Free Course Image Business Fundamentals for Entrepreneurs

Free online courseBusiness Fundamentals for Entrepreneurs

Duration of the online course: 23 hours and 49 minutes

New

Turn your idea into a viable business with this free online course—learn strategy, finance, marketing, sales, and leadership, with a certificate option.

In this free course, learn about

  • Define what a business is and how the external business environment affects it
  • Understand what a company is and compare ownership/legal forms (e.g., private limited, etc.)
  • Craft purpose: vision, mission, values; set goals with a 360° approach and align strategy
  • Apply innovation concepts, including invention vs innovation and 'new-to-the-world' innovation
  • Manufacturing basics: mass production advantages plus logistics in distribution
  • Read core financial statements; manage cash flow; use ledgers; classify fixed vs variable costs
  • Finance fundamentals: risk is not equal; how VCs evaluate startup investments
  • Leadership and HRM essentials, including the 5E Leadership Model elements
  • ESG fundamentals: what it covers and key pressures driving adoption
  • Do market research; distinguish primary vs secondary research; use insights for decisions
  • Understand customers: reasons startups fail, B2B vs B2C differences, value-based marketing
  • Branding and marketing communication: purpose of branding and advertising; sales channels roles
  • B2B selling: sales funnel basics and how B2B sales differ from B2C
  • Customer service management and supply chain basics, plus business risk and continuity risks

Course Description

Building a business takes more than a great idea. You need a clear view of how organizations work, how value is created, and how daily decisions connect to long-term results. This free online course in Business and Marketing, focused on Entrepreneurship, helps you develop practical business fundamentals you can apply whether you are launching a startup, validating a side project, or preparing for a role inside a growing company.

You will strengthen your ability to think like an entrepreneur and an operator at the same time. The learning experience moves from defining what a business is and how environments shape decisions, to understanding how companies are structured and why purpose matters. You will be guided to turn broad ambition into direction by connecting vision, mission, values, goals, and strategy, so your plans are not just inspiring but actionable. Along the way, you will explore how innovation happens in real organizations, what separates novelty from impact, and how to assess opportunities with a market-aware mindset.

To make smarter decisions, you also need fluency in core business systems. The course builds confidence in essential operational concepts such as manufacturing, logistics, and supply chains, so you can see how products and services are actually delivered at scale. It also develops foundational finance skills, including how to interpret key financial statements and manage the cash flow realities that determine whether young ventures survive. Leadership and people practices are treated as business fundamentals too, helping you understand how execution improves when teams are guided with clarity, accountability, and customer focus.

Because growth depends on demand, the course emphasizes market research and customer understanding, addressing common causes of startup failure and showing how to distinguish between B2B and B2C realities. You will connect value-based marketing, branding, and marketing communication to outcomes, then extend those ideas into sales channels and B2B selling, where buyer journeys, distribution, and relationships change the game. You will also look at customer service management as a lever for loyalty and retention, not an afterthought.

Finally, you will develop a broader perspective on responsible business through ESG, learn how to think about business risks and continuity, and see why business information and integrated processes improve decision-making. With integrated exercises throughout, you can check your understanding and build momentum as you learn. By the end, you will have a clearer, more structured way to evaluate opportunities, make trade-offs, and communicate your plan with confidence. A certificate option may be available to help you showcase your learning.

