Course Content and Outcomes Guides (CCOG)

CCOG for BA 253 archive revision 202604

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Effective Term:
Fall 2026

Course Number:
BA 253
Course Title:
Budgeting & Financing for Business
Credit Hours:
4
Lecture Hours:
40
Lecture/Lab Hours:
0
Lab Hours:
0

Course Description

Conduct essential financial management operations including budgeting, break-even analysis, sales forecasting, and cash flow management for startups, and established businesses and social enterprises. Introduces diverse funding options, and includes development of realistic financial projections, an integrated budget and funding plan while learning to effectively communicate financial prospects to investors, lenders, and management teams. Recommended for non-accounting students. Audit available.

Addendum to Course Description

Students gain practical experience in developing  integrated budgets and funding strategies tailored to a business’ or social enterprise’s goals, through hands-on activities and case studies, and the use of industry-standard tools and software.  The course covers startup financial models, capital needs assessment, revenue projection techniques, expense control strategies, and risk mitigation approaches. Students learn to evaluate various funding sources including debt financing, equity investments, grants, and alternative funding methods while developing the skills to prepare compelling financial presentations. The course project requires students to develop and present a comprehensive budget and funding plan, preparing them to launch or scale a business or social enterprise sustainably.

Intended Outcomes for the course

Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to:

  1. Forecast revenue, expenditures, cash flow and an operating budget for a startup or existing business or social enterprise.

  2. Perform a break-even and sensitivity analysis to support decision-making and to determine the financial feasibility of a business or social enterprise. 

  3. Prepare to seek funding from lenders and investors, and determine appropriate funding options.

  4. Identify potential financial and market risks and challenges, and discuss strategies to mitigate them. 

  5. Effectively communicate the financial prospects of a business or social enterprise to potential investors, funders and management teams.

Outcome Assessment Strategies

Students are expected to demonstrate knowledge of the concepts described in

the required competencies by any combination of the following:

  1. Attendance and participation 

  2. Individual assignments 

  3. Quizzes

  4. Case study analysis

  5. Preparation and presentation of budget and funding plan

At the beginning of the course, the instructor will detail the methods used to evaluate student progress and the criteria for assigning a course grade.

Course Content (Themes, Concepts, Issues and Skills)

Themes, Concepts, Issues

  • Budgeting fundamentals

  • Break-even analysis

  • Cash flow management

  • Cost management and controls

  • Financial analysis and forecasting

  • Funding source evaluation

  • Investment readiness assessment

  • Risk management

  • Sensitivity analysis

  • Sales forecasting

  • Growth and scaling strategies

  • Effective Business Communication and Presentation

Competencies and Skills

  1. Demonstrate an understanding of budgeting fundamentals and be able to prepare a budget

  2. Demonstrate the ability to create a financial forecast

  3. Perform analytical reviews of financial results, proposals, and plans

  4. Determine investment readiness 

  5. Identify appropriate funding sources

  6. Identify financial and operational risks and implement strategies to mitigate these risks

  7. Demonstrate ability to work with industry standard technology and software