Small Business Finance Course

Sound Familiar?

You’re good at what you do.
But the money side? That’s a different story.

You avoid your financial reports because you’re not sure what you’re looking at

You don’t have a budget — or you have one that’s been collecting dust since last year

When your accountant talks, you nod along but secretly feel lost

You’re making big decisions based on your bank balance and gut feel, not real data

You’re nervous to look at the numbers in case the news is bad

You know money should get more attention, but you don’t know where to start

If you nodded at even one of those — this course was built for you. Not because you’re bad with money. But because nobody ever showed you how.

What If You Could…

Finally understand your numbers —
and actually use them to grow?

Imagine opening your financial reports and knowing exactly what you’re looking at. Having a budget you built yourself — one that tells you whether you’re on track, where to cut, where to invest, and how to hit your goals.

Imagine sitting down with your accountant and asking the right questions. Knowing your margins. Understanding your cash flow. Making pricing decisions from data, not hope.

That’s what this course gives you. Not theory. Not jargon. A clear, practical system that takes you from “I have no idea” to “I’ve got this.”

The Course

Three modules. One clear system.
Total confidence.

The Small Business Finance Course is a self-paced program built on frameworks tested with hundreds of women business owners through HerBusiness. Every lesson is under 10 minutes. No fluff. No filler. Just the stuff you actually need to know.

Presented by Suzi Dafnis (CEO of HerBusiness) and PJ (Peter Johnston), who between them have spent 30+ years helping women build more profitable businesses.

You don’t need an accounting background. You don’t need to be a “numbers person.” You just need to be willing to look.

Module 1

The Game of Business

9 lessons · ~60 minutes

THE PROBLEM IT SOLVES: You feel overwhelmed by financial jargon and don’t know what reports to look at, how often, or what any of it means.

This module strips away the confusion. You’ll learn the three financial reports that matter (Profit & Loss, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow), what they actually tell you, and how often to review them. We decode the jargon into plain English and show you how to have smarter conversations with your bookkeeper and accountant — starting this week.

Understand your P&L, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow in plain English
Know what to review and how often (it takes 15 minutes a month)
Get a glossary of every financial term you need
Learn the 9 questions to ask your bookkeeper and accountant
Stop nodding along — start leading the conversation

“For the first time my business is feeling like a real business instead of a hobby!”

— Esther Espinoza

Module 2

Planning & Budgeting for Success

8 lessons + guided working time · ~70 minutes

THE PROBLEM IT SOLVES: You don’t have a financial plan. You’re reacting to what’s in your bank account instead of working toward a goal.

This is where everything changes. You’ll set real financial goals, map out your product and service mix, and build a 12-month budget from scratch — step by step, with templates we provide. By the end you’ll have a working budget you can upload straight into your accounting software.

Set financial goals that are ambitious AND realistic
Map your product/service mix to hit your revenue target
Build a 12-month budget (with our template) — even if you’ve never done one
Understand cost of sales vs. expenses (simpler than it sounds)
Pay yourself a salary — not just “whatever’s left over”

“Creating a budget has been so intimidating, and this helped me see it’s so accessible!”

— Cher Albrecht

Module 3

Bringing the Numbers to Life

10 lessons · ~75 minutes

THE PROBLEM IT SOLVES: You’ve done the work before but it never stuck. You don’t have a system to stay on top of your numbers week after week, month after month.

Module 3 turns your budget and reports into decision-making tools you’ll actually use. You’ll learn what to look for in your reports, how to spot red flags early, and how to build a simple “Money Rhythm” — three recurring meetings that keep you in control all year round.

Use your P&L, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow as decision-making tools
Spot red flags before they become real problems
Track the key metrics that actually matter for YOUR business
Build your Money Rhythm: three simple meetings that keep you on track
Get your bookkeeper and accountant working FOR you, not just NEAR you

“I was so nervous I almost phoned in sick. But I learned great new stuff and have a solid draft of my budget.”

— Jacki Short

Why This Matters More Than You Think

A 1% shift in three places =
a 19% increase in profit.

Take a business doing $100,000 in revenue with $40,000 in cost of sales, $50,000 in expenses, and $10,000 in profit.

Now increase revenue by just 1%. Reduce cost of sales by 1%. Cut expenses by 1%.

