Business Training Institute
Business Training Institute is the consumer brand of Accredited Certification Institute, a privately held U.S. provider of 20+ self-paced online professional certification programs in finance, marketing, and business management, serving 15,000+ paying individual professionals via a $19.50/month subscription.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersKey Biscayne, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Business Training Institute does
Business Training Institute, the consumer-facing brand of Accredited Certification Institute (ACI), is a private U.S.-based provider of self-paced online professional certification programs founded in 2009 by Richard Wilson. The company offers 20+ certifications organized into three categories — Investments & Finance (hedge funds, private equity, family offices, business brokerage, capital raising, financial modeling, investment banking), Marketing (marketing, PR, copywriting, sales, recruiting, business development), and Business Management (management, consulting, analysis, events, coaching, customer service, technical writing) — delivered through a 100% online learning management system with video modules, audio expert interviews, study guides, practice tests, and online examinations requiring an 80% pass threshold.
Its core technology is a multimedia LMS built around a proprietary content library of 1,500+ video recordings and 300+ audio expert interviews, supplemented by templates, books, and a 1,300+ hedge fund manager contact database available to premium alumni. The company monetizes primarily through a $19.50/month subscription with free trial entry, structured around lifetime access upon enrollment, a Master's Certificate bundle (5 programs in under one year), and ancillary fees ($99 exam re-take, $35 reschedule). Programs are accredited (CPD) and the company bundles its certifications with access to founder-affiliated communities — Hedge Fund Group (~110,000 members) and Private Equity Investment Group (~115,000 members) — aggregating 350,000+ professionals globally.
The business operates a self-serve digital GTM with multi-channel support (website, live chat, phone, scheduled calls, email), has 15,000+ paying learners to date, and is led by founder/President Richard Wilson with a small leadership team (CTO, Director, Director of Candidate Services, Technical Program Producer). The company remains privately held, bootstrapped, and headquartered in Kailua, Hawaii with a Scottsdale, Arizona office; no external funding, M&A, or institutional ownership has been disclosed.
Business Training Institute firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Business Training Institute
- Legal name
- Accredited Certification Institute
- Website
- https://businesstraining.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Business Training Institute is the consumer brand of Accredited Certification Institute, a privately held U.S. provider of 20+ self-paced online professional certification programs in finance, marketing, and business management, serving 15,000+ paying individual professionals via a $19.50/month subscription.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Business Training Institute industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Professional Training & Certification
- NAICS
- Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Professional and Management Development Training (61143)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Project, Process & Quality Certification Prep (PMP, PRINCE2, Lean Six Sigma, ITIL) (EDANAIAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Sales, Marketing & Digital Marketing Certifications (EDAAANAF), Certification & Credentialed Creator Programs (MPACALAI), Professional Certification & Training Content Publishing (Exam Prep, CE/CPD) (MPAJACAL)
Keywords
Where Business Training Institute is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Key Biscayne
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Business Training Institute business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Monthly Subscription: Subscription-based access to all 20+ certification programs with free trial followed by $19.50/month. Includes access to video modules, audio interviews, study guides, practice tests, and certification exams. Lifetime access to programs upon enrollment.
- Examination Fees: Online examination included with subscription. $99 fee to re-take exam if failed. $35 fee to change examination date/session.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Individual Monthly Subscription with Free Trial |
| Subscription | Annual | Master's Certificate Program |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Exam Re-take Fee |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Business Training Institute product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Business Training Institute sells self-paced, online professional certification programs across 20+ niche areas in investments & finance, marketing, and business management. Customers enroll directly through the website on a free trial then $19.50/month subscription, gaining instant lifetime access to video modules, audio expert interviews, study guides, practice tests, and online examinations that confer industry-recognized designations. Master's Certificate bundles combine five programs to deliver reported savings of over $2,500.
Product overview
Accredited Certification Institute (ACI) offers a comprehensive portfolio of 20+ professional certification programs organized across three main categories: Investments & Finance (hedge funds, private equity, family offices, business brokerage, capital raising, financial modeling, investment banking, financial analysis), Marketing (marketing, public relations, copywriting, sales management, recruiting, business development), and Business Management (management, consulting, business analysis, event management, coaching, customer service, technical writing). The platform provides self-paced, online training with multimedia study materials including video modules, expert audio interviews, study guides, practice tests, and required readings. Programs are structured to require 75-100 hours of study, with certification awarded upon achieving 80% on examinations. Advanced learners can earn Master's Certificates by completing 5 programs within one year. The CHP program offers a tiered structure with Level 1 fundamentals and three Level 2 specializations (Due Diligence, Analytics, Marketing & Sales).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Certified Hedge Fund Professional (CHP) Level 1 Foundation-level professional certification covering hedge fund structures, strategies, trends, and industry best practices, including access to 70+ educational videos, templates, books, and exclusive hedge fund tools, plus career coaching, recruiter connections, and resume feedback.
