Gain the knowledge and tools needed to effectively analyze and interpret financial statements.
Explore how different business structures—such as partnerships, corporations, and LLCs—affect ownership, risk, taxes, and financing decisions.
Beginner • 1 hour
Learn the basic terms and concepts that form the foundation of financial reporting and analysis.
Learn how different commercial financing products work and how to match them to a business’s borrowing needs.
Discover the first major financial statement—the income statement—and its core equation: revenues – expenses = net profit.
Beginner • 1.5 hours
Expand your knowledge of the income statement with two important subtotals: operating profit and gross profit.
Beginner • 2 hours
Learn how lenders use the Five Cs of Credit to evaluate a borrower’s creditworthiness and make informed lending decisions.
Learn to differentiate between fixed and variable costs and how to calculate when a company will hit its break-even point.
Learn how lenders evaluate a business’s ability to generate sufficient cash flow to meet its debt obligations, including the Uniform Credit Analysis (UCA) model.
Learn to navigate the business tax forms and terminology commonly encountered in commercial lending.
Learn about the accrual basis and why it does a better job of reflecting economic reality than the cash basis.
Beginner • 2.5 hours
Analyzing Business Tax Returns
Learn about the second major financial statement, the balance sheet, as well as what defines an asset and how they're accounted for.
Learn the key concepts and classifications of noncurrent assets, including their role in financial reporting and long-term business value.
Learn about the second half of the balance sheet—liabilities and equity—and how these accounts are used to finance a company's assets.
Learn how lenders assess the financial strength of personal guarantors by examining and adjusting their personal financial statements.
Learn how lenders combine business and personal cash flow to evaluate the repayment capacity of borrowers and their guarantors.
Learn about the fundamental building blocks of a company's financial accounting system: debits and credits.
Learn how SBA loan programs help businesses access financing, how the SBA guarantee benefits lenders, and the key eligibility requirements for SBA-supported loans.
Learn two important concepts that will allow you to assess a company's financial health: leverage and liquidity.
Add more ratios to your toolkit that will allow you to measure performance and drive results.
Explore the SBA 7(a) lending process, from underwriting and approval through closing, servicing, and liquidation.
Learn how lenders evaluate and finance commercial real estate, including the property's value, cash flow, and ability to support debt repayment.
Learn about the third major financial statement, the statement of cash flows, and how it connects the income statement to the balance sheet.
