Small Business Finance

Manage your small business successfully with these finance essentials. They explain the 5 reasons so many small businesses fail and outline strategies—such as tracking your accounting, managing your operating cycle, forecasting cash flow & more.

Enroll Yourself · $49.00 USD

Course curriculum

1. Introduction
1. Steps for Starting a New Business
2. An Example
3. Lesson Summary
4. Quiz 1.1
1. Going into Business
2. The Pros of Purchasing a Business
3. The Cons of Purchasing a Business
4. Selling Price
5. Lesson Summary
6. Quiz 1.2
1. Family-Owned Businesses
2. Benefits of a Family Owned Business
3. Drawbacks of a Family Owned Business
4. Finance
5. Lesson Summary
6. Quiz 1.3
1. A Great Business Idea
2. What's the Purpose of a Feasibility Study?
3. Feasibility Study Components
4. Lesson Summary
5. Quiz 1.4
1. What is a Feasibility Plan?
2. Market Research
3. Competitive Analysis
4. Organizational Competence
5. Financial Analysis
6. Lesson Summary
7. Quiz 1.5
1. Business Plan Defined
2. Business Description and Vision
3. Market, Products, and Services
4. Organization and Management
5. Market and Sales Strategy
6. Financial Management
7. Executive Summary and Appendices
8. A Living Document and a Good Story
9. Lesson Summary
10. Learning Outcomes
11. Quiz 1.6
1. Introduction
1. Sole Proprietorships and Small Business
2. Advantages of Sole Proprietorship
3. Disadvantages of Sole Proprietorship
4. Lesson Summary
5. Learning Outcomes
6. Quiz 2.1
1. General Partnership
2. Limited Partnership
3. Limited Liability Partnership
4. Limited Liability Limited Partnership
5. Lesson Summary
6. Learning Outcome
7. Quiz 2.2
1. General Structure
2. Formation
3. Flexibility Through the Operating Agreement
4. Member-Managed vs. Manager-Managed
5. Limited Liability
6. Pass-Through Taxation
7. Lesson Summary
8. Learning Outcomes
9. Quiz 2.3
1. The Corporate Form of Organization
2. Advantages of Corporations
3. Disadvantages of Corporations
4. S-Corps vs. C-Corps
5. Lesson Summary
6. Learning Outcomes
7. Quiz 2.4
1. What Is an S Corporation?
2. S Corporation Requirements
3. S Corporation Advantages
4. Lesson Summary
5. Quiz 2.5
1. What Is Franchising?
2. Franchising Relationships
3. Financial Agreements
4. Lesson Summary
5. Quiz 2.6
1. Franchise - A Proven Model for Success
2. Advantages of Franchises
3. Disadvantages of Franchises
4. Diversity in Franchising
5. Globalization - A Unique Challenge
6. Lesson Summary
7. Learning Outcomes
8. Quiz 2.7
1. What are First Movers?
2. Advantages
3. Disadvantages
4. Real-World Examples
5. Lesson Summary
6. First Movers - Advantages/Disadvantages
7. Learning Outcomes
8. Quiz 2.8
1. Introduction
1. Financial Planning Process
2. Three Essential Questions
3. Cash and Profit Planning
4. Other Factors to Consider
5. Budgets
6. Lesson Summary
7. Learning Outcomes
8. Quiz 3.1
1. What Is Financial Planning
2. Benefits of a Developing a Financial Plan
3. Example
4. Lesson Summary:
5. Quiz 3.2
1. Definition
2. Example
3. Lesson Summary
4. Lesson at a Glance
