Business owners go back to school for new skills

NEW YORK — With the start of the new school year, many small business owners are about to become students.

Some are brand-new entrepreneurs who want to learn the basics, such as how to use accounting software. Others are veterans who want to learn new skills so they can expand their business.

Owners who want to learn have a wide variety of options. Traditional options like colleges and universities offer courses, but so do trade organizations and chambers of commerce. Some government agencies also have courses.

Lynette Viviani, who owns a public relations firm, will be going to school this fall to learn more about social media and how to use it for marketing. Viviani has taken classes at the City University of New York's Business Development Institute. She has also taken courses offered by trade groups.

"You have to go out there and learn new things," says Viviani, whose company, Viviani Associates PR is located in Parsippany, N.J. She's been taking classes since the early days of running her own business, which she started 22 years ago. At first she was taking courses in subjects like speechwriting. Now, she says, "continuing education is a must, especially in light of today's evolving world of social media and content marketing."

An owner concerned about the expense will quickly find that money isn't an issue. Although some courses at major universities can cost $1,000 or more, there are plenty of courses or seminars that cost $20, $50 or at most, a few hundred dollars.

Location is also not a problem, because so many courses are offered online. And taking classes doesn't have to be a big time-burner. Classes range from 90-minute seminars to college or university courses that last a semester.

COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES AND FOR-PROFIT SCHOOLS

Schools ranging from community colleges to major universities usually have courses that appeal to business owners. There are also for-profit schools and companies that offer courses in specific business subjects such as accounting.

Most schools list their course offerings online. Some of the big-name business schools tend to cater to MBA candidates, but they may also accept students for individual classes. And some offer certificates in specific areas of business such as accounting, marketing and management.

For owners feeling ambitious enough to pursue an MBA, many schools offer part-time programs.