Think back just a few years and ponder how much your business has changed. Technology has not only changed car washes themselves, but everything that supports the car wash, from marketing to management.

That’s why it is important for today’s leader to continually learn new methods and practices. Consider this: If you started your business 20 years ago, you probably didn’t have a website. If you started it a decade ago, you launched before Facebook made its way off the Harvard campus—and you certainly weren’t carrying an iPhone.

New laws and requirements have changed businesses, too. New methods of accounting and new relationships with the Millennial generation.

It can seem impossible to keep up.

But consider the costs of not continuing to grow and learn, especially in today’s business environment where the pace of change is so dramatic. Career coach Brian Tracy recommends that business leaders invest three percent of their income into education. Not for their staffs, but for themselves. That doesn’t always mean going back to school to pursue an MBA or some other degree. Technology hasn’t just changed the way business is done; it also has made it extremely possible to learn just about anything—without investing anything more than time. Consider this a course schedule:

Today’s Modern Car Wash 427

Understanding what is happening in today’s car washes is vital to help you grow your business, learn from the mistakes of others and gain a competitive advantage with new products. Reading this and other industry magazines is a great place to start. The International Carwash Association launched a series of events that will offer education and networking—both essential in keeping up with the industry. Learn more at carwash.org/events.

General Business Management 101

The U.S. Small Business Administration (sba.gov) includes a number of free online courses on a variety of topics in its Small Business Learning Center. The courses are completed online and most take about 30 minutes. Topics range from start-up—like how to write a business plan—to expanding businesses—including strategic planning. Most of the courses would be broadly applicable internationally, though a few are aimed at specific demographics, such as women entrepreneurs and those operating in Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZones).

My Own Business Institute, an arm of Santa Clara University (scu.edu/mobi), offers two free tracks: Starting a Business and Business Expansion. The courses are free and, if you like, you can pursue a certificate by completing the 15 courses in each track.

The American Management Association (amanet.org) includes a number of white papers and articles designed to address topics ranging from customer service to thinking and innovation.

Accounting 323

Even if you have an accountant who handles the books, a good understanding of basic principles is a must for any business owner. Accountant Matt Evans has developed 17 quick and nine in-depth financial courses available on his website (exinfm.com/training). All are free. The main training page also includes links to additional free video courses.

Crash Course (youtube.com/user/crashcourse) takes a more global approach, offering a series of short videos explaining broad economic theory, such as inflation, fiscal policy and marginal analysis.

Electives

The internet has led some of the top universities in the world to open up their doors to anyone—for free. Known as mass open online courses (MOOCs), the courses are lecture-based, sometimes include homework in teams and hit on any number of topics. Universities like Stanford, Duke, Harvard, UC-Berkeley and MIT are among those that participate. The Open Education Consortium (oeconsortium.org/courses) has aggregated many of the available courses into one searchable database. Coursera (coursera.org) includes free courses from 142 universities in 28 countries.

Don’t assume that all of these courses are the equivalent of underwater basket weaving, either. MIT includes its graduate-level entrepreneurial marketing courses in its MOOC. The Universities of London and Oxford also offer a series of free podcasts, based on course lectures.

The website Udemy (udemy.com) includes thousands of courses on any number of topics. The courses are all created by people who are experts in the field. Most of the courses do have a nominal charge, often set by the instructor. Udemy also offers training platforms for businesses.

People Management 222

Management Training Specialists (mtdtraining.com) offers a series of in-person, fee-based events designed to improve staff management in the United Kingdom. But a free, five-part video-based training program can help provide information on specific management styles, how to give constructive feedback and how to create a high-performing team culture.

The website OpenLearn (open.edu) includes a number of courses designed to improve people management, including how teams work and the importance of people skills. It also includes free courses on a variety of topics, including business. Each of the courses includes a list of learning outcomes so you can make sure the course fits your needs.

Technology 101

You’ve spent the money on software, but are you making the most of what you’ve installed? Many software producers offer free training courses on their websites. Microsoft, for instance, offers specific tutorials designed to help you get the most out of each software program such as Word, Outlook and Excel. The programs are based on the specific version of the software. So even if you are a Word 2010 pro, consider taking the program as you upgrade to Word 2016. Learn more at Microsoft.com/learn.

Philosophy 201

Maybe you just want to learn to be a better person or better leader. And maybe that means inspiration as well as knowledge. TEDTalks (ted.com) has revolutionized this area. These 15- 20-minute video talks from some of the world’s most dynamic leaders and innovative thinkers are sure to inspire. With more than 2,100 talks in the archives, there is something on virtually any topic. But if you’re not sure where to start, look for the playlist of the 20 most popular talks. Of those, discussions of how great leaders inspire action, how to create a happy workplace and the positive aspects of stress can transform your workplace. Another option: subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.

Executive Leadership 401

Sometimes the best way to learn is from someone who has been there before. That means finding a mentor. It may be seeking out someone you know personally, perhaps through a connection made at a community group like the local Chamber of Commerce. But if you don’t know where to start, the U.S. Small Business Administration has a program called SCORE, the Service Corps of Retired Executives. Webinars and other free online training is available (score.org/onlineworkshops/tab-a). SCORE volunteers also provide free business counseling in person or via email.

The European Small Business Alliance (esba-europe.org) also offers white papers and position statements on issues affecting small businesses there. It also offers a LinkedIn group for networking and discussion.

General Knowledge 101

Serious education is important. But general curiosity can lead to innovation. Make some time each week to just be curious. If you wonder, “Why is the Sky Blue?” type that question into a search box on YouTube (youtube.com). Subscribe to the podcast “How to Do Everything” (howtodoeverything.org), which tackles everything from how to leave a voicemail message to finding sunken treasure. Read the website Life Hacks (lifehacks.org) for tips on topics like communication, management, productivity and money.

Whether the education need is skill specific or just in general, a commitment to learning can pay dividends—without costing a fortune.