Financial Literacy & Budgeting Essentials for Entrepreneurs
Master essential financial literacy and budgeting skills for entrepreneurial success.
Course Overview
This comprehensive course provides early-stage entrepreneurs and small business owners with essential financial literacy skills needed to manage business finances effectively. Through a practical, hands-on approach, participants will learn to identify cash flow components, separate personal and business finances, apply budgeting principles, and develop sustainable financial behaviors. The course is adapted from a successful in-person pilot workshop and designed for self-paced online learning with bilingual support.
Target Audience
Early-stage entrepreneurs and small business owners
What You'll Learn
- Identify and understand business cash flow components (income sources, fixed expenses, variable expenses)
- Separate personal and business finances effectively to maintain financial clarity
- Apply fundamental budgeting principles to create and maintain a business budget
- Recognize and implement sustainable financial behaviors for long-term business health
- Complete practical cash flow worksheets to analyze your own business finances
Course Curriculum
Introduction & Orientation
10 minutes
- Course overview and learning objectives
- Understanding financial literacy in entrepreneurship
- Setting your financial goals
- How to use course materials effectively
Financial Fundamentals for Business
30 minutes
- Business cash flow: income, expenses, and profit
- Identifying different types of income sources
- Understanding fixed vs. variable expenses
- The critical importance of separating personal and business finances
- Setting up basic financial record-keeping systems
Practical Exercise - Cash Flow Worksheet
25 minutes
- Introduction to the cash flow worksheet tool
- Step-by-step guided practice: analyzing a sample business
- Hands-on activity: creating your own cash flow analysis
- Common mistakes and how to avoid them
- Interpreting your results
Budgeting Basics for Entrepreneurs
15 minutes
- What is a business budget and why it matters
- Creating your first business budget
- Budget categories for small businesses
- Tracking and adjusting your budget
- Building sustainable financial habits
Review & Next Steps
10 minutes
- Key concepts review
- Common questions and answers
- Resources for continued learning
- Implementing what you've learned
- Community support and networking opportunities
Teaching Methodology
Assessment Methods
Your Instructor
Dr. Carmelo Castro, PhD
PhD in Business Administration, Certified Financial Educator, Bilingual Business Consultant (English/Spanish)
Dr. Carmelo Castro is a dedicated educator and financial expert with a passion for empowering entrepreneurs through financial literacy. With extensive experience in adult education and business finance, Dr. Castro has helped hundreds of small business owners achieve financial clarity and sustainable growth.
Course Details
Duration
90 minutes (self-paced)
Modality
Self-Paced Virtual
Schedule
Starts: January 01, 2026
Ends: December 31, 2026
Language
Bilingual (English/Spanish support)
Prerequisites
- •Active business or serious business startup plans
- •Basic arithmetic skills
- •No prior financial or accounting knowledge required
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