Business Fundamentals

Business Fundamentals on Breni gives a broad tour of how companies work, from making a profit to strategy, operations, people and finance. Its 8 courses cover what a business is, economics, strategy, marketing and sales, operations, people, finance, and starting a business. Learners finish able to explain a business model, run a SWOT analysis, read a profit and loss statement and plan a small venture. Each topic gets one course, and Marketing Fundamentals goes deeper on its own. The economics course unlocks strategy, as each course opens in sequence.

  • 8 courses
  • 15 learning objectives
  • Level: beginner
  • Language: English
  • Price: Subscription, free trial

What you will be able to do

  • Explain a company's business model and how it makes a profit
  • Run a SWOT analysis and a five forces analysis on a real company
  • Map a business's supply chain and spot where it could fail
  • Read a profit and loss statement and a cash flow forecast
  • Work out the break-even point for a product
  • Fill in a business model canvas for a new idea

Full curriculum

Part 1 · How business works

1. What a Business Is: The Basics

Explain how businesses create value and make a profit. Units, in order: Revenue, costs and profit; Common business models; Sole traders, partnerships and companies; Stakeholders and who a business serves; The wider business environment.

  • — Revenue Costs and Profit
    Learn how businesses make money and pay expenses.
    • What Is Revenue
    • Understanding Business Costs
    • Calculating Profit
  • — Common Business Models
    Explore different ways companies deliver value and make money.
    • Product Sales Model
    • Subscription Services
    • The Freemium Model
  • — Business Structures
    Compare sole traders, partnerships, and registered companies.
    • Sole Traders
    • Business Partnerships
    • Registered Companies
  • — Stakeholders and Service
    Identify who relies on a business and whom it serves.
    • Who Are Stakeholders
    • Customers and Clients
    • Employees and Owners
  • — The Business Environment
    Understand external factors that affect how businesses operate.
    • Economic Factors
    • Laws and Rules
    • Competition and Markets

2. Economics for Business

Use basic economics to explain prices and competition. Units, in order: Supply and demand; Competition and market structures; How businesses set prices; Inflation and interest rates; Booms, recessions and economic cycles.

Part 2 · Running a business

3. Business Strategy

Decide where a business competes and how it stands out. Units, in order: Mission and vision; SWOT analysis; Porter's five forces; Competitive advantage; Setting goals a team can track.

4. Marketing and Sales Basics

Explain how businesses find customers and win sales. Units, in order: Choosing target customers; The marketing mix; The sales funnel; Keeping customers coming back; What a brand is worth.

5. Operations

Explain how a business produces and delivers what it sells. Units, in order: Supply chains; Managing inventory; Quality management; Improving processes; Outsourcing and its risks.

6. People and Organisations

Describe how businesses hire, organise and lead people. Units, in order: Organisation structures; Hiring the right people; What motivates people at work; Company culture; Leadership styles.

Part 3 · Money and growth

7. Business Finance Basics

Read the key numbers that show whether a business is healthy. Units, in order: The profit and loss statement; Cash flow and why it matters; The break-even point; Funding options from savings to investors; Budgets and forecasts.

8. Starting and Growing a Business

Plan a small business idea from first test to growth. Units, in order: Finding and testing an idea; The business model canvas; Writing a simple business plan; Legal and tax basics for a new business; Scaling up without running out of cash.

Sample: What a Business Is: The Basics

The opening tier, (Revenue Costs and Profit). Learn how businesses make money and pay expenses.

What Is Revenue

Understand how a business brings money in through sales.

Understanding Business Costs

Identify fixed and variable expenses that a company pays.

Calculating Profit

Learn how to subtract costs from revenue to find profit.

Questions about Business Fundamentals

What do you learn in a business course?

Most cover how businesses make money, strategy, marketing, operations, people and finance. Business Fundamentals on Breni gives each of these its own course.

Is this business course like an MBA?

No. It is an introduction to the same core topics, not a degree.

Can this path help me start a business?

Yes, the final course walks through testing an idea, the business model canvas and a simple business plan. It cannot promise that a business will succeed.

Do I need any background in business?

No. The path starts with revenue, costs and profit.

Do I get a certificate in business?

Completing all 8 courses earns a Breni certificate of completion.

Related learning paths

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