- Certified Hedge Fund Professional (CHP) Level 2 – Due Diligence Advanced Level 2 specialization focusing on hedge fund due diligence aspects including risk assessment and investment evaluation.
- Certified Hedge Fund Professional (CHP) Level 2 – Analytics Advanced Level 2 specialization covering hedge fund portfolio analytics and risk management best practices.
- Certified Hedge Fund Professional (CHP) Level 2 – Marketing & Sales Advanced Level 2 specialization in hedge fund marketing, third-party marketing, capital introduction, and investor relations.
- Certified Business Broker (CBB) Certification covering business valuation, listing preparation, buyer/seller analysis, and brokerage best practices, with 23 video modules and 5 audio interviews.
- Qualified Family Office Professional (QFOP) Training program for single and multi-family office professionals covering fundamentals, structures, and investment strategies, with 200+ video modules and 30+ hours of audio interviews.
- Certified Private Equity Professional (CPEP) Certification covering private equity fund structures, leveraged buyouts, return measurement, and GP/LP relationships, with 69 video modules.
- Certified Business Development Expert (CBDE) Program covering business development fundamentals, best practices, competitive intelligence, SEO, social media marketing, and client pipeline management, with 32 video modules.
- Certified Capital Raising Specialist (CCRS) Capital raising certification covering investor types (HNW, family offices, institutional), copywriting, investor funnels, and a 5-step capital raising system, with 45 video modules.
- Customer Service Manager Certificate (CSMC) Customer service management certification covering loyalty strategies, communication skills, and service department leadership, with 35 video modules.
- Certified Public Relations Specialist (CPRS) Public relations certification covering PR campaigns, media relations, press releases, event PR, and social media strategies, with 61 video modules.
- Certified Technical Writer (CTW) Technical writing certification covering fundamentals, best practices, industry-specific writing, and emerging technology terms, with 15 video modules.
- Certified Recruiting Specialist (CRS) Recruiting certification covering sourcing, screening, interviewing techniques, social media recruiting, and retention strategies, with 15 video modules.
- Advanced Sales Manager Certification (ASMC) Sales management certification covering advanced selling strategies, educational marketing, upselling, cross-selling, and competitive due diligence, with 36 video modules.
- Certified Copywriting Specialist (CCS) Copywriting certification covering persuasive writing, buyer personas, SEO copywriting, and call-to-action strategies, with 25 video modules.
- Certified Marketing Expert (CME) Marketing certification covering fundamentals, thought leadership, public relations, social media, webinars, and marketing funnels, with 47 video modules.
- Certified Business Management Expert (CBME) Business management certification covering leadership, hiring, project management, product portfolios, and management tools, with 30 video modules.
- Certified Business Consultant (CBC) Business consulting certification focused on practical consulting approaches and skills for industry professionals.
- Certified Advanced Business Analyst (CABA) Business analysis certification covering key terms, concepts, and best-in-class analysis skills for busy professionals.
- Certified Event Management Expert (CEME) Event management certification covering best practices, fundamentals, and industry expert insights for event planning professionals.
- Certified Business Coaching Specialist (CBCS) Business coaching certification covering coaching discovery processes and client-focused coaching methodologies.
- Financial Analyst Specialist Certification (FASC) Financial analysis certification covering financial analyst fundamentals and analytical skills.
- Certified Financial Modeling Specialist (CFMS) Financial modeling certification covering accounting and finance concepts, assumptions, and parameters for modeling professionals.
- Certified Investment Banking Associate (CIBA) Investment banking certification covering M&A processes and hands-on investment banking business training.
- Master's Certificate in Business Management Advanced program requiring completion of 5 training programs (3 core from Management Department) covering business management, project management, international business, and customer service management, with reported savings of over $2,500 when completed in under one year.
