Financial Management for Small Businesses: Budgeting, Cash Flow & Growth

Master the financial side of running a small or medium‑sized business with this practical, jargon‑free course. You’ll start with the basics of accounting: understanding income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements. But this isn’t just theory—you’ll immediately apply these concepts by setting up a simple bookkeeping system using QuickBooks or Xero. The course teaches you to categorize transactions, reconcile accounts, and generate reports that give you a clear picture of your business’s financial health. Key financial ratios and KPIs are explained in plain English, so you can diagnose problems before they become crises.Budgeting and forecasting are major pillars. You will learn to create realistic budgets based on historical data and growth targets, and build rolling forecasts that adapt to changing conditions. Cost management is covered in depth: distinguishing between fixed and variable costs, cutting unnecessary expenses without hurting growth, and understanding the true profitability of your products or services. Cash flow management is given special attention—you’ll discover strategies to shorten the cash conversion cycle, negotiate better payment terms with suppliers, and avoid the number one killer of small businesses: running out of cash. The course includes practical templates for a 13‑week cash flow forecast and a break‑even analysis tool.As your business grows, financial decisions become more complex. The course introduces capital budgeting techniques (NPV, IRR) so you can evaluate investment opportunities like new equipment or hiring. You’ll learn about funding options: loans, lines of credit, invoice factoring, and equity financing. Tax planning strategies for small businesses are covered, including deductions, entity structures, and quarterly estimated payments, helping you minimize tax liability legally. The final module focuses on financial strategy and exit planning, teaching you how to maximize your company’s valuation and prepare for a sale if you choose that path.With 30 hours of on‑demand content, downloadable Excel templates, and quizzes, this course empowers you to stop guessing and start making data‑driven financial decisions. The instructor is a CPA with years of small business advisory experience. Whether you’re a solopreneur or managing a growing team, you’ll gain the confidence to understand your numbers and use them to drive profitability and sustainable growth.