5. Learning Outcomes
6. Quiz 3.3
1. Anticipating Future Financial Scenarios
2. What is a Budget?
3. What is a Forecast?
4. Lesson Summary
5. Quiz 3.4
1. What Are Financial Goals?
2. Time Frame
3. Saving Money
4. Steps to Reaching a Goal
5. Lesson Summary
6. Quiz 3.5
1. Introduction
1. Funding for New Business Ventures
2. Keeping It Close to Home
3. Asking Uncle Sam for Help
4. Borrowing From the Pros
5. Thinking Outside the Box
6. Lesson Summary
7. Quiz 4.1
1. Raising Capital through Equity
2. Pros & Cons of Using Equity
3. Raising Capital through Debt
4. Pros & Cons of Using Debt
5. Raising Capital & Securities Regulation
6. Lesson Summary
7. Learning Outcome
8. Quiz 4.2
1. Short-Term Financing Defined
2. Trade Credit
3. Line of Credit
4. Short-Term Bank Loans
5. Credit Cards
6. Lesson Summary
7. Learning Outcomes
8. Quiz 4.3
1. Long-Term Financing Defined
2. Commercial Loans
3. Stock Offering
4. Debt Offering
5. Government Programs
6. Lesson Summary
7. Learning Outcomes
8. Quiz 4.4
1. Definition of Bootstrapping
2. Bootstrapping Methods & Techniques
3. Lesson Summary
4. Quiz 4.5
1. Asset-Based Lending
2. Definition
3. Uses of Asset-Based Lending
4. Business Requirements Profile
5. Lesson Summary
6. Quiz 4.6
1. What Is an Angel Investor?
2. Angel Investing vs. Venture Capital
3. Benefits of Angel Investing
4. Risks of Angel Investing
5. Pursuing Angel Investors
6. Lesson Summary
7. Quiz 4.7
1. Introduction
1. Kaycie and the Financial Statements
2. Introducing the Financial Statements
3. What Do Each of the Financial Statements Do?
4. Why Are the Financial Statements Important?
5. Lesson Summary
6. Learning Outcomes
7. Quiz 5.1
1. The Fine Print
2. What Is Included in the Financial Statement Notes?
3. The Purpose of Notes
4. Lesson Summary
5. Learning Outcomes
6. Quiz 5.2
1. The Balance Sheet
2. Balance Sheet Components
3. Balance Sheet Presentation
4. Lesson Summary
5. Learning Outcomes
6. Quiz 5.3
1. Introducing the Income Statement
2. Income Statement Components
3. Purpose of Income Statements
4. Lesson Summary
5. Learning Outcomes
6. Quiz 5.4
1. Introducing the Statement of Cash Flows
2. What Makes Up the Statement of Cash Flows?
3. Why Is the Statement of Cash Flows Important?
4. Lesson Summary
5. Learning Outcomes
6. Quiz 5.5
1. Definition
2. Components and Format
3. Format
4. Lesson Summary
5. Quiz 5.6
1. Introduction
1. Financial Statement Analysis
2. Liquidity Ratio
3. Debt Ratio
4. Profitability Ratio
5. Lesson Summary
6. Learning Outcomes
7. Quiz 6.1
1. What Is Ratio Analysis?
2. Comparison to Prior Period
3. Comparison to Competitor
4. Comparison to Industry Average
5. Understanding the Baseline
6. Lesson Summary
7. Key Words & Their Meanings
8. Learning Outcomes
9. Quiz 6.2
1. What Is Horizontal Analysis?
2. Balance Sheet
3. Income Statement
4. Lesson Summary
5. Key Terms
6. Learning Outcomes
7. Quiz 6.3
1. What Is Vertical Analysis?
2. Balance Sheet
3. Income Statement
4. Lesson Summary
5. Key Terms
6. Learning Outcomes
7. Quiz 6.4
1. Issues with Financial Statement Analysis
