SBA, FDIC Announce Enhanced “Money Smart for Small Business” Training Curriculum

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) (www.sba.gov) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) have announced enhancements to Money Smart for Small Business, a resource that provides practical guidance for starting and managing a small business.

Money Smart for Small Business, a free curriculum available on the SBA website, www.sba.gov, was jointly developed by the SBA and FDIC in 2012. The agencies expanded the program in response to feedback from the small business community.

Three new modules were added, focusing on managing cash flow, planning for a healthy business, and helping learners to determine if owning a business is a good fit, bringing the total number of modules to 13. The curriculum is available for download at no cost in both English and Spanish. In addition, a Train-the-Trainer curriculum was created to help organizations train instructors to deliver the modules.

The agencies also simplified the process to join the Money Smart Alliance, a group of nonprofit, government, and educational organizations that promotes and teaches Money Smart for Small Business. Organizations now can join the Alliance by completing a simple online form.

Training modules can be taught in any order or independently and typically run 60–90 minutes. Each module, and the Train-the-Trainer curriculum, includes a fully scripted instructor guide, participant workbook, and PowerPoint slides that can be edited to meet the needs of any audience. These features and flexibility make Money Smart for Small Business a valuable resource for entrepreneurs.

To learn about starting a business, begin with the Money Smart for Small Business resource designed to provide introductory-style training for new and aspiring entrepreneurs.