Fundamentals of Business Finance, with Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women Course Syllabus
Full curriculum breakdown — modules, lessons, estimated time, and outcomes.
Overview: This course provides a comprehensive introduction to business finance, designed specifically for entrepreneurs seeking to strengthen their financial management skills. Through clear explanations and practical exercises, you'll gain foundational knowledge in financial statements, key ratios, and data-driven decision-making. The course is divided into four core modules, each requiring approximately 4 hours, for a total time commitment of around 16 hours. The flexible online format allows busy learners to progress at their own pace, with lifetime access to all materials.
Module 1: Introduction to Business Finance
Estimated time: 4 hours
- Understand the importance of financial literacy in business operations
- Learn how financial management contributes to business growth
- Identify key financial concepts relevant to entrepreneurs
- Recognize the role of finance in strategic planning
Module 2: Financial Statements Explained
Estimated time: 4 hours
- Explore the structure and purpose of Income Statements
- Understand the components of Balance Sheets
- Learn about assets, liabilities, and equity
- Interpret revenue and expense data to assess performance
Module 3: Financial Ratios and Analysis
Estimated time: 4 hours
- Calculate key financial ratios including net profit margin
- Determine the current ratio to assess liquidity
- Analyze financial health using ratio benchmarks
- Use ratios to support strategic business decisions
Module 4: Practical Application
Estimated time: 4 hours
- Apply financial concepts to real-world business scenarios
- Practice interpreting financial data for decision-making
- Reinforce analysis skills through guided exercises
Module 5: Final Project
Estimated time: 4 hours
- Evaluate a sample business’s financial statements
- Calculate and interpret key financial ratios
- Submit a brief report with actionable insights based on financial analysis
Prerequisites
- Basic understanding of business operations
- Familiarity with common business terminology
- No prior finance experience required
What You'll Be Able to Do After
- Understand and explain core components of financial statements
- Read and interpret Income Statements and Balance Sheets
- Calculate and analyze essential financial ratios such as net profit margin and current ratio
- Use financial data to evaluate business performance
- Make informed decisions to support business growth and strategic planning