Business Management Essentials

Essentials Of Business Management

Whether you're looking to refresh your current skills or you want to learn new skills to strengthen your resume, Penn Foster Career School's online Business Management Essentials Certificate Program can help you prepare to take the next steps in your career. Through flexible, online classes you can build a better understanding of the essentials of enterprise and finance with sharper business math, writing, and management skills.

  • In our Essentials of Business Management course, students learn the specific knowledge and skills required to understand basic business management concepts and contribute as part of a management team.
  • Our online programs are flexible enough for you to finish them at a pace that works for you, based on how much time you can dedicate to your coursework each week.
Accredited
Online
Self Paced

Save up to $190 Ends 11/26/2024

Cost of Program

$899

$1,089 Save $190

or

$59/month, Start for as low as $29

1-800-275-4410 (10AM - 6:30PM ET)

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What You Will Learn

  1. Why accounting, technology and information systems, marketing, and management are essential to starting and growing a business. You'll also learn the basics of managing financial and human resources and the ethical and social responsibilities required of a successful manager.
  2. How to build strong decision-making, leadership, and organizational skills through an understanding of the principles of management.
  3. How to prepare various business math applications involving financial reports, installment buying, and depreciation.
  4. How to write business and technical documents from professional emails to reports.
Full Program Goal & Outcomes

Career Outcomes


Familiarity with essential business concepts can prove helpful in a number of careers and industries. However, a certificate alone may not qualify you for a specific job or promotion. This certificate program is meant to supplement or refine your existing knowledge and add helpful credentials to your resume.

State Licensing Requirements

Licensing and/or certification requirements for jobs in certain fields are not the same in every state and may include educational, testing, and/or experiential requirements beyond those offered by your Penn Foster Program. You should contact the state professional licensing board or similar regulatory body in the state(s) where you plan to work to determine their requirements before enrolling in your program. See the State Licensing page for contact information for state licensing/regulatory boards and certain industry licensing information.

Essentials of Business Management Curriculum

  • 4 courses
  • 48.8 continuing education units (CEUs)
  • 18 exams
  • 4 graded projects


Estimated completion time:

  • Fast track = 5 months
  • Average time = 6 months

With Penn Foster, you can learn at whatever pace works best for you. Some learners will be more comfortable moving faster, and dedicating more time, and the fast track estimate will apply to them. The average track will apply to most learners who can dedicate a few hours per week to completing their coursework. The estimated completion times are based on completion times for learners enrolled in this program from May 2021 - April 2022, excluding withdrawals.

In our Business Management Essentials Certificate Program, you'll cover fundamental topics that can help you learn new job skills or refine your existing business management knowledge. Your online essentials of business management classes include:


  • Introduction to Business
  • Principles of Management
  • Mathematics for Business and Finance
  • Business and Technical Writing

Show Full Curriculum

Business Essentials Student Stories

Penn Foster’s Essentials of Business Management Program can help prepare you to refresh your existing skills or build foundational business knowledge. This program has helped recent graduates learn at their own pace, find new jobs, and more. Learn more about Penn Foster graduates' experiences and how Penn Foster worked for them.
View Student Success Stories
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Kasey Z.

Penn Foster Graduate, 2023

“[Penn Foster] is a great school! You get to learn at your own pace. Everything I learned in my program I will be able to use in the real world.”

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Essentials of Business Management Tuition

Take the first steps toward furthering your career with our online Business Management Essentials Certificate. Simply choose from one of our low-cost customized payment plans and get started today!

Option 1: Pay in full

Save up to $190 Ends 11/26/2024

Cost of Program1

$899

$1,089 Save $190

  • Best price. Best value.
  • Pay the full cost today
  • No monthly payments
Enroll Now

Option 2: Monthly Auto Pay Plan

Cost of Program1

$1,089

  • Pay $59 per month
  • Start for $29 down
  • All major credit and debit cards accepted
Enroll Now

Option 3: Monthly Mail Pay Plan

cost of program1

$1,089

  • Pay $59 per month
  • Start for $39 down
  • Mail your payments
Enroll Now

California residents please click here for Required California Disclosures.

Need more info or ready to enroll?

Looking for more information on transfer credits, military benefits, or our refund policy? Find this information and more about tuition and enrollment here.

Tuition & Payment Options

We're here to help. Call 1-800-275-4410 (10AM - 6:30PM ET)

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Our Proven Business Management Learning Model

Empowering students to reach their professional goals

Flexible

  • Start anytime
  • No exam due dates
  • Self-paced

Interactive

  • Digital study guides
  • Self-check quizzes
  • Simulations and videos

Connected

  • 24/7 access to online resources
  • Online student community
  • Dedicated Learner Center

Supportive

  • Expert faculty
  • Dedicated student services
  • Robust learning resources

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Essentials of Business Management FAQs

What are the most essential skills you need to be successful in business?

To be successful in business, there are some essential skills you should have. These include business-specific skills such as an understanding of Microsoft Office programs like Excel, PowerPoint, and Word, a familiarity with the principles of management, and basic knowledge of finance. Additionally, skills like strong written and verbal communication skills, organizational skills, decision making and leadership skills can help you be successful in business.

How are Penn Foster courses delivered?

Penn Foster courses, from our career school to our college programs, are delivered completely online. Through digital study guides and exams, you can build your skills and knowledge from home and with 24/7 access to your Student Portal, you can login and study whenever works best for you!

How can this course help advance my career?

Earning a certificate alone may not necessarily qualify you for a job, but in combination with previous experience and education, it can help you advance your career by strengthening or refining the business skills you currently have with real-world applications. Through learning about business essentials such as the principles of management, you can build a stronger understanding of leadership roles in the industry, adding an important credential to your resume.

What is the difference between a certificate and an associate degree?

Certificates are shorter, focused programs that concentrate on enhancing one or two particular industry skills. Generally, a certificate alone does not qualify you for employment but is intended to strengthen the skills you already have or add a credential to your resume that can help you stand out when applying for jobs. An associate degree, on the other hand, is a four-semester college program that combines industry-specific classes with general education courses. A degree program can take anywhere from 16 - 24 months to complete.