBM website:

    a) Fill in all fields of the form that opens and click on the “REGISTER” button. To your email address You will receive a registration notification letter with further instructions.

    Starting your own business is not easy if you have no experience. You will need a lot of knowledge, which often has to be earned through trial and error. There is one problem: while you are “getting bruises,” your business may “sink.”

    Courses for aspiring entrepreneurs come to the rescue - people who themselves have gone through the path of creating their own business share the secrets of success and the necessary knowledge. We have collected several such courses - no motivational messages, only practical advice.

    Lyudmila Chumak

    Legal aspects of the activities of IT startups

    Price: for free

    The course program is aimed at studying the most current issues that young companies face, and problem areas where the greatest risks for their development and successful start are concentrated commercial activities. Topics include: building relationships with investors, protection intellectual property, exit from corporate conflict, compliance mandatory requirements regulator and others. All topics are adapted to the business characteristics of IT startups.

    How to find a business idea

    When:

    Price: for free

    This course covers what an urban entrepreneur must know to make his business successful - from finding a unique and useful idea to building a business model and creating a story about his project. The course will be useful both for those who are just thinking about starting their own business, and for those who want to new level already existing project.

    IIDF sales start workshop

    When: Registration is ongoing, the course lasts 2.5 months

    Price: 500 thousand rubles

    Course participants will learn to check the demand for their solution by communicating with potential clients, and find your first clients. Work with projects starts from the idea or prototype stage.

    Financial literacy for entrepreneurs

    When: Registration is ongoing, the course lasts a month

    Price: for free

    Online course on how to stop being afraid and start counting money. Required knowledge for start own business and its management are set out in simple language. The course is designed for a wide audience: both those who have just conceived the idea of ​​their own business, and entrepreneurs whose business is not yet profitable.

    Financial management

    Price: 25 thousand rubles

    Course participants will learn to analyze a profit and loss statement, use various indicators to evaluate a business, evaluate the investment attractiveness of projects, build a unit economics model for their project and choose the appropriate monetization model.

    Agile, Scrum, Kanban

    Price: 25 thousand rubles

    Flexible project management methodologies are a series of approaches to management, the dynamic formation of requirements and their implementation as a result of interaction within self-organizing working groups. Course participants will learn to correctly prioritize work, easily estimate deadlines, and reduce risks when managing a product or project.

    Creative Entrepreneurship and Innovation Design

    When: Registration is ongoing, the course lasts 35 days

    Price: for free

    In this course, entrepreneurs will learn creativity, and creative people will learn entrepreneurial thinking. At the end of the course, students will be able to generate ideas, analyze the market, organize business processes, search for sources of resources and fundraising. They will be able to find their place in the market and sell themselves or their product by learning how to make money from their talent.