How can I run a program from a batch file without leaving the console open after the program starts?

You can use the exit keyword. Here is an example from one of my batch files:

start myProgram.exe param1
exit

Look at the START command, you can do this:

START rest-of-your-program-name

For instance, this batch-file will wait until notepad exits:

@echo off
notepad c:\test.txt

However, this won't:

@echo off
start notepad c:\test.txt

From my own question:

start /b myProgram.exe params...

works if you start the program from an existing DOS session.

If not, call a vb script

wscript.exe invis.vbs myProgram.exe %*

The Windows Script Host Run() method takes:

• intWindowStyle : 0 means "invisible windows"
• bWaitOnReturn : false means your first script does not need to wait for your second script to finish

Here is invis.vbs:

set args = WScript.Arguments
num = args.Count

if num = 0 then
    WScript.Echo "Usage: [CScript | WScript] invis.vbs aScript.bat <some script arguments>"
    WScript.Quit 1
end if

sargs = ""
if num > 1 then
    sargs = " "
    for k = 1 to num - 1
        anArg = args.Item(k)
        sargs = sargs & anArg & " "
    next
end if

Set WshShell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")

WshShell.Run """" & WScript.Arguments(0) & """" & sargs, 0, False

You should try this. It starts the program with no window. It actually flashes up for a second but goes away fairly quickly.

start "name" /B myprogram.exe param1

Loads of answers for this question already, but I am posting this to clarify something important, though this might not always be the case:

Start "C:\Program Files\someprog.exe"

Might cause issues in some windows versions as Start actually expects the first set of quotation marks to be a windows title. So it is best practice to first double quote a comment, or a blank comment:

Start "" "C:\Program Files\someprog.exe"

or

Start "Window Title" "C:\Program Files\someprog.exe"