2. Comparing Ratios
3. Inventory Valuation
4. The Seasonal Factor
5. Lesson Summary
6. Vocabulary & Definitions
7. Learning Outcome
8. Quiz 6.5
1. The Limits of Tools
2. Use of Estimates & Cost Basis
3. Accounting Methods & Unusual Data
4. What's Not in Financial Statements
5. Diversification
6. Lesson Summary
7. Quiz 6.6
1. Introduction
1. What Is the Nominal Interest Rate?
2. How to Calculate the Nominal Interest Rate
3. Example: Nominal Interest Rate Calculation
4. Lesson Summary
5. Nominal Interest Rate Overview
6. Learning Outcomes
7. Quiz 7.1
1. What Is Real Interest Rate?
2. Calculating Real Interest Rate
3. Practice
4. Lesson Summary
5. Quiz 7.2
1. Short-Term Interest Rate
2. Long-Term Interest Rate
3. Differences
4. Significance
5. Lesson Summary
6. Quiz 7.3
1. What Is Interest Rate Risk?
2. Bond Valuation Basics
3. Reinvestment Rate Risk
4. Can Risk be Avoided?
5. Lesson Summary
6. Quiz 7.4
1. Interest Rates
2. Theories
3. Lesson Summary
4. Quiz 7.5
1. Introduction
1. Financial Statement Ratios Defined
2. Types of Financial Ratios
3. Interpreting the Ratios
4. Learning Outcomes
5. Lesson Summary
6. Quiz 8.1
1. What Is a Financial Ratio?
2. Liquidity
3. Debt
4. Efficiency
5. Lesson Summary
6. Lesson at a Glance
7. Learning Outcomes
8. Quiz 8.2
1. What Are Financial Ratios?
2. The Current Ratio
3. Debt Ratio
4. Gross Margin
5. Lesson Summary
6. Learning Outcomes
7. Quiz 8.3
1. Liquidity Ratio Defined
2. Current Ratio
3. Acid Ratio
4. Cash Ratio
5. Lesson Summary
6. Key Terms
7. Learning Outcomes
8. Quiz 8.4
1. Current Ratio
2. Formula
3. Analysis
4. Lesson Summary
5. Quiz 8.5
1. Inventory Turnover Defined
2. Inventory Turnover Formulas
3. Calculating Inventory Turnover
4. Lesson Summary
5. Quiz 8.6
1. Profitability Ratio Definition
2. Types of Profitability Ratios
3. Lesson Summary
4. Learning Outcomes
5. Quiz 8.7
1. What are Financial Leverage Ratios?
2. Debt Ratio
3. Debt-to-Equity Ratio
4. Interest Coverage Ratio
5. Lesson Summary
6. Learning Outcomes
7. Quiz 8.8
1. What Are Efficiency Ratios?
2. Inventory Ratio
3. Days Sales in Inventory
4. Asset Turnover Ratio
5. Lesson Summary
6. Learning Outcomes
7. Quiz 8.9
1. Earnings Per Share Defined
2. Figuring Earnings Per Share
3. Lesson Summary
4. Key Terms & Facts to Remember
5. Learning Outcome
6. Quiz 8.10
1. Introduction
1. What Is Accounting?
2. Basic Accounting Equation
3. Purpose of Accounting
4. Importance of Accounting
5. Accounting and Business
6. Lesson Summary
7. Learning Outcomes
8. Quiz 9.1
1. Bookkeeping
2. Accounting Defined
3. A Note About Technology
4. Lesson Summary
5. Learning Outcome
6. Quiz 9.2
1. Accounting and Financial Reporting
2. Business Volume
3. Accounting and Finance Personnel
4. Internal Controls Requirements
5. Lesson Summary
6. Quiz 9.3
1. Accounting Cycle Defined
2. Lesson Summary
3. Learning Outcomes
4. Quiz 9.4
1. What Is Transaction Analysis?
2. Transaction Analysis and the Accounting Equation
3. Analysis Examples
4. Lesson Summary
5. Learning Outcomes
6. Quiz 9.5
