Practical Finance for Entrepreneurial Creatives from Coursera

Practical Finance for Entrepreneurial Creatives

Ever dream of running your own business? You’ll need a solid idea, of course. Plus, enthusiasm, energy, perseverance...and financial know-how.

In this one-of-a-kind course designed for non-business majors with entrepreneurial aspirations, you will learn how the personal is truly the foundation for the professional—how the same principles that govern good personal financial management are directly applicable to and a critical success factor for whatever entrepreneurial venture you may have in mind.

Beginning with the personal financial management-side of the equation, the course videos will take you behind the financial institutional scene to show you how to:

Develop personal and household budgets and manage cash flow

Acquire, manage and protect consumer credit products including loans, leases, credit and debit card transactions

Develop saving and investment strategies and plan for housing and auto purchases, rentals and leases

Evaluate personal, property and healthcare insurance products and overcoming financial adversity

With that solid foundation laid, you will then see how the fundamental concepts of personal financial management translate into an entrepreneurial setting as you learn how to:

Assess a venture’s feasibility and the entrepreneur’s ability to properly guide its development

Select the right legal, accounting, and talent management representation and support, and developing and monitoring business, strategic and operating plans and budgets for businesses and freelance activities

Manage risks, optimizing organizational designs and safeguarding intellectual property

Arrange for the right type of financing and investment capital for your venture, addressing the unique challenges of and negotiating practical solutions to financial adversity and reaping the financial harvest: selling, liquidating and transferring ownership interests

Develop a draft business plan for the venture you have in mind

The course also includes a series of self-assessment exercises with an answer key, an optional capstone project for those who are contemplating (or have already begun) an entrepreneurial venture, and an optional series of contemplative questions that are drawn from the digital text, Practical Finance – A

Straightforward Guide to Personal and Entrepreneurial Finance. The 6th edition, which is available on Amazon Links to an external site., is used extensively in the “live” version of the Rutgers course. It contains additional content and hundreds of links to freely available resources including reference material, topical articles and financial calculators.

One last note: A scant few of the videos reference matters--such as those involving tax law and the Affordable Healthcare Act--that have evolved with the passage of time and subsequent legislation. The digital text reflects these changes.

What's inside

Syllabus

Course Essentials

Fundamentals of Personal Financial Management - Lessons 1 & 2

Fundamentals of Personal Financial Management - Lessons 3, 4, 5 & 6

Fundamentals of Entrepreneurial Financial Management - Lessons 7 & 8

Fundamentals of Entrepreneurial Financial Management

Fundamentals of Entrepreneurial Financial Management - Lesson 10 & 11

Practical Finance - Thank You

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Develops personal and household budgets, which are core skills for the entrepreneurial journey

Assesses a venture's feasibility, which is crucial for entrepreneurial success

Explores risk management, which can help entrepreneurs mitigate threats

Covers financial adversity, a common challenge for entrepreneurs

Teaches how to acquire, manage and protect consumer credit, a necessity for entrepreneurs

Begins with personal financial management, a fundamental skill for entrepreneurs

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Practical Finance for Entrepreneurial Creatives with these activities:

Excel for Financial Modeling

Show steps

Sharpen your skills in using Excel for financial modeling and analysis.

Browse courses on Excel

Show steps

Review basic Excel functions and formulas relevant to financial modeling.
Practice creating financial models for scenarios such as budgeting, forecasting, and investment analysis.
Explore advanced Excel features such as data validation, pivot tables, and macros to enhance your models.

The Lean Startup

Show steps

Gain valuable insights and practical guidance from the renowned book on building a successful startup.

View The Startup Way: How Modern Companies Use... on Amazon

Show steps

Read and comprehend the core principles of the Lean Startup methodology.
Identify and validate your startup idea with minimum viable products.
Build and iterate your business based on customer feedback.

Personal Budget Management

Show steps

Drill yourself on how to create a personal budget as an individual or household.

Browse courses on Personal Finance

Show steps

Identify sources of income and expenses.
Categorize and track your expenses.
Set financial goals.
Create a budget using a spreadsheet or budgeting app.

Five other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all eight activities

Industry Resource List

Show steps

Organize and curate a collection of valuable resources tailored to your specific industry and entrepreneurial journey.

Browse courses on Entrepreneurship

Show steps

Identify and gather relevant websites, articles, books, and industry contacts.
Categorize and annotate the resources for easy retrieval.
Share your resource list with fellow entrepreneurs or mentors for feedback and expansion.

Financial Statement Analysis

Show steps

Practice analyzing financial statements to assess the financial health and performance of a business.

Browse courses on Financial Management

Show steps

Gather financial statements (balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement).
Calculate key financial ratios.
Identify trends and patterns in financial data.
Draw conclusions about the business's financial performance and position.

Financial Literacy Workshop Assistance

Show steps

Support your community by sharing your financial knowledge and empowering others.

Browse courses on Personal Finance

Show steps

Offer your assistance to local organizations or schools that provide financial literacy programs.
Prepare and deliver engaging presentations on personal finance topics such as budgeting, saving, and investing.
Provide individualized guidance and mentorship to participants, fostering their financial well-being.

Business Plan Outline

Show steps

Craft a detailed outline that lays the foundation for a comprehensive business plan for your venture.

Browse courses on Business Planning

Show steps

Define the problem or opportunity your business will address.
Conduct market research to understand your target audience and competition.
Develop a value proposition and competitive advantage for your business.
Outline your business model and revenue strategy.

Financial Pitch Presentation

Show steps

Develop a persuasive presentation to showcase your venture's financial potential to investors.

Browse courses on Entrepreneurship

Show steps

Conduct thorough research on investors and their interests.
Craft a compelling narrative that highlights your venture's unique value proposition.
Design visually engaging slides that present your financial projections and market analysis clearly.
Practice delivering your presentation to build confidence and finesse.

Career center

Learners who complete Practical Finance for Entrepreneurial Creatives will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Financial Analyst

Financial Analysts decompose and interpret financial statements of organizations and companies. This course may help you build a foundation for tasks such as building and monitoring financial models, analyzing debt, and equity investments and providing investment advice based on your analysis. As a Financial Analyst, understanding the principles of finance on both a personal and entrepreneurial level can be important for being able to build accurate and useful financial models for a variety of clients.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Analyst

Entrepreneur

Entrepreneurs conceptualize, launch, and oversee their own business. Whether your goal is to start a food truck, found a tech start-up, or lead a non-profit, understanding the principles of sound personal and entrepreneurial finance will be critical to your long-term success. This course will teach you how to develop and execute a business plan, create budgets, and develop strategies for managing risk.

See salaries and explore the career path for Entrepreneur

Loan Officer

Loan Officers assist clients in obtaining loans for various purposes, such as buying a home, starting a business, or paying for education. This course will help you develop the skills and knowledge necessary to evaluate a borrower's creditworthiness, determine loan terms, and guide clients through the loan application process. Coursework on managing risk can help you understand how to identify and mitigate potential problems with borrowers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Loan Officer

Financial Advisor

Financial Advisors help individuals and families manage their finances and plan for the future. This course will help you build a foundation in personal financial management, including topics such as budgeting, saving, investing, and retirement planning. This course may also help you to develop strategies to address unique challenges faced by entrepreneurial clients and creatives, such as irregular income streams and the need for specialized financial products.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Advisor

Budget Analyst

Budget Analysts examine and evaluate the revenues and expenditures of organizations, and develop strategies for optimizing resource allocation. This course can help you understand the principles of budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning. Coursework on personal financial management can also help you understand how to manage budgets in a variety of contexts.

See salaries and explore the career path for Budget Analyst

Real Estate Agent

Real Estate Agents help clients buy, sell, or rent properties. This course can help you develop the skills and knowledge necessary to understand the real estate market, evaluate properties, and negotiate contracts. Coursework on personal financial management can also help you understand how to manage your own finances and make sound investment decisions in real estate.

See salaries and explore the career path for Real Estate Agent

Insurance Agent

Insurance Agents help clients assess their risks and purchase insurance policies to protect themselves and their property. This course can help you build a foundation in personal financial management, including topics such as risk management and insurance planning. Coursework on evaluating personal and property insurance products can help you develop the skills and knowledge necessary for success in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Insurance Agent

Tax Preparer

Tax Preparers help individuals and businesses prepare and file their tax returns. This course can help you develop the skills and knowledge necessary to understand tax laws and regulations, and prepare accurate tax returns. Coursework on personal financial management can also help you understand how to minimize tax liability and plan for future tax obligations.

See salaries and explore the career path for Tax Preparer

Financial Manager

Financial Managers oversee the financial operations of organizations and businesses. This course can help you develop the skills and knowledge necessary to manage budgets, prepare financial statements, and make investment decisions. Coursework on entrepreneurial financial management can help you understand how to manage the financial risks and opportunities associated with starting and running a business.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Manager

Auditor

Auditors examine and evaluate the financial records of organizations and businesses to ensure accuracy and compliance with regulations. This course can help you develop the skills and knowledge necessary to understand accounting principles and auditing procedures. Coursework on personal financial management can help you develop strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Auditor

Accountant

Accountants prepare and maintain financial records for organizations and businesses. This course can help you develop the skills and knowledge necessary to understand accounting principles and prepare financial statements. Coursework on personal financial management can help you understand how to manage your own finances and make sound financial decisions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Accountant

Bookkeeper

Bookkeepers maintain financial records for organizations and businesses. This course can help you develop the skills and knowledge necessary to record financial transactions and prepare financial reports. Coursework on personal financial management can help you understand how to manage your own finances and make sound financial decisions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Bookkeeper

Financial Planner

Financial Planners help individuals and families plan for their financial future. This course can help you develop the skills and knowledge necessary to understand financial planning principles and develop financial plans. Coursework on entrepreneurial financial management can help you understand the unique financial challenges and opportunities faced by entrepreneurs.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Planner

Investment Banker

Investment Bankers help companies raise capital and advise on mergers and acquisitions. This course may help you develop a foundation in financial analysis and corporate finance. Coursework on entrepreneurial financial management can help you understand the financial challenges and opportunities associated with starting and running a business.

See salaries and explore the career path for Investment Banker

Hedge Fund Manager

Hedge Fund Managers manage investment funds that use advanced investment strategies to generate high returns for their investors. This course may help you build a foundation in financial analysis and portfolio management. Coursework on entrepreneurial financial management can help you understand the financial challenges and opportunities associated with starting and running a business.

See salaries and explore the career path for Hedge Fund Manager