Free · Online · Built for owners
The free small business MBA.
Most owners were never taught how to run the business they started. This is that education: how to price for profit, keep cash moving, hire well and build systems that work without you. Free.
No card. No contract. A program of Notebook of a COO.
The short answer
What is a small business MBA?
A small business MBA is practical business education for the people who own and run small businesses. Instead of preparing you for a management career, it teaches the operating skills an owner uses every week: pricing, cash flow, sales, hiring, systems and planning for growth.
The Small Business MBA from Notebook of a COO is free, online and self paced: 28 core modules, more than 240 lessons, 21 live tools and a free live class every Tuesday. It is not an accredited degree and does not confer a Master of Business Administration.
What you learn
Four pillars, in the order a business needs them.
Foundation
Get the business model right: who you serve, what you sell, how you position it and the basics most owners skip.
Market and Revenue
Bring revenue in on purpose: find the right customers, price for margin and turn interest into sales.
Operations and Systems
Get the business off your shoulders: documented processes, delegation, hiring scorecards and the numbers you watch every week.
Scale and Exit
Grow on purpose: capacity, financial control and a business that is worth something, whether you keep it or sell it.
What's inside
Everything below is free for every member.
Who it's for
- Owners whose business still runs through them for every decision.
- Owners with real customers and revenue that stopped growing.
- New owners who want to set the business up right from the start.
- Service businesses, trades, shops, studios and consultants: anyone who sells something and wants to run it like an operator.
“The reason the Small Business MBA is free is because I believe that education should be free.”JT Taylor, MS, MBA
JT spent 15 years in the C-suite as a COO, CMO, and CFO, scaling companies from $500k to over $1B in revenue across multiple industries. The Small Business MBA is the operating playbook from that career.
Free, next to a traditional MBA
| A traditional MBA | The Small Business MBA | |
|---|---|---|
| What it costs | The average MBA graduate's debt is $76,996 | Free |
| A degree | Yes | No. An operator education with a certificate you earn |
| Built for | A career credential | Owners running or starting a small business |
| How you learn | On the school's schedule | At your own pace online, plus a free live class every Tuesday |
Debt figure: Education Data Initiative, updated November 13, 2025.
Questions owners ask
Is the small business MBA really free?
Yes. Free forever, with no card and no contract. Small Business MBA Live is a separate, optional paid program for owners who want more live classes.
Is it an accredited MBA?
No. The Small Business MBA is a practical operator education, not an accredited academic degree, and it does not confer a Master of Business Administration.
How long does it take?
You go at your own pace. Every module is built to be put to work in your business the same week, so you use it as you learn it.
What do I need to start?
A free account and your business. The free 3 minute Operator Assessment shows where your business is stuck and where to start.
Do I get a certificate?
Yes. Pass the graded quiz for every module and you earn the Small Business MBA Certificate of Completion, with an ID anyone can verify.
Who teaches it?
JT Taylor, MS, MBA, who spent 15 years in the C-suite as a COO, CMO and CFO, and the Notebook of a COO team.
Is there live help?
Yes. A free live class every Tuesday, 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM PST, for every member, and a private community where owners ask questions and share what works.
Start the free small business MBA
28 core modules · 21 live tools · A free class every Tuesday · No card
Start free →