Profit jumps from $10,000 to $11,900 — a 19% increase. Not from working harder. From paying attention.

This is what happens when you know your numbers. Small, smart adjustments compound into serious results.

19%

increase in profit

Is This For You?

This course is for women who run their own business and know the money side needs more attention.

You run a small business and money doesn’t get the attention it deserves
You’ve been avoiding the numbers or only looking at tax time
You don’t have a budget — or you have one that’s not being used

You want smarter conversations with your bookkeeper and accountant
You want a straightforward, no-jargon approach
You’re ready to stop guessing and start making decisions from data

Whether you’re a service provider, product seller, coach, consultant, creative, or freelancer — if money flows through your business, this course will change how you manage it.

Your Presenters

Meet Suzi & PJ

Two people who’ve spent decades helping women build more profitable businesses.

Suzi Dafnis

CEO, HerBusiness

30+ years building businesses and 20+ years leading Australia’s largest network for women business owners. Suzi brings the big picture, the mindset, and the practical exercises that connect your values and vision to your numbers.

PJ (Peter Johnston)

Subject Matter Expert

15+ years mentoring women through HerBusiness, including the Boardroom for seven and eight-figure businesses. PJ delivers the frameworks and step-by-step guidance — in plain English, with zero condescension.

Included With Your Enrolment

Everything you need to put this
into practice.

Bonus 1

Product & Service Mix Worksheet

Map exactly what you sell, at what price, in what quantities, to meet your revenue target. Includes a worked example.

Bonus 2

HerBusiness Budget Template (Excel)

A clean, ready-to-use 12-month budget. Fill it in during Module 2 and upload directly to Xero, MYOB, or QuickBooks.

Bonus 3

Cash Flow Forecast Template (Excel)

Forecast 3–4 months ahead so you can plan around slow periods and invest during strong ones.

Bonus 4

Glossary of Financial Terms

Every term you’ll encounter — from gross profit to accrual accounting — translated into plain English.

Bonus 5

Business Structures Guide

Sole trader, partnership, company, trust — understand the basics so you can have a smarter conversation with your accountant.

What Makes This Different

This isn’t an accounting course.
It’s a “know your numbers” course.

Built for business owners, not accountants

Every concept explained in plain language. No prerequisites. No assumed knowledge.

Practical, not theoretical

You’ll build a real budget, use real templates, and walk away with tools you can use tomorrow.

Designed for busy women

Every lesson is under 10 minutes. Watch on your lunch break, at school pick-up, or late at night. Self-paced, lifetime access.

Addresses the emotional side of money

Fear, avoidance, overwhelm — we name it and work through it. This course meets you where you are.

Battle-tested frameworks

Built on methods refined with hundreds of women through HerBusiness workshops, masterclasses, and the Boardroom program.

Real women. Real results. Real words.

“I leave inspired every time. I come away with something new and more confidence to run my business.”

Cher Albrecht

“I am finally getting a budget down on paper … unbelievable!”

Clare Vandine

“First time including my salary in the budget — this feels amazing!”

Esther Espinoza

“I hit those goals I thought were out of reach.”

Loren Bartley

“Don’t know what you’ve done to me. I’m freaking loving this budgeting!”

Leesa Shannon

“I was so nervous I almost phoned in sick. But I learned great new stuff and have a solid draft of my budget.”

Jacki Short

Frequently asked questions

No. The course works whether you use Xero, MYOB, QuickBooks, a simple spreadsheet, or nothing at all. We provide all the templates you need.

That’s exactly who this course is for. Every concept is explained in plain language with real examples. No prior financial knowledge required.

Lifetime. Many participants come back each financial year to refresh their budget and revisit the frameworks.

The core frameworks are universal. Around 95% applies directly in New Zealand, the UK, and most other markets. Adjust for local tax and compliance.

Your accountant focuses on compliance and tax. This course focuses on you — understanding your numbers so you can make better decisions and lead your business proactively.

Yes. This is the complete, refined version with short, rewatchable lessons and all the tools and templates included. Designed to go deeper, at your own pace.

You didn’t start your business to feel lost every time you look at the numbers.

You’re good at what you do.
But the money side? That’s a different story.

Finally understand your numbers —
and actually use them to grow?