Why should I learn business management?

Learning business management can equip you with a wide range of skills that can make you highly marketable to companies and organizations. Some of these skills include budgeting, scheduling, time management, written communication, public speaking, and organization. With these skills, you can apply for a wide range of jobs or pursue higher education opportunities like a master’s program in management or business administration.

How long does it take to learn business management?

The time it takes to learn business management depends on the track you take — classes, courses, boot camps, and executive education programs can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. Earning a bachelor’s degree in an area of business management will take roughly four years. Master’s-level education programs in business management take between one and two years.

How hard is it to learn business management?

Learning business management may be easier to learn as you interact with businesses on a daily basis. Additionally, many of the skills learned like time management, leadership, and organization are skills you may already have an understanding of that just need to be refined to a professional setting.

Learn business management

Create an account

Business analyst chatting with a manger offscreen at the office.

What is business management?

Business management is the study of the processes involved in growing and maintaining a business operation. These processes generally include budgeting, forecasting, strategic planning, scheduling, communication, and project management.

The time it takes to learn these skills ranges from a few weeks or months for certificates or executive education programs to potentially several years for more immersive degree programs.

With these skills, you may be qualified for jobs like office manager, project manager, marketing manager, associate product manager, business consultant, director of operations, and management analyst.

Featured Business Management Courses

Browse online Certificates

Find new interests and advance your career opportunities

Stand out in your field

Use the knowledge and skills you have gained to drive impact at work and grow your career.

Learn at your own pace

On your computer, tablet or phone, online courses make learning flexible to fit your busy life.

Earn a valuable credential

Showcase your key skills and valuable knowledge.

Certificates

Choosing the right business management program for you

Selecting the right business management program starts with looking at the right criteria. Here are a few things to consider:

Concentrations: Look for a program that focuses on the specific aspects of business management you're interested in learning. Examples of concentrations include marketing, finance, human resources, data analytics, and leadership.
Higher education: If you're interested in earning a master's degree, you'll want to start with a bachelor's degree, as it's a prerequisite. Common choices for master's programs include business administration (MBA), management, and human resources management.

Here are some of the different learning paths to consider taking:

Courses

Business management courses help you laser focus on the specific area of learning you're interested in most.

Certificates

Certificates in business management ensure you learn all the necessary information about a topic and can showcase that expertise tangibly.

Executive education programs

Executive education business management programs are common among business leaders and other industry veterans, as these programs tend to focus on specific aspects of a field to help those who already have professional experience build up a particular set of skills.

Degrees

Formal business management degrees are a straightforward way to get a well-rounded education and set you up for higher education opportunities.

Jobs in business management

Business management job opportunities exist in nearly every industry. Some of the more common industries include finance, marketing, human resources, sales, and consulting.

Generally, business management jobs take place in an office setting but may include on-site work and travel as the position dictates. For example, an associate product manager may conduct most of their work in an office setting but may also need to travel to meet with suppliers and distributors.

Some of the common jobs available in business management include: sales manager, general manager, office manager, project manager, marketing manager, account executive, associate product manager, business consultant, director of operations, and management analyst.

With a higher-level degree like an MBA, you may be able to pursue additional job opportunities like financial manager, chief executive officer, and operations manager.

Here are a few positions that having business management experience may help you qualify for, with each role's required education as well as salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS):