Small Business and Entrepreneurship Courses

small business owner and coffee shop employee

Upcoming Courses and Training

Professional Dog Grooming Certification Program

Madison College’s Professional Dog Grooming Certification Program provides the expert training, hands-on experience, and industry knowledge you need to succeed in this growing field.

Led by Marci Wanta, owner and professional groomer at Blossom Pet Salon, this program is designed to equip you 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

Running a Crowd Funding Campaign | $179

Crowdfunding is an accessible fundraising strategy for start-ups, inventors, business ventures, non-profits, and individuals. Crowdfunding requests relatively small donations from a large group of donors/investors – your crowd. In this course you will learn about the types of crowdfunding and leading platforms, review other projects, learn how to plan for a campaign, strategize, and pitch and budget for a project. Crowdfunding has become a prominent mechanism of generating revenue, with billions of dollars raised each year in North America. Learn if crowdfunding is for you or your organization and what running a successful campaign involves.

#36436, Online, 12/2-12/23, Tuesday, Instructor: Kara Vogel

Project Management Fundamentals | $199

This course is a unique blend of key project management concepts and applied training that you can immediately apply to your projects. Gain specific tools for all phases of the project life cycle to successfully manage and deliver results at home, at work or in any project situation. Learn how to develop project plans and requirements, identify scope, develop milestones and action plans, prepare estimates, and monitor and manage projects.

#66121, Commercial Avenue Campus, 2/18-3/11, Wednesday, 6-8 PM Instructor: Brent Kyzer-McHenry

Leading Community Education | $159

This course is designed for small business owners, entrepreneurs, ordinary professionals, and community leaders in Wisconsin who want to use education and training as tools for business growth and community impact. Participants will learn how to design and lead educational programs—such as employee onboarding, customer workshops, or community outreach events—that support their business goals while building stronger local connections. The course emphasizes leadership development, strategic communication, and operational planning, drawing on real-world experience in program coordination, compliance, and stakeholder engagement.

#67183, Online Live, 1/21-2/25, 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

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)

Project Management Skills | $349

This course follows the suggested Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) and prepares students to be able to successfully manage projects, large and small alike. Examples of projects may be managing events, managing a construction project, implementing new processes & procedures, bringing a new machine online, changing suppliers, implementing a new software package, etc. This course covers the project life-cycle, and tools and techniques to successfully manage projects. Participants will learn to develop project plans, scope and requirements, work breakdown structures and critical paths, develop milestones and estimates, identify and manage resources, conduct risk analysis and contingencies, and monitor, execute and close projects.

Future offerings will be posted here

Accounting and Finance Courses

Grant Writing Essentials | $229

This course will teach new grant writers how to write successful proposals and provide an overview of the core components of all grant proposals. Students will learn to develop a submission timeline, find funding opportunities, research grant opportunities, brainstorm and plan, write proposals, develop budgets and supplemental documents, and learn to pitch ideas.

#66027, Online, 2/17-3/24, Instructor: Kara Vogel

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.

Accounting Fundamentals covers all the bases, from writing checks to preparing an income statement and closing out accounts at the end of each fiscal period. Whether you're a sole proprietor looking to manage your business finances or you simply want to gain an understanding of accounting basics for career advancement or for personal use, this course will give you a solid foundation in financial matters. Course offered in partnership with Ed2Go.

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.

You will learn to use key features of QuickBooks Online and gain hands-on experience creating invoices, receipts, and statements; track payables, inventory, and receivables; generating reports; and more. Whether you're new to QuickBooks or need a quick refresher, this course will empower you to take control of your business's financial accounting, all with the ease and convenience of an online platform. Course offered in partnership with Ed2Go.

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

Marketing Courses

Intro to Social Media | $69

Learn the fundamental differences between the top social media platforms, and how to identify the best ones for your business. Learn how to create an effective social media strategy and content, including running social media ads. Students will go through the process to create their own impactful social media plan.

#36310, Online Live, 11/1-11/15, (no class 11/8), 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.

#36328, Commercial Avenue Campus, 11/18, Thursday, 8 AM-12 PM Instructor: Brent Kyzer-McHenry
#67148, Commercial Avenue Campus, 3/25, Wednesday, 8 AM-12 PM Instructor: Brent Kyzer-McHenry

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

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

Mastering Public Speaking for Professionals and Leaders | $149

This intensive course is designed for professionals, civic leaders, elected officials, and government administrators who seek to improve their public speaking abilities. The course provides practical strategies for delivering clear, confident, and persuasive messages in any setting. Participants will learn techniques to engage audiences, structure speeches, handle questions, and manage public speaking anxiety. By the end of the course, attendees will have the skills and confidence to deliver impactful presentations and messages, whether in a formal speech, press conference, or community meeting.

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.

#66047, Commercial Avenue Campus, 1/26-3/9, Monday, 10 AM - 1 PM Instructor: Christine Ameigh

In kitchen sessions are held in person at 5511 Monona Drive, Monona, WI

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.

#66073, Commercial Avenue Campus, 3/23-5/4, Monday, 10 AM - 1 PM Instructor: Christine Ameigh

In kitchen sessions are held in person at 5511 Monona Drive, Monona, WI

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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