1. What Is Manual Accounting?
2. Who Uses It and Why?
3. Disadvantages
4. Types
5. Lesson Summary
6. Quiz 9.6
1. Expenses
2. Expensing
3. Capitalizing
4. Lesson Summary
5. Lesson at a Glance
6. Learning Outcomes
7. Quiz 9.7
1. Which Is Which?
2. External Users of Accounting Information
3. External Uses of Accounting Information
4. Internal Users of Accounting Information
5. Internal Uses of Accounting Information
6. Lesson Summary
7. Learning Outcomes
8. Quiz 9.8
1. Accounting Systems: Defined
2. Evaluating Accounting Systems
3. Making Accounting Information Useful
4. Lesson Summary
5. Quiz 9.9
1. Introduction
1. What Is Forecasting?
2. Qualitative Forecasting
3. Quantitative Forecasting
4. Lesson Summary
5. Quiz 10.1
1. What Is Forecasting?
2. The Role of Forecasting
3. Businesses and Forecasts
4. Types of Forecasting
5. Lesson Summary
6. Quiz 10.2
1. Value of Sales Forecasting
2. Immediate Sales Forecasting
3. Short-Term Sales Forecasting
4. Long-Term Sales Forecasting
5. Lesson Summary
6. Quiz 10.3
1. Financial Ratios
2. Ratio Considerations
3. Profitability Ratios
4. Debt Ratios
5. Investment Ratios
6. Lesson Summary
7. Quiz 10.4
1. What Is a Financial Forecast?
2. Inaccuracies
3. When a Forecast Is Too High
4. When a Forecast Is Too Low
5. When the Financial Forecast Is Right
6. Lesson Summary
7. Quiz 10.5
1. Pro-Forma Financial Statements
2. Pro-Forma Balance Sheet
3. Pro-Forma Income Statement
4. Pro-Forma Statement of Cash Flow
5. Lesson Summary
6. Quiz 10.6
1. Introduction
1. What Is Capital Budgeting?
2. Using Capital Budgeting
3. Cash Flows
4. Lesson Summary
5. Quiz 11.1
1. Budgeting Alternatives
2. Payback Method
3. Disadvantages to Payback Method
4. Simple Rate of Return
5. Cons of Simple Rate of Return
6. Lesson Summary
7. Quiz 11.2
1. Project Decision
2. How Businesses Raise Money
3. Weighted Average Cost of Capital
4. Lesson Summary
5. Quiz 11.3
1. The Time Value of Money
2. Future Value
3. Present Value
4. Future Value of an Annuity
5. Present Value of an Annuity
6. Lesson Summary
7. Quiz 11.4
1. What Is Capital Budgeting?
2. Profits Versus Ethics
3. Integrating Ethics in Capital Budgeting
4. Lesson Summary
5. Quiz 11.5
1. What Is Working Capital Management?
2. Working Capital Management in Action
3. Using the Data
4. Lesson Summary
5. Quiz 11.6
1. What Is Net Working Capital?
2. Calculating Net Working Capital
3. Examples
4. Lesson Summary
5. Key Words & Definitions
6. Learning Outcomes
7. Quiz 11.7
1. Net Present Value and Capital Budgets
2. Capital Projects
3. Net Present Value Calculation
4. Decision Rules
5. Lesson Summary
6. Quiz 11.8
1. Accounting Rate of Return
2. Desired ARR
3. Calculating ARR
4. Making a Decision
5. Lesson Summary
6. Quiz 11.9
1. Capital Budgeting
2. Post-Audit of a Capital Budget
3. Evaluating the Capital Budget
4. Why Is It Useful?
5. Lesson Summary
6. Quiz 11.10
1. The Purpose of Financial Management
2. Startup
3. Growth
4. Lesson Summary
5. Quiz 12.1
1. Is It Worth It?
2. The Profitability Index
3. Interpreting Results