Course content

  • Video class: Course Introduction - Business Fundamentals for Entrepreneurs 10m
  • Exercise: Who can benefit from the business fundamentals course?
  • Video class: Week 1: Module 1: Part 1 - OVERVIEW OF A BUSINESS? 10m
  • Exercise: Which of the following statements best defines a business?
  • Video class: Week 1: Module 1: Part 2 - OVERVIEW OF A BUSINESS? 44m
  • Exercise: Which of the following factors is NOT part of the business environment discussed in the transcript?
  • Video class: Week 1: Module 2: Part 1 - COMPANY 28m
  • Exercise: What is a company?
  • Video class: Week 1: Module 2: Part 2 - COMPANY 27m
  • Exercise: What type of company has a minimum of two and a maximum of 200 owners?
  • Video class: Week 2: Module 3: Part 1 - VISION, MISSION, GOALS, STRATEGY 15m
  • Exercise: What is a key aspect of defining a company's purpose?
  • Video class: Week 2: Module 3: Part 2 - VISION, MISSION, GOALS, STRATEGY 32m
  • Exercise: Why are company values important?
  • Video class: Week 2: Module 3: Part 3 - VISION, MISSION, GOALS, STRATEGY 20m
  • Exercise: What is the 360° approach to setting company goals?
  • Video class: Week 2: Module 4: Part 1 - INNOVATION 31m
  • Exercise: What is a key driver of innovation in a company, according to the transcript?
  • Video class: Week 2: Module 4: Part 2 - INNOVATION 33m
  • Exercise: What is a characteristic of 'new to the world' innovation?
  • Video class: Week 3: Module 5: Part 1 - MANUFACTURING 37m
  • Exercise: What is the primary advantage of mass manufacturing?
  • Video class: Week 3: Module 5: Part 2 - MANUFACTURING 34m
  • Exercise: What role does logistics play in mass manufacturing and distribution?
  • Video class: Week 3: Module 6: Part 1 - FINANCE 37m
  • Exercise: Understanding Business Financial Statements
  • Video class: Week 3: Module 6: Part 2 - FINANCE 24m
  • Exercise: What is one of the key aspects of financial management?
  • Video class: Week 4: Module 7: Part 1 - LEADERSHIP 32m
  • Exercise: What are the first three aspects of the 5E Leadership Model discussed?
  • Video class: Week 4: Module 7: Part 2 - LEADERSHIP 23m
  • Exercise: What is a key element of Human Resource Management discussed in the module?
  • Video class: Week 4: Module 8: Part 1 - ENVIRONMENT, SOCIETY 24m
  • Exercise: What is the main focus of ESG in business?
  • Video class: Week 4: Module 8: Part 2 - ENVIRONMENT, SOCIETY 20m
  • Exercise: What is one of the main pressures on companies to focus on ESG practices?
  • Video class: Week 5: Module 9 Part 1 - MARKET RESEARCH 19m
  • Exercise: Why is market research important for companies?
  • Video class: Week 5: Module 9 Part 2 - MARKET RESEARCH 27m
  • Exercise: What is the Difference Between Primary and Secondary Research?
  • Video class: Week 5: Module 10 Part 1 - CUSTOMERS 27m
  • Exercise: What is the primary reason 42% of startups fail according to the course module?
  • Video class: Week 5: Module 10 Part 2 - CUSTOMERS 33m
  • Exercise: What is the Difference Between B2B and B2C Businesses?
  • Video class: Week 6: Module 11 Part 1 - VALUE BASED MARKETING 16m
  • Exercise: What invention allowed for the first major use of print advertising?
  • Video class: Week 6: Module 11 Part 2 - VALUE BASED MARKETING 35m
  • Exercise: What is a key component of Value-Based Marketing?
  • Video class: Week 6: Module 12 Part 1 - MARKETING COMMUNICATION 26m
  • Exercise: What is the main advantage of branding for companies?
  • Video class: Week 6: Module 12: Part 2 - MARKETING COMMUNICATION 26m
  • Exercise: What is the primary purpose of advertising for a company?
  • Video class: Expert Module - Module A : Prof. Raj Jaswa 24m
  • Exercise: What key concept helps entrepreneurs identify growth opportunities according to this course?
  • Video class: Expert Module - Module B : Prof. Ramesh Mangaleswaran 16m
  • Exercise: What is the first step in developing a strategic plan according to the text?
  • Video class: Week 7: Module 13: Part 1 - SALES CHANNELS 24m
  • Exercise: What is the role of a sales channel?
  • Video class: Week 7: Module 13: Part 2 - SALES CHANNELS 36m
  • Exercise: What is one primary function of a distributor in a sales channel?
  • Video class: Week 7: Module 14: Part 1 - B2B 20m
  • Exercise: What is the initial step in the sales funnel approach discussed?
  • Video class: Week 7: Module 14: Part 2 - B2B 30m
  • Exercise: What is a key characteristic of B2B sales that distinguishes it from B2C?
  • Video class: Expert Module - Module C : Mr. Ashok Balasubramanian 1h01m
  • Exercise: What is the primary advantage of digital prototypes for entrepreneurs?
  • Video class: Expert Module - Module D : Prof. Umakant Jayaram: Part 1 38m
  • Exercise: What is a key financial concept for managing startup cash flow?
  • Video class: Expert Module - Module D : Prof. Umakant Jayaram: Part 2 55m
  • Exercise: What is a general ledger in accounting?
  • Video class: Expert Module - Module D : Prof. Umakant Jayaram: Part 3 39m
  • Exercise: What is the term for costs that remain unchanged regardless of the level of production or sales?
  • Video class: Expert Module - Module D : Prof. Umakant Jayaram: Part 4 46m
  • Exercise: Which principle of Finance emphasizes that all risks are not equal?
  • Video class: Expert Module - Module D : Prof. Umakant Jayaram: Part 5 20m
  • Exercise: How do Venture Capitalists evaluate startup investments?
  • Video class: Week 8: Module 15: Part 1 - CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGEMENT 19m
  • Exercise: What is a key factor in building customer loyalty according to the course?
  • Video class: Week 8: Module 15: Part 2 - CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGEMENT 35m
  • Exercise: What is an essential component for successful customer service management?
  • Video class: Week 8: Module 16: Part 1 - SUPPLY CHAIN 26m
  • Exercise: What is the main function of a supply chain in a business context?
  • Video class: Week 8: Module 16: Part 2 - SUPPLY CHAIN 24m
  • Exercise: What is an example of a supply chain with high lead time and unpredictable demand?
  • Video class: Expert Module - Module E : Prof. Raj Jaswa 34m
  • Exercise: What are the key skills for becoming a successful entrepreneur according to the transcript?
  • Video class: Expert Module - Module F : Prof. Raj Hirwani 36m
  • Exercise: What is the primary distinction between an invention and an innovation?
  • Video class: Week 9: Module 17: Part 1 - BUSINESS RISK 32m
  • Exercise: What is an example of a market risk in business?
  • Video class: Week 9: Module 17: Part 2 - BUSINESS RISK 17m
  • Exercise: What is a business continuity risk?
  • Video class: Week 9: Module 18: Part 1 - BUSINESS INFORMATION 18m
  • Exercise: What is the ultimate objective of using business information in a company?
  • Video class: Week 9: Module 18: Part 2 - BUSINESS INFORMATION 31m
  • Exercise: What was a key initiative in the 1980s to integrate production and sales processes?
  • Video class: Expert Module - Module G : Dr. Nishant Tikekar: Part 1 20m
  • Exercise: What is essential for understanding customer needs in entrepreneurship?
  • Video class: Expert Module - Module G : Dr. Nishant Tikekar: Part 2 16m
  • Exercise: What is a strategy for launching a unique product to appeal to mass customers?

This free course includes:

23 hours and 49 minutes of online video course

Digital certificate of course completion (Free)

Exercises to train your knowledge

100% free, from content to certificate

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