Finance, accounting and money - these make up the language of business. Knowing how your organization makes money, having a working knowledge of financial statements, and being conversant with financial terms are all necessary skills for effective business management, regardless of the organization's type or size. These workshops will make you comfortable with financial concepts and help you use financial information to make informed decisions.

Financial transparency is about knowing the score, which is a good start. But financial literacy is about understanding the score. We can give your leadership team and your rank-and-file staff the skills they need to help your business succeed - to know, understand and actually change the score.

These workshops:

• are interactive to maintain interest from start to finish
• use easily-understood examples
• are not dry and boring ... we actually have some fun!
• are conducted from a real-world, nuts-and-bolts level. No accountant-speak!

BizLit™ 101 - Half Day
Intro to Finance & Accounting
for Non-Financial Managers

An introductory business literacy class. Covers basic business finance and the 3 main financial statements. This workshop is primarily directed at non-finance management-level people who have had some exposure to financial terminology.

At the end of this class you will be able to:

• identify, read and use the 3 main financial statements: Income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statement
• explain how the 3 main statements impact each other
• focus on the numbers that really matter in reports and on financial statements
• explain the difference between profit and cash

BizLit™ 102 - Half Day
Intro to Financial Analysis & Reporting
for Non-Financial Managers

A more advanced business literacy class which builds on the concepts learned in BizLit™ 101. In this workshop, you'll learn how to use financial data, reports and information to address and communicate problems and opportunities more effectively, and to make better business decisions.

This workshop is primarily directed at non-finance management-level people who have had a moderate amount of exposure to financial terminology, and who work with various business reports and data. BizLit™ 101 is a perfect way to prepare for this workshop.

At the end of this class you will be able to:

• identify the difference between data and information
• present reports and plans in solid financial terms
• determine your business' break-even point
• prepare a budget
• use ratios, benchmarking and other approaches to analyze financial results in various ways
• create a "dashboard" for your operation using a mix of financial and operational key performance indicators

"Know Your Numbers"
Half-Day Workshop for Business Owners & Managers

Business owners work hard, hoping their efforts will eventually lead to wealth or financial freedom. But it takes more than hard work. It takes knowledge and a laser focus on the necessary numbers that keep you headed in the right direction.

• The 13 most important financial numbers & ratios
• How to find, calculate and use them to improve your business
• Bring your financial statements - Compare your numbers to your own industry’s benchmarks!
• Includes a workbook

This is more than a seminar ... it's a workshop. Bring your last two year's financials (income statement and balance sheet) and a calculator, and come prepared to roll up your sleeves and get to work!

We'll walk you through the most important numbers on the income statement and on the balance sheet ... what each one means to your business, impact on cash flow and more.

As you calculate your ratios and numbers, you'll compare your results to your industry benchmarks and see how you stack up.

You will return to your business with a new-found confidence to read your financial statements, calculate how efficiently your workforce is being utilized, and analyze your overall business health.

Don't delegate or ignore the most important part of your business. Learn these skills and use them to become one of the top companies in your market.
 

Feedback from participants at our March 24, 2009
"Know Your Numbers" workshop:

"The look inside the numbers was great. It was presented in a very understandable format."

"It finally explains the numbers from my own financials!"

Great Game of Business Workshops

We are the St. Louis region's representative for The Great Game of Business, and are certified to conduct their various business literacy classes, workshops and simulations. These include:

Yo-Yo Company
A 2-3 hour interactive workshop for anyone who wants a basic introduction to financial statements and concepts. Conducted using a manufacturing example.

Rules of Play
A half-day workshop, providing the fundamentals of business and financial literacy your "players" need in order to be contributing members of the team. Specifically designed for companies practicing open book management. Available in service and manufacturing industry versions.

Great Game Business Simulations
Great Game Business Simulations bring to life the basic know-how needed to successfully manage any business. The Profit & Loss (Income Statement), Balance Sheet, basic business planning and budgeting, and cash flow forecasting are all demystified. The essential management of profit and cash are understood and reinforced in an engaging, competitive and fun environment.

Mini-Game™ Workshop
Mini-Games™ are small-scale incentive plans designed to correct a weakness or pursue an opportunity within your business. There is a common goal, a scorecard and a reward for winning. This highly interactive training session will give your employees the skills and confidence to design and apply effective Mini-Games. In this workshop, participants learn to develop mini-games that target day-to-day improvements that add up to year-end success. Reinforce your team's business and financial literacy training by combining Mini-Game™ training with our other financial literacy workshops!

Click here for more detailed descriptions of Great Game workshops.

Any of these workshops can be brought into your business, individually or combined into a training package tailored for your workforce and your specific needs.

We periodically conduct these as public workshops. Watch this site or contact us for info on upcoming sessions.