Small Business Entrepreneurship: Starting a Business

Upcoming Start Date

Enrollment is always open, begin anytime.

Length

4 weeks

Effort

3-5 hours of self-paced learning per week, entirely online

Tuition

$149.00

Overview

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.

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

Program Takeaways

• 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.

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