Small Business and Entrepreneurship Courses

small business owner and coffee shop employee

Upcoming Courses and Training

Professional Dog Grooming Certification Program

Get expert training, hands-on experience and industry knowledge you need to succeed in this growing field.

Equip yourself with essential grooming skills, from breed-specific techniques to coat care and health maintenance. With a combination of online learning and hands-on training, you’ll gain real-world experience in a professional salon setting.

Learn About the Dog Grooming Program

Start-Up and Operations Courses

AI for Entrepreneurs: Build and Grow Your Own Business | $349

In today’s unpredictable job market, being able to work for yourself is more valuable than ever. With so much misinformation about AI, it can be hard to know what’s real and what’s hype. In this course, you’ll cut through the noise and learn what AI actually is, how it’s transforming industries, and how you can use it to start or grow your own business. Whether you’re launching a new venture or expanding an existing one, you’ll discover how to use AI to stay competitive, innovate, and keep growing.

#67255, Commercial Ave Campus, 3/4-4/15, Wednesday, 6-8:30 PM Instructor: Paul Westerman

Mastering Negotiations | $349

In this hands-on program, you’ll master the basics of negotiation to handle conflict and business challenges with confidence. Through four interactive modules, you’ll learn key terminology, strategy selection, and body language cues, then apply these skills in real-world scenarios, role plays, and personal case studies. By the end, you’ll understand the difference between strategy and tactics—skills that set strong leaders apart.

#67182, Truax-Health Building, 3/26-5/14, Thursday, 6-8 PM Instructor: TJ Emerson

Entrepreneurship Foundations: Key Strategies for Business Idea Success | $149

Designed for entrepreneurs ready to turn their business ideas into reality, this course offers practical guidance on navigating the early stages of business development. You’ll cultivate a strong entrepreneurial mindset, learn essential branding strategies, and explore how AI can enhance your business approach. The course covers effective go-to-market tactics, financial management, and money operations to ensure your idea thrives. Additionally, you’ll learn how to craft a compelling pitch to attract investors. Gain the knowledge and confidence to transform your business idea into a successful venture.

#67371, Goodman South Campus, 4/1-4/22, Wednesday, 6-8 PM Instructor: Angie Rojas-Agudelo

Creating a Successful Business Plan | $157

Turn your business ideas into a solid plan for financing and long-term success. Committing your idea to paper in the form of a business plan not only increases your chances of obtaining financing, but also in keeping your business strategically focused. You will work through all the major components of writing a business plan and emerge with your first draft in hand. Most importantly, you will have completed the first—and most difficult—step on the path to small business success.

Instructor Moderated or Self-Guided

Start Your Own Small Business | $146

Learn how to transform your passion and talent into a viable small business. This course will teach you about financing, marketing techniques, employee management, policy writing, and time management - everything you need to know to start your very own small business.

Instructor-Moderated (Asynchronous)

Accounting and Finance Courses

Accounting Fundamentals | $146

In this comprehensive course, you will learn the basics of double-entry bookkeeping, as well as how to analyze and record financial transactions. You will get hands-on experience with handling accounts receivable, accounts payable, payroll procedures, sales taxes, and various common banking activities.

Instructor-Moderated
Also available as an on-demand, self-paced tutorial.

Accounting with QuickBooks Online Suite | $547

This comprehensive course will teach you the basics of accounting with QuickBooks Online, the most widely used accounting software for small business owners. You'll master the basics double-entry bookkeeping and get hands-on experience handling accounts receivable, accounts payable, sales taxes and other common financial activities. Course offered in partnership with Ed2Go.

Instructor-Moderated

Introduction to QuickBooks Online | $156

This QuickBooks course will teach you how to manage your business finances with QuickBooks Online. This powerful accounting software has helped millions of small business owners oversee their finances. Now that the cloud-based version is outpacing the desktop version, there's no better time to refresh your QuickBooks knowledge.

Instructor-Moderated
Also available as an on-demand, self-paced tutorial.

Marketing Courses

Graphic Design for Non-Designers | $205

Learn how to concept and design eye-catching logos, flyers, brochures, videos, social media posts and more for your workplace or small business with the user-friendly platforms Canva, Adobe Express and YouTube Studio.

#66143, Online Live, 3/11-4/8, Wednesday, 6-9 PM Instructor: Justin King

Small Business Branding | $89

In business, commodities are bought for the lowest price possible, but brands are purchased at a premium. So how can you create a brand that allows you to master your market and command top dollar? This class will show you by providing all the concepts, tools, and techniques needed to enable you to begin discovering, crafting and communicating your true brand.

#66197, Online Live, 2/21-2/28, Saturday, 9-11 am, Instructor: Kara Hanninen

Small Business Social Media Marketing | $149

Learn how a marketing plan is constructed. Students will begin or refine your business or organization’s target audiences, develop strategies, and identify tactics in your organic and paid social media marketing efforts on various social media platforms. Students will also learn how to launch and sustain a content strategy and measure efforts.

#67148, Commercial Avenue Campus, 3/25, Wednesday, 5:30-8:30 PM Instructor: Brent Kyzer-McHenry

Kick-Start Biz with eCommerce | $49

How to get to market quickly with low cost, and start selling through your own online store? This fast-paced workshop provides information about how to start an eCommerce store and tactics to gain first and repeat customers. This class focuses on sales and distribution, not product development, supply chain or manufacturing.

Future offerings posted here

Becoming a Foodpreneur

Let Madison College help you create a plan to operate and manage an independent foodservice business! This program addresses mobile and stationary service models for entrepreneurs planning a food truck, cafe, catering service, coffee shop, popup restaurant, on-site culinary services, or festival vending. Foodpreneurs get in the kitchen to develop products and work through kitchen logistics. Receive hands-on training to practice appropriate kitchen conduct that optimizes efficiency and food safety. Students will conduct a market analysis, identify equipment and logistics needs, develop products and services, and create financial projections; all in the process of creating a business plan for a small business.

person inside a food truck giving food to customer

Becoming a Foodpreneur - Part 1 | $349

Let Madison College help you create a plan to operate and manage an independent foodservice business! This program addresses mobile and stationary service models for entrepreneurs planning a food truck, café, catering service, coffee shop, popup restaurant or festival vending. Foodpreneurs get in the kitchen to develop products and work through kitchen logistics. Receive hands-on training to practice appropriate kitchen conduct that optimizes efficiency and food safety. Students will conduct a market analysis, identify equipment and logistics needs, develop products and services, and create financial projections; all in the process of creating a business plan for a small business.

Watch for Fall Classes

Becoming a Foodpreneur - Part 2 | $349

This 2 part course focuses on the application of business ideas including the practical realities of catering, festival vending, and operating a food truck or cart. Through our hands-on commissary you will learn methods in menu planning and production proven to maximize efficiency, food safety and profit, while developing and fine-tuning your dream.

Watch for fall classes

Three Ways to Register for Noncredit Courses

1. Register by Phone

Call us at 608.258.2301, Option 2

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Center for Entrepreneurship

See how the Madison College Center for Entrepreneurship strengthens communities through education, innovation and collaboration.

Learn More About the Center for Entrepreneurship