Entrepreneurship: Growing Your Business

The financial literacy behind scaling a business

Growing a business takes more than a good idea — it takes the ability to read your own numbers. This University of Virginia specialization focuses on exactly that: the accounting and financial-statement skills founders need to actually manage growth, not just launch.

What's covered

• Reading and building balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements
• Accrual accounting and GAAP-compliant bookkeeping
• Financial statement analysis for spotting problems and opportunities early
• Preparing annual reports and general accounting records

It's a beginner-level specialization, so it doesn't assume an accounting background — it's built for founders and operators who need financial fluency, not a formal accounting degree. With over 43,000 learners, it's a well-used resource for anyone realizing that scaling a business means scaling their grip on the numbers too.