4. Examples of the Profitability Index
5. Lesson Summary
6. Quiz 12.2
1. How Much Is Enough?
2. How Much Is Just Enough?
3. Break-Even Calculation
4. Making It Work
5. Lesson Summary
6. Quiz 12.3
1. What Is Incremental Analysis?
2. Incremental Analysis in Action
3. Other Common Usages
4. Lesson Summary
5. Quiz 12.4
1. What Is Payback Analysis?
2. Formula
3. Example
4. Lesson Summary
5. Quiz 12.5
1. Internal Rate of Return Method
2. Understanding NPV
3. Understanding IRR
4. IRR with Multiple Cash Flows
5. Making a Decision
6. Lesson Summary
7. Quiz 12.6
1. Introduction
1. Business Assets Defined
2. Examples of Business Assets
3. Lesson Summary
4. Lesson at a Glance
5. Learning Outcomes
6. Quiz 13.1
1. Assets
2. Short and Long-Term Assets
3. Lease Versus Buy
4. Lesson Summary
5. Quiz 13.2
1. Definition
2. Demand
3. Cost
4. Technology
5. Lesson Summary
6. Quiz 13.3
1. Definition of Cash Flow
2. Formulas
3. Lesson Summary
4. Learning Outcomes
5. Quiz 13.4
1. Definition of Cash Budgets
2. Cash Inflows and Outflows
3. Preparing a Cash Budget
4. An Example of a Cash Budget
5. Using a Cash Budget
6. Lesson Summary
7. Quiz 13.5
1. Accumulating Cash
2. Speculative and Precautionary Motives
3. Transaction Motive
4. Compensating Balances
5. Costs of Holding Cash
6. Liquidity Management vs. Cash Management
7. Lesson Summary
8. Quiz 13.6
1. Can Cash Be A Bad Investment?
2. Reasons for Cash Surpluses
3. Investing in Short Term Securities
4. Considerations of Investing
5. Lesson Summary
6. Quiz 13.7
1. Introduction
1. What Is Risk?
2. The Five Risk Categories Analyzed
3. Managing Risk
4. Mitigating Risk
5. Lesson Summary
6. Quiz 14.1
1. What Exactly Is Risk?
2. Risk Identification
3. Risk Assessment
4. Risk Mitigation
5. Insurable and Uninsurable Risks
6. Lesson Summary
7. Learning Outcomes
8. Quiz 14.2
1. Insurance Coverage Defined
2. Casualty Coverage
3. Liability Coverage
4. E&O Coverage and D&O Coverage
5. Business Interruption Insurance
6. Key Person Loss Insurance
7. Lesson Summary
8. Learning Outcomes
9. Quiz 14.3
1. Risk & Risk Sharing Definition
2. Strategies for Sharing Risk
3. Examples of Risk Sharing
4. Lesson Summary
5. Quiz 14.4
1. What Is Contingency Planning?
2. The Importance of Contingency Planning
3. The Contingency Planning Process
4. Contingency Plan Implementation
5. Lesson Summary
6. Contingency Planning Processes
7. Learning Outcomes
8. Quiz 14.5
1. Introduction
1. What is a Retirement Plan?
2. Types of Retirement Plans
3. Features to Consider
4. Lesson Summary
5. Quiz 15.1
1. Estate Planning
2. Assets and Wills
3. Trusts
4. Gifts
5. Lesson Summary
6. Quiz 15.2
1. Business Succession
2. Steps for Planning a Business Succession
3. Lesson Summary
4. Quiz 15.3
1. Planning to Retire
2. Social Security
3. Pre-Retirement Programs
4. Defined Benefit Pensions
5. Lesson Summary
6. Learning Outcomes
7. Quiz 15.4
1. Retirement Plans
2. Pension Plans
3. How Pension Plans Work
4. 401(k)
5. How 401(k) Plans Work
6. Lesson Summary
7. Learning Outcome
8. Quiz 15.5
1. Exam instructions
2. Final Exam

