Corporate Finance for Startups [UPDATED 2024]

Level	Duration	Category
Beginner	1 Hour	Finance

Hello, welcome, and thank you for coming to check out my Beginners Course to Corporate Finance for Startups.

If you are interested in starting your own business, or working in the corporate world, but feel overwhelmed by all the jargon and terminology, yet at the same time want to learn more about corporate finance but don’t know where to start, then look no further.

I have created this beginner friendly course to serve as an introductory overview of the corporate and financial world, designed to cover all the basics, from the why, what, how and who are involved, in order to give you a better understanding of how it all fits together.

COURSE OVERVIEW

The course is a part of what is known as the Company Life Cycle Model that explores each of the 5 main phases that categorize companies.

This includes:

The Adoption Phase that facilitates Start-up companies, which is what this course is all about.

Then there are the other 4 phases that aren’t part of this course, but I want to mention them to you so that you can get a good understanding of the overall grand scheme of things:

The Fast Growth Phase in which start-up companies take the next step as a Growing Firm.
The Profitability Phase where a small to medium sized firm expands on its journey to being an Enterprise.
The Large Scale Phase where the firm scales from being a small enterprise to a large enterprise.
Then lastly, the Restructuring Phase, where a Distressed Firm takes action to make vital changes in operation in order to either resurrect itself, or close its doors.

Types of Activities

Each of these phases is then divided into the types of activities that occur within a company no matter what phase they are in.

This is split into two main sections being:

Internal Activities.
External Activities.

Within Internal Activities we have the following activities:

Corporate Finance; which is the management of the financial resources and capital structure of the business, including handling funds, making investment decisions, and managing risks.
Compliance; which is the company’s adherence to relevant laws, regulations, and standards in its operations, activities, and transactions.

Then within External Activities we have the following:

Commercial Banking; which are the services and products provided by a financial institution to help manage their financial transactions, such as accepting deposits, providing loans, and facilitating payments.
Investment Firms; which are financial institutions that provide funding and support to startup companies in exchange for an ownership stake or equity in the company.
The Big 4; who are highly regarded companies that offer impartial assurance and consulting services, including due diligence, valuation, M&A advisory, forensics, prospectus preparation, post-merger integration, and more.
Investment Banking; which involves providing financial advisory services, such as capital raising and M&A, to facilitate the growth and success of the company
Consulting; which refers to the professional guidance and support provided by external experts to help the company with various aspects of business operations, strategy, and growth.

In this course we will dive deeper by taking a closer look at all seven of these internal and external activities during the Adoption phase and how they pertain to start-up companies.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN IN THIS COURSE

Understand the importance of bookkeeping in financial management and its role in organizing financial information.
The benefits of outsourcing accounting services and why to effectively communicate financial information to an external accounting team.
Importance of of cash flow monitoring and burn rate analysis in managing rapid expense growth and limited funds.
The significance of establishing basic rules and procedures to improve organizational structure and protect against fines, lawsuits and undesired behavior.
Understand the role of external tax, accounting, and legal experts in ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory frameworks.
The benefits of commercial banking services for startup businesses and how to choose an appropriate startup business account.
The basics of seed capital, startup capital, and early stage capital, and how to evaluate potential investors.
Understand the role of the Big 4 accounting firms in financial statement assurance, audits, due diligence, valuation, and strategic planning.
The various investment banking services available, including capital markets, equity and debt offerings, private placements, mergers and acquisitions (M&A).
The benefits of consulting services for startups, including expertise and experience, tailored solutions to business challenges, and access to networks.

WHO THIS COURSE IS FOR

Entrepreneurs, startup founders, and small business owners who are seeking to better understand the financial aspects of running a business.
Those who have limited or no prior experience in corporate finance, but who understand the importance of financial management of a business.
Learners who are interested in improving their financial literacy.
Anyone wanting to start a career in corporate finance

BENEFITS OF THIS COURSE

Content presented in a beginner-friendly manner.
Clear explanations and real-world examples provided for better comprehension.
Gradual introduction to core concepts of corporate finance.
Accessible for learners of all backgrounds, with or without a financial background.
Gain a solid understanding of financial management, including handling funds, making investment decisions, and managing risks.
Insights into a company’s adherence to laws, regulations, and standards in its operations, activities, and transactions.
Detailed view of internal and external financial activities in the Adoption Phase of a company’s lifecycle.
Foundation for further learning and career development in corporate finance and related fields.
Gain a valuable and in-demand skill that will be beneficial in various roles and industries.