Build Financial Confidence Through Real Business Practice
Most entrepreneurs struggle with budgeting because they learned accounting theory but never practiced with actual business scenarios. We do things differently here.
Our eight-month program puts you in realistic situations where you make decisions, track outcomes, and adjust strategies just like you would in your own venture. You'll work through cash flow challenges, seasonal variations, and unexpected expenses with guidance from people who've managed their own business finances.
Starting October 2025, we're opening enrollment for our next cohort. Classes run Tuesday and Thursday evenings, with weekend workshops once a month.
What You'll Actually Learn
Cash Flow Reality
Track money movement in a simulated business over six months. You'll handle invoicing delays, unexpected equipment costs, and seasonal drops in revenue. We use scenarios drawn from real Australian small businesses.
Pricing Decisions
Figure out what to charge when you're calculating actual costs, competitor pricing, and market positioning. Most people underprice their services at first. We'll help you avoid that trap with practical exercises.
Tax Planning Basics
Understand GST, quarterly BAS statements, and setting aside money for tax time. We walk through the Australian tax system with plain language and real examples instead of confusing jargon.
Growth Investment
When do you hire help? When should you upgrade equipment? Learn to evaluate whether spending money now will actually generate returns later. We cover the math and the thinking behind expansion decisions.
Emergency Buffers
Build financial cushions that can handle slow months or unexpected problems. You'll create personal and business emergency plans that match your specific situation and risk tolerance.
Financial Software
Get comfortable with Xero and basic spreadsheet models. We focus on tools that Australian businesses actually use, and we skip the complicated features most people never need.
Who Teaches This Program
Gareth Finnegan
Lead Instructor, Business Finance
Gareth ran a graphic design studio in Brisbane for twelve years before selling it in 2023. He spent the first three years making every budgeting mistake possible and the next nine figuring out systems that actually worked.
He's taught budgeting workshops at the Canberra Business Chamber since 2021 and specializes in helping creative professionals understand their numbers without drowning in spreadsheets.
Saoirse Blackwood
Financial Planning Specialist
Saoirse worked as a bookkeeper for small businesses across Canberra for fifteen years before starting her own consulting practice in 2019. She's seen hundreds of businesses struggle with the same handful of budgeting problems.
She brings real client situations into the classroom so you learn from other people's experiences, not just theory from textbooks. Her approach focuses on building systems that don't require daily attention.
Callum Rafferty
Guest Contributor, Retail Finance
Callum opened a specialty coffee roastery in 2017 and navigated the transition from side project to full-time business over three years. He joins us quarterly to discuss real situations from retail and hospitality businesses.
His workshops focus on inventory management, seasonal planning, and dealing with suppliers when cash is tight. He's particularly good at explaining the emotional side of financial decisions that most courses ignore completely.