Discover the Best Business Classes in Chicago
Business is the practice of exchanging goods and services with the intention of earning a profit or advancing a cause (i.e., a non-profit business). The four major business structures are sole proprietorships, partnerships, limited liability companies (LLCs), and corporations. A sole proprietorship, also known as being self-employed, is an unincorporated business owned by one individual. That person is responsible for paying all taxes on profits earned from the business and is legally liable for any debt incurred.
In a partnership, two or more people run a business together, with each contributing resources and sharing profits and losses. Limited liability companies are hybrid entities that combine the legal protections of a corporation with the tax benefits one receives in a sole proprietorship or partnership. Corporations, on the other hand, are legal entities that are separate from their owners, therefore, the owners are protected from being personally liable for debt or legal action incurred by the company.
Are you starting your own company or going into business with someone? Wanting to grow your knowledge as a professional? Or seeking a promotion at your current company? Whether you are starting your own business, entering a partnership, seeking a career in business, or hoping to advance in your current job, taking business classes will give you the comprehensive knowledge you need to achieve your goals. From marketing, communication, and human resources to accounting, finance, and project management, there are numerous subject areas that are essential for operating a successful business.
Best Business Classes & Schools in Chicago
There are countless business classes in Chicago that will teach you practical skills to grow your business or advance in your career. Whether taught in-person or live online, you have a number of options to choose from depending on what area of business you would like to learn, as well as beginner-friendly courses that provide comprehensive lessons on a variety of business subjects.
Looking to form your own business but don't know where to start? The Discovery Center offers How to Start Your Own Business, a five-hour seminar that'll teach you everything you need to know to get your business running. Learn key concepts from business experts such as the basics of a good business plan, how to finance your business, insurance and legal needs, bookkeeping basics, marketing plans, and what assistance is available from the State of Illinois. No prerequisites are required. The Discovery Center is a long-standing adult education center on the North Side of Chicago.
If you're a business owner or marketing professional, brand recognition is essential to growing and sustaining your business. Chicago-area residents can attend Noble Desktop's SEO Bootcamp by attending classes live online. In this two-day interactive boot camp, you'll learn core concepts and techniques such as how search engines rank websites, keyword research methods, how to write SEO content, how to measure your SEO success, tools to keep an eye on the competition, and other useful strategies.
To learn more about how to drive customers to your website, check out Google Ads Bootcamp, another Noble Desktop class that can be taken live online. This two-day workshop provides an introduction to creating paid ad campaigns via Google. Online advertising is a great way to promote your business and increase traffic to your website. You'll gain comprehensive skills and knowledge from an NYC industry expert in this beginner-friendly course.
Women in business who want to grow their leadership skills can book American Management Association's Women's Leadership Certificate Program, a two-day program for all skill levels. In this course, you'll learn how to effectively find your voice and lead with confidence, as well as how to overcome preconceived notions that sabotage women business leaders. Upon completion, you'll receive an AMA Women's Leadership Certificate, demonstrating that you've received hands-on training in crucial leadership areas for professional women.
If you are starting a business or providing office support for a small business, it's crucial to know how to keep track of the company's financial transactions. In QuickBooks Desktop Part I, offered by Computer Training Source, Inc., an expert instructor will teach you how to use this commonly used small business accounting software. You'll learn how to invoice, receive payments, make deposits, and customize reports, among other accounting duties. Beginners are welcome in this one-day course.
Computer Training Source, Inc., located in the Near North Side neighborhood of Chicago, also offers WordPress Level 1, a two-session course that will show you how to create and run a blog on WordPress.com. You'll learn everything you need to know about running a blog from setting up an account and creating content to building traffic and making content appealing to your audience. This class is beginner-friendly but recommends having some HTML and CSS knowledge.
