Cuyahoga Community College
ZPDI2718 - Money Moves: Master Your Business Finances
Course Description
Every successful business starts with a solid grasp of the numbers. This two-week course empowers entrepreneurs with the essential financial skills to make smart, strategic decisions. You'll learn to speak the language of business through core accounting concepts like revenue, expenses, assets and equity, and discover how to read and interpret financial statements with confidence. Go beyond the basics with cost accounting, pricing strategy, budgeting and cash flow management — all tailored to real-world business needs. From breaking down your break-even point to planning for growth and navigating uncertainty, you'll walk away with a tool kit to strengthen your business' financial foundation and support long-term success.
Course Outline
- Day 1: Introduction to Business Finances and Key Accounting Terms
- Day 2: Financial Statements 101
- Day 3: Basic Cost Accounting and Pricing Your Products for Profit
- Day 4: Budgeting, Cash Flow Management, and Financial Planning
Learner Outcomes
Upon completion, entrepreneurs will be able to:
- Understand Basic Accounting Concepts
- Define and apply essential accounting terms, such as revenue, expenses, profit, assets, liabilities and equity
- Recognize the importance of financial literacy for business success
- Analyze and Interpret Financial Statements
- Identify and understand the components of the income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statement
- Prepare and analyze basic financial statements
- Apply Cost Accounting Principles
- Differentiate between fixed, variable, direct and indirect costs
- Calculate the contribution margin and break-even point for their business
- Develop Effective Pricing Strategies
- Implement pricing strategies such as cost-plus pricing, value-based pricing and competitive pricing
- Evaluate the impact of pricing on profitability and sustainability
- Manage Business Finances and Cash Flow
- Create and maintain a business budget
- Implement cash flow management strategies to ensure business stability
- Plan for taxes, emergencies and business growth
- Make Informed Financial Decisions
- Identify key financial indicators for business health
- Use financial data to set goals and plan for long-term success