You can do it, and we’re here to help
A free, self-paced online course for anyone thinking about starting a business. Eight steps take you from your first idea to launch, in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean or Hindi, whenever it suits you.
Free
Self-paced online course
Five
Any time
Is Intro to Business right for you?
Starting a new business takes planning and a lot of knowledge. Intro to Business lays out the basics in plain language, at your own pace and without any pressure to commit. It’s ideal if:
- You have a business idea but aren’t sure where to start
- You want to learn how to write a business plan
- You want to know what it takes to become an entrepreneur
- You want to learn the basics of funding a business
- You want to know what WCWB and the Center for Business & Innovation can offer you
How it works
Self-paced online course on Teachable
Free
English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean and Hindi
Our partners at the Center for Business & Innovation
Eight steps from idea to launch
The course walks you through each step in order, then wraps up with a video overview, a business startup checklist and resources for your next steps.
1
Business idea
Start with your idea and what you want your business to be.
2
Feasibility analysis
Test whether your idea can work: your market, your competition and the numbers.
3
Define the why of your brand
Get clear on why your business exists and what it stands for.
4
Write your business plan
Put your idea, your market and your finances into a plan you can use and share.
5
Business formation
Choose a business structure and take care of registration and licenses.
6
Secure funding
Work out what it will cost to start and the ways to pay for it.
7
Secure a location
Decide where your business will run, from your home to a storefront.
8
Launch
Open for customers, with a business startup checklist to keep you on track.
Take the free startup course in your language
Intro to Business Startup is free on Teachable. Pick a language to open the course, enroll at no cost and go at your own pace.
English
Español
Tiếng Việt
한국어
हिंदी
Keep your momentum
Talk it through with an advisor
Bring what you learned to a free one-on-one session and turn it into a plan for your business.
Write your business plan with BEST
Five self-paced courses that pick up where Intro to Business leaves off, with a complete business plan at the end.
Keep learning for free
Recorded webinars on starting, funding, marketing and growing a business, sorted by topic.
Intro to Business questions
Are there live classes?
No. Intro to Business is a self-paced online course, so you can start any time and go at your own pace. If you’d like to talk your idea through with a person, request information about free advising.
Do I need a business idea to start?
No. The course is a good fit whether you have a detailed idea or just a feeling that you’d like to work for yourself.
Is the course really free?
Yes. Intro to Business Startup is free in all five languages.
Which languages is it offered in?
English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean and Hindi. Choose your language to start.
What should I do after the course?
Many people book a free advising session to talk through their idea, then write their plan with BEST.
Ready to write your business plan?
BEST picks up where Intro to Business leaves off, with five self-paced courses and a complete business plan at the end.