Starting A Business? Will A Business Course Help?

Posted by: Elizabeth Conley Posted date: January 31, 2013 In: Management

So you’ve made the decision to start your own business and broken the news to your family. What now?
Or maybe you have started your home business, won your first few orders, but have no idea how to grow your business and maximise your revenue.
A business course can be a fantastic way to learn the essential skills of running your own business. But do you really need to spend your time and money on this kind of learning? With so much information available online, can a business course teach you anything new?
The truth is that business courses can be useful, but are not for everyone. Read on to find out more about how a business course could help you, and the importance of training and hands-on experience.

The Benefits Of Business Courses

The distinctive thing about doing a course in business management or business studies is that you won’t just learn about running a business, but an independent body will certify that you have received this training. Depending on the type of training that you do, you may end up with a qualification that you can proudly display on your CV.
But if you are starting your own business, what use is a CV? When we visit retailers on the web, few of us would ever stop to ask what business training the owner had. In this sense, a course will not necessarily help you make your company a success.
However, a good-quality training course can help your business in more indirect ways. You may learn about:

• Marketing techniques
• Terminology associated with business, including accounting terminology
• Which processes you will need to follow as you register your new business, file your accounts, and deal with customers
• Which legislation applies to your business, and how you can meet these rules

Of course, all this information is available elsewhere. Searching the web or buying a few good business books could give you similar information at a fraction of the cost or time commitment.
However, if you feel that you would benefit from a more structured approach to learning, a business course could be for you. In addition, completing a course gives you the chance to network with other like-minded business owners in your area.

Which Business Courses Are Available?

There are many different types of business course available. Among the many options, you are sure to find something that could help you.

1. Degrees And Full-Time Courses

Perhaps the most traditional approach to business training, a degree or full-time qualification is possibly the most respected form of business training. With your certificate issued by a university or college when your training is complete, you will have met a recognised standard in business.

• For university courses, search the UCAS website
• For college and further education (FE) courses, search the National Careers Service website

2. Skills-based Courses

An ideal way for existing entrepreneurs to keep learning, skills-based courses are usually short sessions designed around specific subjects.
Whether you want to discover the benefits of online marketing or learn more about your tax obligations, there is sure to be a course for you, provided by a local body or professional.

A fantastic place to find business courses is the Business Events Finder website. Just enter your postcode or select your preferred subject to find out about training near you.

3. Online Courses And Distance Learning

If you are starting your own business, time is a precious commodity! Fortunately, if you have the discipline to manage your own learning at home, you can find flexible online training courses that let you learn at leisure.
Banks provide several free online courses that are available to anyone, regardless of who you bank with. For example, the Natwest website offers a free course for new start-ups, as well as Business Knowledge Webinars that allow you to learn from expert entrepreneurs.
Alternatively, why not try LearnDirect? You can get business courses for less than £25, many of which can be completed from home and offer real qualifications.
The most important thing as an entrepreneur is to understand that you never know everything. You should always be learning, always looking for new ways to improve your skills and extend your expertise.
How you learn is up to you – but always combine your practical experiences with training.
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