- Master's Certificate in Marketing Advanced program requiring completion of 5 training programs (3 core from Marketing Department) covering Sales, Public Relations, Internet Marketing, Copywriting, and Business Development, with reported savings of over $2,500 when completed in under one year.
- Master's Certificate in Finance & Investments Advanced program requiring completion of 5 training programs (3 core from Finance & Investments Department) covering Financial Analysis, Hedge Funds, Investment Banking, Private Equity, and Financial Modeling, with reported savings of over $2,500 when completed in under one year.
Quantifiable outcome
- 15,000+ professionals have paid to join training and certificate programs
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Business Training Institute
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Business Training Institute technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Business Training Institute partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Business Training Institute competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Wiley Efficient Learning: Self-paced online test prep and professional certifications (CMA, CFA, CFP) using videos, practice tests, and study guides — directly comparable in delivery model and credentialed exam-prep positioning to ACI's certification programs.
- Becker Professional Education: Long-established prep and continuing education provider for CPA, CMA, and CFA candidates with self-paced online multimedia courses — directly comparable to ACI's exam-prep-and-certification model in finance credentials.
- Kaplan Financial Education: Provider of exam prep and professional certifications (CFA, CFP, series licenses) via online self-paced multimedia — overlaps directly with ACI's investment-and-finance certification tracks and self-paced delivery.
- Corporate Finance Institute (CFI): Online provider of self-paced professional certifications (CBCA, FMVA) for finance professionals covering financial modeling, valuation, and capital raising — directly comparable to ACI's investment-and-finance track and similar self-serve subscription model.
Broad incumbents
- Udemy Business: Large incumbent marketplace and subscription platform for online courses covering business, marketing, and finance topics — comparable as a broad self-serve online learning destination, though Udemy lacks ACI's niche credentialing positioning.
- Coursera: Global MOOC platform offering professional certificates and Specializations from universities and companies — overlaps as a self-paced online credential provider, particularly competing for working professionals seeking resume-grade designations.
- CFA Institute: Issuer of the CFA designation and provider of online learning and exam prep for investment professionals — comparable in target audience (finance professionals) and in the credentialed exam-prep model, though at a more prestigious tier.
- CAIA Association: Provider of the CAIA designation and online self-study curriculum for alternative investments — adjacent incumbent serving hedge-fund and alternatives professionals, the same audience ACI's CHP program targets.
- LinkedIn Learning: Subscription-based online learning library from LinkedIn covering business, marketing, and finance — directly competes for the same working-professional segment with a much broader catalog and stronger distribution via LinkedIn's network.
Emerging players
- Simplilearn: Online bootcamp and certification provider covering digital marketing, project management, and finance credentials — overlaps with ACI's marketing and business management tracks via similar self-paced online certification offerings.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Business Training Institute social profiles
Digital presenceBusiness Training Institute compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Business Training Institute financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Business Training Institute leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Business Training Institute funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Business Training Institute M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Business Training Institute
What does Business Training Institute do?
Business Training Institute sells self-paced, online professional certification programs across 20+ niche areas in investments & finance, marketing, and business management. Customers enroll directly through the website on a free trial then $19.50/month subscription, gaining instant lifetime access to video modules, audio expert interviews, study guides, practice tests, and online examinations that confer industry-recognized designations. Master's Certificate bundles combine five programs to deliver reported savings of over $2,500.
Is Business Training Institute a public or private company?
Business Training Institute is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Business Training Institute founded?
Business Training Institute was founded in 2009. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Business Training Institute based?
Business Training Institute is headquartered in Key Biscayne, United States, in the North America region.
How does Business Training Institute make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Monthly Subscription is the primary driver. The others are examination Fees.
Who are Business Training Institute's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Wiley Efficient Learning, Becker Professional Education, Kaplan Financial Education and Corporate Finance Institute (CFI). Broad incumbents are Udemy Business, Coursera, CFA Institute, CAIA Association and LinkedIn Learning. Simplilearn is listed as an emerging player.
Does Business Training Institute have an API?
No public API is recorded for Business Training Institute.
What industry is Business Training Institute in?
Business Training Institute's product category is Professional Training & Certification. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDANAIAE, Project, Process & Quality Certification Prep (PMP, PRINCE2, Lean Six Sigma, ITIL), with a secondary code of EDAAANAF, Sales, Marketing & Digital Marketing Certifications. Its NAICS code is 611430 and its SIC code is 8200.