As an aspiring entrepreneur, you want an MBA online program that prepares you to launch and run a business. The ideal course should expose you to fundamental business concepts like venture capitalism and consulting while allowing you to test your business ideas against real-world problems
. It should also sharpen your communication, leadership, and management skills. If you plan to launch your own business, here are six MBA program specializations that offer the best entrepreneurial resources:
Entrepreneurship Specialization
This specialization is a great place to start your MBA journey, as it equips you with the qualities, habits, and mindset of an entrepreneur. You learn how to generate business ideas, identify opportunities, and test and refine your ideas. To help you actualize these ideas, this course also explains different business and revenue models and how to capture, create, and deliver value.
U.S. Business Law Specialization
As another MBA online program specialization, this course introduces you to the legal framework of establishing a business. You learn different business formats — limited liability companies (LLCs), general partnerships (GPs), etc. — and how to pick the best structure for your new venture. If you plan to employ people, you may appreciate the lessons on classifying, recruiting, managing, and terminating employees. This course also introduces you to Intellectual Property (IP) laws, including trademarks, patents, and copyright.
Entrepreneurial Finance Specialization
During this course, you explore supply chains and how they drive service and product delivery. You learn how to crowdfund, equity finance, debt finance, bootstrap, and raise capital for your new business. If you are interested in venture capitalism, you will benefit from lessons that cover the funding process, fund life cycle, and venture capitalist firms. Other lessons explore term sheets, entrepreneurial networks, and social capital.
Business Communication Specialization
As the owner of a business, you are also its biggest spokesperson. A business communication course teaches you how to write business correspondence, such as emails, memos, reports, and white papers. You also learn how to design impactful presentations for your clients and leads and build strategies for successful negotiations. At the end of the course, the instructor introduces you to business plans and selling your ideas to investors.
Strategic Leadership Specialization
During strategic leadership classes, you learn the qualities and duties of an effective leader. The courses cover leadership politics to help you balance your company’s goals with your employee’s interests. Because the business landscape is constantly changing, the courses teach you to be adaptable and how to use different strategies to improve performance and lead your organization.
Advanced Corporate-level Strategy Specialization
As your business grows, you may explore vertical integrations. This type of course covers different relationships, cooperative strategies, and business alliances. You learn about mergers and acquisitions, how to prevent a hostile takeover, and how diversifying your operations could grow your company. For practical experience, you may also participate in an M&A practice that includes formulating an acquisitions plan.
Find the Right MBA Online Program for You
MBA coursework is continually expanding and adapting to changes in the business world. For an aspiring business owner, these various MBA classes and specializations offer the opportunity to establish, manage, and expand your business. They teach you to navigate the legal hurdles of establishing a business and to manage a workforce. As your business changes, they also guide you in increasing your company’s competitiveness and positioning yourself for continued success. If you are ready to explore these and other MBA courses, contact a business school near you. The course you pursue depends on where you are in your entrepreneurial journey. For the most flexible programs, enroll in an online MBA with mobile-ready course material.