Top 3 Resources to Learn Business for Free

Let's get down to business, and talk about business. Many businessmen and businesswomen follow a similar career path. University/College degree > MBA > Work. This is a common and effective path, but what about those who have a drive for business and innovation, but don't want to take on $100k+ in student debt?

We believe that everyone deserves to be part of today's innovative world driven by unique business strategies. Modern digital learning platforms fill this gap by offering free education that learners of all levels may take advantage of. Higher education has never been this accessible before, and with a growing catalog of free online courses, anyone can improve their desired skills for free.

The following resources are completely free, and anyone looking to improve their business skills can benefit from them. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg. There is so many other free resources online, on any topic you can dream of. As we continue scour the internet and expand our resource lists, you can find more resources in our business resource list.

1. Introduction to Business Textbook - OpenStax

Aptly calling themselves "The future of education", OpenStax is a truly amazing resource. If they offer a specific subject, expect it to appear on a list on Open Mastery!

If you aren't aware, OpenStax is best known as an intiative by Rice University to create free, open textbooks, typically for introductory or AP level courses. For a free resource, the quality of these textbooks is incredibly high. OpenStax aims to fight back at the "textbooks are way too expensive" norm that may students face, and hope that one day, teachers and professors around the world will integrate OpenStax textbooks in their classrooms.

Their Introduction to Business textbook is a fantastic topic introduction for students and other learners alike. It covers the core curriculum of a first year university class, and by the end, learners will have a solid business foundation.

• Price: Free
• Paid Option : Yes
• What the paid option offers: Printed textbook. E-book PDF is completely free to download
• Difficulty Level: Beginner
• Flexible schedule: Yes

Who should take this course? This is a good option for first year business students who want to supplement their regular course material, or for anyone else who wants to learn fundamental knowledge of business.

Link to the course - Introduction to Business Textbook

2. Exercising Leadership: Foundational Principles - EdX

Whatever your role as a business professional - employee, employer, manager, student, etc., everyone can benefit by leadership training. In addition to understanding your own strengths, weaknesses, and motivations, you should understand how successful leaders operate and inspire. There's a general "rule" we often see with many variations and interpretations: A good manager inspires their employees to work, rather than telling them to work. Essentially, a good leader is one that doesn't come off as a manager breathing down your neck. They should help you do your work, rather than authoritatively breathe down your neck.

Okay, enough about bad managers. It's easy to focus on the negatives in any situation, but learning and practicing the positives is much more rewarding. This foundational course on EdX teaches the, wait for it.. foundations of leadership. It's a short course compared to some other EdX courses, but it's still chock full of inspiring and meaningful advice. A great leader is someone with a vision, and the communication and drive to inspire others to help achieve that vision. This course provides important knowledge and background to make this happen.

• Price: Free
• Paid Option : Yes
• What the paid option offers: Certificate of Completion & Graded Assignments/Exams
• Difficulty Level: Beginner
• Flexible schedule: Yes

Who should take this course? This is a quick, although detailed introduction to leadership. This course is intended for those who want to understand how great leaders succeed, and how to apply these practices to their own life.

Link to the course - Exercising Leadership: Foundational Principles

3. Business Strategy: Competitive Advantage - EdX

Another fantastic course on EdX, which is also completely free unless you would like access to graded assignments/exams and a certificate of completion. This course targets those who have already completed business classes, or have experience in business, who would like to learn strategic planning. When there are fifty businesses offering a similar service, how does the customer choose who they offer their money to? A well-defined competitive business advantage helps customers make this choice, and drives the long-term growth of a business model.

Strategic planning may differ between different businesses (for example, a tech start-up vs a locally owned small business), but there are still many overlapping principles that drive tried-and-tested successes in the business world. Take advantage of these principles by completing this course on Business Strategy, and understanding how successful businesses create strategic possibilities and solve problems dynamically.

• Price: Free
• Paid Option : Yes
• What the paid option offers: Certificate of Completion & Graded Assignments/Exams
• Difficulty Level: Intermediate
• Flexible schedule: Yes

Who should take this course? This is a graduate-level course intended for those who already understand fundamental concepts of business, and want to understand how successful businesses stay one step ahead of their competition.

Link to the course - Business Strategy: Competitive Advantage

Final Thoughts

One can take many different paths in the business world, but the heart of successful businesses and leadership is understanding the tried-and-tested principles that the most successful businesses abide by. Whether you are growing your own business or pursuing an MBA, taking advantage of free online education is only going to help you succeed. There is so much more offered, and what we listed in this article is only the tip of the iceberg. Find what you're passionate about and expand your horizons with free online education.