Small Business Entrepreneurship

Upcoming Start Date

Spring 2026 Enrollment Coming Soon

Length

2 courses, 5 weeks each

Effort

3-5 hours of self-paced learning per week

Tuition

$950.00 per course*

*Bundle both courses for a 20% discount at checkout 

Who Should Attend

• Aspiring entrepreneurs, start-up founders, or small business owners
• MBA students or college students majoring in business or a related subject
• Current small business owners, entrepreneurs, or leaders who need help crafting a business model canvas, pitch deck, or business plan draft

Course Overviews

Course 1 - Small Business Entrepreneurship: Starting a Business

Welcome to Small Business Entrepreneurship - Starting a Business, a practical online course designed to equip aspiring entrepreneurs with the essential knowledge and skills required to turn innovative ideas into successful and sustainable ventures.

Rice University’s online business courses for entrepreneurs provide a convenient, yet interactive and hands-on, way to learn or brush up on practical entrepreneurship skills.

Taught by industry professionals from Rice Business, the #1-ranked Entrepreneurship Graduate Program in the U.S. (Princeton Review, Entrepreneur Magazine), learners will explore the entire entrepreneurial journey, from conceptualizing a business idea to crafting a business model canvas, pitch deck and business plan draft. Through a combination of engaging lectures, practical case studies, group discussions, interviews, and hands-on exercises, students will gain invaluable insights into the principles and best practices that define successful small business ventures.

Recommendation: As a next step in your business venture, we recommend completing the second course in this series, Small Business Entrepreneurship – Marketing a Business, after completing Starting a Business.

Objectives

• Generate and assess business ideas, identifying their market potential and feasibility through market research and validation techniques.
• Identify the elements of a modern business model and plan, including financial projections, marketing strategies, operational structure, and risk analysis.
• Explore various sources of funding for small businesses, from bootstrapping and angel investors to venture capital and crowdfunding.
• Familiarize yourself with marketing strategies to reach target audiences, build a strong brand identity, and create a competitive advantage in the market.
• Develop the entrepreneurial mindset required to tackle challenges, bounce back from failures, and stay motivated throughout your entrepreneurial journey.

Course 2 - Small Business Entrepreneurship: Marketing a Business

Marketing for small businesses and start-ups is essential. Do you have the know-how and tools to position your venture for growth? Rice University’s online business courses for entrepreneurs provide a convenient, yet interactive and hands-on, way to learn or brush up on practical entrepreneurship skills.

Taught by industry professionals from Rice Business, the #1-ranked Entrepreneurship Graduate Program in the U.S. (Princeton Review, Entrepreneur Magazine), learners will focus on core competencies like strategic thinking, audience analysis, engagement techniques, and practical marketing planning. Although 100% online, the course is hands-on and will enable you to develop marketing plans, customer journey maps, and even more tools to immediately implement as a busy entrepreneur or small business owner. Through a combination of engaging lectures, practical case studies, group discussions, interviews, and hands-on exercises, students will gain invaluable insights into the principles and best practices that define successful small business ventures.

Recommendation: To gain the foundations of your business venture, we recommend completing the first course in this series, Small Business Entrepreneurship: Starting a Business, before starting Marketing a Business.

Objectives

• Develop a comprehensive business positioning statement that accurately reflects the brand identity and unique value proposition of their entrepreneurial venture.
• Identify and analyze target market segments, utilizing demographic and psychographic data to effectively engage potential customers.
• Create detailed customer journey maps that outline the touchpoints and experiences customers have with the business, optimizing these for greater satisfaction and retention.
• Familiarize yourself with the legal and regulatory aspects of launching and operating a small business, including business structures, permits, licenses, and intellectual property protection.
• Master the art of selling, customer acquisition, and retention strategies to ensure long-term business success.
• Scaling and Growth: Explore techniques to scale and expand your business while maintaining its core values and objectives.
• Utilize various marketing tools and techniques to design and implement engagement strategies that build strong, lasting relationships with customers.
• Construct a robust marketing plan that includes goals, strategies, and metrics for success, ensuring alignment with overall business objectives and facilitating sustainable growth.

Hear From Our Faculty

Before you start the program, get to know some of our faculty on the award-winning Rice Business podcast, Owl Have You Know. 

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Rice Business Wisdom is our online ideas magazine that features faculty research.