Salesforce is a popular Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platform that allows businesses to track customer activity and generate useful data for marketing and outreach. Professionals seeking certification in this commonly used software can attend Computer Training Source, Inc.'s Salesforce Admin Certification Prep. In this ten-day course, you'll prepare for the Salesforce Administrator Certification exam by learning how to use Salesforce to maintain and manage data, create reports and dashboards, and automate processes for your business.
Earning a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification is a great way to validate your problem-solving skills as a business professional. Chicagoans can attend Sprintzeal Americas Inc.'s Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, a certification training course that teaches professionals how to increase product quality and process efficiency.
Acquiring the skills to improve operations and cut costs at your business is a valuable asset for your company, often resulting in your career advancement and higher earning potential. According to Salary.com, the average salary for someone with a Six Sigma Green Belt is $114,000 as of June 2023.
Sprintzeal Americas Inc. also offers PMP Certification Training for project managers to learn how to effectively plan, initiate, execute, control, and deliver projects to employees. You will receive four days of comprehensive instruction led by an expert instructor, and two PMP mock tests to take before the actual exam, as well as an Exam Pass Guarantee if you enroll at least one month in advance and complete the pre-course. Students must have a minimum of three years of project management experience to take this certification training.
Advance in your career as a business analyst by earning your Certification of Capability in Business Analysis (CCBA) via Sprintzeal Americas Inc.'s CCBA Certification three-day course. Earning a CCBA will validate your expertise as a business analyst and will open up career opportunities and promotions. To earn your CCBA you must have at least 3,750 hours of BABOK-guided (Business Analysis Body of Knowledge) work experience within the last seven years.
Learn how to adapt your business to today's fast-paced global economy by enrolling in Northeastern Illinois University's Entrepreneurial Mindset Profile Course. Offered by the Office of Community and Professional Education (CAPE) located in North Park, this class will teach you how to gain an advantage by forgoing outdated business methods and implementing new strategies.
Students begin by taking the Entrepreneurial Mindset Profile (EMP) online assessment, a tool used to help business owners and teams identify their strengths and areas of improvement in areas such as Idea Generation, Execution, Future Focus, and Action Orientation. The trained instructor will then provide personalized feedback on your results and help you plan a course of action. This class, held in the College of Business and Technology Room 149, is three hours long and open to all skill levels.
Are you looking to improve your communication skills in your business? Speakeasy, Inc. offers the three-day workshop, Talk So People Listen, for individuals looking to develop an effective communication style for the workplace. An expert instructor will help you explore your personal communication style and apply your skills in a presentation that will be videotaped for your future reference. This course is open to all skill levels, ages 21 and older.
Chicago Industries That Use Business
Business knowledge and skills are useful in numerous roles and industries such as manufacturing, finance, marketing, human resources, healthcare, hospitality, entrepreneurship, entertainment, management, sales, public administration, data/business analytics, and the list goes on. Taking business classes is a great way to learn marketable skills that apply to a wide variety of sectors.
Chicago offers an abundance of opportunities for business professionals. The city is one of the world's major manufacturing centers and has the third highest employment in finance among U.S. metropolitan areas. Chicago is also a major transportation, distribution, and logistics (TD&L) hub and a leading technology center, with 18% growth in the last decade in the tech workforce, partly due to the large number of startups. Other thriving sectors include health services, hospitality, and food manufacturing.
Business Jobs & Salaries in Chicago
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Chicago has the fourth highest employment in business and financial operations occupations among any metropolitan in the U.S. and an annual mean wage of $93,000. Business and financial jobs in Chicago with the highest employment include accountants and auditors ($88,000 mean annual income), management analysts ($120,000), project management specialists ($103,000), human resources specialists ($71,000), financial and investment analysts ($118,000), and buyers and purchasing agents ($77,000).
Per national data from the BLS, logisticians – individuals who manage the purchasing, transportation, and distribution of goods and supplies – are one of the fastest-growing jobs in business with 28% projected growth from 2021 to 2030. Market research analysts are also among the fastest growing (19% projected growth), as well as financial examiners (21%).
