UPDATE
Introducing: Penn Foster’s Small Business Management Career Diploma Program
While Ashworth College is no longer accepting enrollments in our Small Business Management Program, we’re excited to introduce you to our partner school, Penn Foster.
Learn how to be your own boss with Penn Foster. In our online Small Business Management Career Diploma Program, you’ll learn how to manage a business or even how to open one up yourself.
LEARN MORETake the Next Steps Towards a Career You Want
Penn Foster’s online Small Business Management Career Diploma Program can help you prepare to take the first steps toward the job you want. With flexible, online courses, you can learn skills and knowledge on your schedule, from home.
Why Penn Foster?
Penn Foster has been on a mission to help people like you launch, accelerate, and thrive in their careers for more than 130 years. We provide students with a quality education that fits their busy lifestyle and budget, offering over 100 self-paced, career-relevant programs across our College, Career School, and High School. The program you choose is structured to fit your learning needs so you can achieve your goals, and is designed to work with your schedule, anytime, anywhere you want to study. With a focus on relevant skills and career preparation for the job you’re after, Penn Foster can help you graduate with confidence and help provide a pathway towards your career goals.
Enroll at any time, study at your own pace, and graduate in as little as six months†.
Help your business succeed. Gain skills in market research, writing business plans, and keeping business records.
Learning online doesn’t mean learning alone. An instructor is just an email away!
What You'll Learn in Penn Foster’s Small Business Management Career Program
- How to develop and draft a business plan according to a five-part comprehensive structure.
- How to establish an effective marketing strategy that includes an advertising platform and a public relations campaign.
- How to understand the range of legal regulations that affect starting a new business including licenses, zoning approvals, and basic tax knowledge, and apply these to a business plan.
- How to hire and keep the right employees, including strategies to manage a team.
Penn Foster’s Online Small Business Management Curriculum
In our Small Business Management Career Diploma Program, you'll learn the fundamental skills and knowledge that can help you prepare to start your own business. Your online coursework includes:
- Market Research
- Writing a Business Plan
- Financing Your Business
- Keeping Business Records
Small Business Management Program FAQs
Small business management is a term for the set of skills you may need to successfully start or manage a business. Usually, a small business is classified as a privately owned corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship that has less than five hundred employees. Businesses are defined as "small" in terms of being able to apply for government support and qualify for preferential tax policy depending on the country and industry.
After completing your small business courses, you'll have the foundational skills to run a successful business in a variety of industries. Depending on your interests and what you want to do, you can start a retail business, look into becoming a franchise owner, and more.
In Penn Foster's accredited online Small Business Management Program, you'll cover fundamental business topics related to becoming your own boss. The program will teach you how to find the right sources to finance your business, market your products or service, and write an effective business plan.
If you're someone who wants to be an independent leader, has a knack for entrepreneurship and wants to be your own boss, the small business management classes could help you build the skills and knowledge that can get you started. Since the program is completely online, it can be right for students who have busy schedules and need flexible classes. Our programs are self-paced with no exam due dates, so you can start and finish when you're ready. Even better, you can do it all from home!
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.
Additionally, many cities and states require that business owners are registered or have the necessary licenses before starting a business. Make sure to check with your local business administration to ensure you comply with all relevant regulations.