Starting your own business?

We have the resources to help you get started.

small business owner and coffee shop employee

Upcoming Courses and Training

Start-Up and Operations Courses

Madison College Business Challenge: Craft Your Executive Summary | $29
This 4-hour course prepares students for the Madison College Challenge by teaching the essentials of creating a winning executive summary. Starting with an overview of the competition, students will explore its purpose, process, and judging criteria. The course offers practical guidance on developing business ideas, crafting elevator pitches, and writing effective executive summaries. It concludes with inspiration from past winners and insights from Entrepreneurs in Residence, ensuring students are ready to confidently enter the Madison College Challenge.
#37436, Online Live, 12/3 & 12/5, Tuesday and Thursday, 5:30-7:30 PM
#67721, Online Live, 1/14 & 1/16, Tuesday and Thursday, 5:30-7:30 PM
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.
#67099, Online Live, 4/15, 4/22 & 4/29, Tuesday, 5:30-8 PM Instructor: Leo Sedlmeyer
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.
#67173, Online self-paced, 4/29-5/20 Instructor: Kara Vogel
Start Your Own Small Business | $129
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)
Creating a Successful Business Plan | $135
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
Life Cycle of Collaboration | $299
The Life Cycle of Collaboration our collaboration framework. The course is a space where we learn the framework and become better at designing and leading intentional collaborations. In this workshop, we dive into why transformational leadership, facilitation, and conflict resolution skills are so important to this collaboration model. We will examine and practice using these skills to design, manage, and participate in more impactful collaborations. The life cycle begins when everything is possible and we empower idea holders. It ends when deliverables are finished in a clean, pretty package. Participants will finish this series curious and comfortable about their intentional collaborations while containing new insight and tools for how they show up as leaders in those collaborations.
Future sessions posted here

Accounting and Finance Courses

Grant Writing Essentials | $179
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.
#66658, Online-Self Paced, 2/4-3/4, Instructor: Kara Vogel
Accounting with QuickBooks Online Suites | $480
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.
Individual courses available as on-demand, self-paced tutorials: Accounting Fundamentals, Accounting Fundamentals ll, Introduction to QuickBooks Online, and Intermediate QuickBooks Online
Finance for Non-Financial Managers | $99
This course will cover financial concepts that will help non-financial managers understand financial statements and how financial statements are used. Material that will be covered includes Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), transaction analysis, capital investments, cost-volume-profit, financial ratios, and more. Anyone in business who uses financial statements will benefit from this information.
Future offerings will be posted here.

Marketing Courses

Video Storytelling for Creative Content Marketing | $89
Elevate your video storytelling skills with former TV news reporter Jamie Perez, owner of Beyond Words Productions. This course offers powerful techniques to enhance presentations, social media, and more. With Jamie’s expertise in marketing, you’ll learn proven practices and receive personalized feedback. Perfect for businesses and nonprofits looking to create emotive, impactful stories. Enroll now!
#67744, Online Live, 1/23, 2/6 & 2/20, Thursday, 1-3 PM Instructor: Jamie Perez
#67746, Online Live, 3/25, 4/8 & 4/22, Tuesday, 5:30-7:30 PM Instructor: Jamie Perez
Graphic Design for Non-Designers | $205
Learn how to concept and design 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.
#67151, Online Live, 2/4-3/4, Tuesday, 6-9 PM Instructor: Justin King
Media Relations and Interviewing with the Media for Beginners | $149
In today's fast-paced media landscape, the ability to effectively communicate with journalists and media outlets is crucial for shaping public perception and advancing organizational goals. This course provides participants with the foundational skills needed to navigate media interviews confidently and strategically. From understanding the role of the media to mastering interview techniques, this course offers practical insights and hands-on experience designed to enhance your media relations capabilities.
#67780, Commercial Avenue Campus, 2/20, Thursday, 8 AM-12 PM Instructor: Brent Kyzer-McHenry
iPhone Photography: From Basics to Pro-Level Shots | $67
Whether you’re a business owner, marketer, content creator, or simply want to maximize your iPhone's potential for professional, high-quality images and videos, this class is for you! Discover underutilized settings and advanced file types that elevate your photos for any use. We’ll cover photography fundamentals, shooting techniques, accessories, apps, and in-phone editing. Plus, you'll engage in exercises to practice portraits, product shots, lighting, and more!
#67133, Truax-Health Building, 2/20-2/27, Thursday, 6-9 PM Instructor: Andrew Jalbert
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.
#67155, Online Live, 3/20, Thursday, 6-8 PM Instructor: Kara Hanninen
Small Business Branding | $69
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.
#67814, Online Live, 3/22 and 3/29, Saturday, 9 AM-11 AM Instructor: Kara Hanninen
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.
#67768, Commercial Avenue Campus, 3/27, Thursday, 8 AM-12 PM Instructor: Brent Kyzer-McHenry
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.
#66793, Online Live, 4/26 and 5/3, Saturday, 9 AM-11 AM Instructor: Kara Hanninen

Food, Beverage and Catering Courses

Beverage Business Startup | $100
Do you have a passion for beverages and want to start your own business? Whether it’s beer, wine, cider or another craft beverage, learn the ins and outs of starting and growing your business from successful local entrepreneur and president of Octopi Brewing, Isaac Showaki. This course will teach you what questions and answers you need to know before starting a beverage brewing business. We will go over what you want to accomplish, your goals and how achieve them with emphasis on how to write a quality beverage business plan. The plan will guide you through your venture so that you have the highest probability of success. The class will also cover: how to legally set up your company, what and where to apply for federal permits, how to approach investors or banks, financials projections, how cash is king and other critical topics.
Future offerings will be 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.

Classroom lectures are combined with hands-on practices and interactions with subject matter experts, to provide students ample opportunities to integrate theories with experience. This seven-week two-part program provides the flexibility of live remote class sessions during four of the weeks and in-person kitchen time during three of the weeks.

person inside a food truck giving food to customer

Becoming a Foodpreneur - Part 1 | $299 | #66766

Night 1 – 2: Live remote - startup content; Instructor: Kay-Tee Olds - 2/27 & 3/4 6-9pm
Night 3 - 4: In kitchen; Instructor: Christine Ameigh - 3/6 & 3/11 6-9 pm
Night 5 - 6: Live remote - startup content; Instructor: Kay-Tee Olds - 3/13 & 3/18 6-9 pm
Night 7: In kitchen; Instructor: Christine Ameigh - 3/20 6-9 pm

Becoming a Foodpreneur - Part 2 | $299 | #66883

Night 8: In kitchen; Instructor: Christine Ameigh - 3/25 6-9 pm
Night 9-10: Live remote management content: Instructor: Kay-Tee Olds 3/27 & 4/1 6-9 pm
Night 11-12: In kitchen; Instructor: Christine Ameigh 4/3 & 4/8 6-9 pm
Night 13-14: Live remote - management content; Instructor: Kay-Tee Olds 4/10 & 4/15 6-9 pm

Register Today!

Three Ways to Register for Noncredit Courses

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3. Log into MyMadisonCollege

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

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“Our team at the Center for Entrepreneurship is doing whatever it can to guide these entrepreneurs, including helping to develop business and marketing plans, finding resources and making connections.”
Brian Lee
Entrepreneur in Residence and Madison College Instructor