COURSE DESCRIPTION

  1. Introduction
    • Overview of the course content
    • The critical role of finance in startups and small businesses
  2. Why Bookkeeping & Accounting Matter
    • Protecting and organizing your business
    • Making informed decisions using financial data
    • Meeting regulatory and tax obligations
    • Attracting investors and lenders
  3. Understanding the Basics: Bookkeeping vs Accounting
    • Definition and primary focus of both
    • Purpose, outcomes, and complexities of each
    • Key tasks, tools, and decision-making roles of each
  4. Basic Business Budgeting Tips
    • The importance and benefits of budgeting
    • Types of budgets and their uses
    • Steps to create a basic business budget
    • Monitoring, reviewing, and adjusting your budget
    • Essential budgeting tips for success
    • Common budget questions
  5. Setting Up Your Accounting System
    • Selecting the right accounting software
    • Understanding and setting up your Chart of Accounts
  6. Recording Financial Transactions
    • Implementing a consistent bookkeeping routine
    • Categorizing transactions and reconciling accounts
      • Precision
      • Timeliness
  7. Financial Reporting & Analysis
    • Introduction to primary financial statements and how to interpret them
      • Balance Sheet
      • Income Statement
  8. Tax Considerations for Your Business
    • The importance of partnering with tax professionals
    • Key areas for tax professional assistance
  9. Best Practices & Common Mistakes to Avoid
    • Regular financial reviews
    • Potential pitfalls in bookkeeping and accounting
    • Ensuring data security
  10. FAQ and Additional Resources
    • Addressing common questions
    • Additional resource suggestions

INSTRUCTOR

Jennifer Bright

Founder & CEO of Bright Ledgers, LLC

Jennifer Bright is the Founder + CEO of Bright Ledgers, LLC. A longtime advocate for small businesses, Jennifer is passionate about helping small and medium-sized businesses and nonprofit organizations in establishing and maintaining their financial systems to allow them to focus on their day-to-day operations and missions. Jennifer’s motto is “All books tell a story,” and she considers herself a financial storyteller. She lives by the mission of Bright Ledgers – to help business owners understand their financial data to become financially empowered and make sound business and life decisions.

Jennifer has nearly 25 years of bookkeeping and accounting experience and spent 14 years of her career in the nonprofit accounting sector at the Controller/CFO level. Jennifer has been a full-time entrepreneur since February 2022, so she intimately understands the importance of financial systems to the life of a business owner.

Jennifer is an alumna of Cohort 2 of the Goldman Sachs One Million Black Women: Black in Business program and Bright Ledgers is a proud recipient of the 2022 Comcast RISE Creative Production Grant.

Born and raised in Detroit, MI, Jennifer is an avid sports fan and is a diehard supporter of all Detroit sports teams, especially the Detroit Lions. In her spare time, Jennifer loves to listen to music and is a novice DJ (DJ JenJenB). She cherishes spending time with family, friends, and her two Chorkie fur babies, Laila and Cruz. Jennifer also enjoys traveling, with desired locations being Northeast Michigan and Temecula, California wine country. Another favorite destination is anywhere her beloved Lions are playing (preferably a location with a warm climate).