About this course

$49.00
656 lessons
0 hours of video content

Ch 1 - Launching a New Small Business

Ch 1.1 - Steps & Aspects for Starting a New Business

Ch 1.2 - Purchasing an Existing Business: Considerations, Pros & Cons

Ch 1.3 - Inheriting & Managing a Family-Owned Business

Ch 1.4 - Feasibility Plans for Small Businesses

Ch 1.5 - Business Plans: How to Develop a Feasibility Plan

Ch 1.6 - How to Write a Business Plan

Ch 2 - Types of Small Businesses

Ch 2.1 - What is a Sole Proprietorship? - Definition, Advantages, Disadvantages & Examples

Ch 2.2 - The Basics of Partnerships: Types & Examples

Ch 2.3 - The Basics of LLCs: Limited Liability Companies

Ch 2.4 - Corporations: Types, Advantages, Disadvantages & Examples

Ch 2.5 - What Is an S Corporation? - Definition, Requirements, Advantages & Examples

Ch 2.6 - What Is Franchising? - Definition & Explanation

Ch 2.7 - Franchises: Opportunities and Challenges

Ch 2.8 - First-Mover: Advantages, Disadvantages & Examples

Ch 3 - Financial Planning for Small Business

Ch 3.1 - The Financial Planning Process

Ch 3.2 - What Is a Financial Plan for a Business? - Definition & Example

Ch 3.3 - Start-Up Budget: Definition & Example

Ch 3.4 - Comparing Budgeting & Forecasting

Ch 3.5 - Financial Goal: Definition & Examples

Ch 4 - Financing for Small Business

Ch 4.1 - Funding Opportunities for Entrepreneurs

Ch 4.2 - Debt Capital Vs Equity Capital

Ch 4.3 - Sources of Short-Term Financing

Ch 4.4 - Sources of Long-Term Financing

Ch 4.5 - Bootstrapping: Definition, Method, Techniques & Example

Ch 4.6 - Asset-Based Lending: Definition & Uses

Ch 4.7 - Angel Investing: Definition, Benefits & Risks

Ch 5 - Financial Statements for Small Business

Ch 5.1 - What Are Financial Statements? - Definition, Purpose & Importance

Ch 5.2 - The Purpose of Notes on Financial Statements

Ch 5.3 - The Balance Sheet: Purpose, Components & Format

Ch 5.4 - What Is an Income Statement? - Purpose, Components & Format

Ch 5.5 - The Statement of Cash Flows: Purpose, Format & Examples

Ch 5.6 - Statement of Changes in Equity: Purpose & Examples

Ch 6 - Financial Statement Analysis for Small Business

Ch 6.1 - Financial Statement Analysis: Definition, Purpose, Elements & Examples

Ch 6.2 - Standards for Comparison in Financial Statement Analysis

Ch 6.3 - Applying Horizontal Analysis Methods

Ch 6.4 - Applying Vertical Analysis Methods

Ch 6.5 - Issues with Financial Statement Analysis

Ch 6.6 - Limitations of Financial Statement Analysis

Ch 7 - Interest Rates Overview for Small Business

Ch 7.1 - Nominal Interest Rate: Definition & Equation

Ch 7.2 - Real Interest Rate: Definition & Calculation

Ch 7.3 - Short vs. Long Term Interest Rates: Differences & Significance

Ch 7.4 - Interest Rate Risk: Definition, Formula & Models

Ch 7.5 - Term Structure of Interest Rates: Definition & Overview

Ch 8 - Financial Ratios Overview for Small Business

Ch 8.1 - Financial Statement Ratios: Determining Company Performance

Ch 8.2 - Defining and Applying Financial Ratio Analysis

Ch 8.3 - Commonly Used Financial Ratios

Ch 8.4 - Liquidity Ratio: Definition, Calculation & Analysis

Ch 8.5 - Current Ratio in Accounting: Definition, Formula & Analysis

Ch 8.6 - What Is Inventory Turnover? - Definition, Formula & Calculation

Ch 8.7 - Profitability Ratio: Definition, Formula, Analysis & Example

Ch 8.8 - Leverage Ratios: Types & Formula

Ch 8.9 - Efficiency Ratios: Types & Formula

Ch 8.10 - How to Calculate Earnings Per Share: Definition & Formula

Ch 9 - Accounting in Small Business

Ch 9.1 - What Is Accounting? - Purpose, Importance & Relationship to Business

Ch 9.2 - Accounting vs Bookkeeping: Differences and Similarities

Ch 9.3 - Small Business Accounting & Financial Reporting Overview

Ch 9.4 - The Accounting Cycle: Definition, Steps & Examples

Ch 9.5 - Using the Accounting Equation: Analyzing Business Transactions

Ch 9.6 - Manual Accounting System: Definition, Advantages & Disadvantages

Ch 9.7 - Comparing the Effects of Capitalizing & Expensing

Ch 9.8 - External and Internal Users and Uses of Accounting

Ch 9.9 - Requirements for Small Business Accounting Systems

Ch 10 - Forecasting in Small Business

Ch 10.1 - What is Forecasting in Business? - Definition & Models

Ch 10.2 - Forecasting: Strategic Role, Components & Types

Ch 10.3 - Short-Term, Long-Term & Immediate Sales Forecasting

Ch 10.4 - Important Ratios in Financial Forecasting

Ch 10.5 - Accuracy & Error in Financial Forecasting

Ch 10.6 - Pro Forma Financial Statements & Project Cash Flows

Ch 11 - Capital Budgeting & Management in Small Business

Ch 11.1 - Capital Budgeting: Definition & Process