Helping business owners establish and grow their enterprises is our mission. One way we do this is by providing guidance and resources to prepare clients for long-term success.
In celebration of National Financial Literacy Month, here’s some advice on strengthening your financial knowledge through expert connections and learning resources.
Expert advice
No matter if you are a budding entrepreneur or an established owner, surround yourself with a team of experts that you can both lean on and learn from. Professional advisors such as lawyers, certified public accountants, insurance agents and bankers can provide you more impactful guidance if they specialize in the small business arena. With a grasp on current events in the regional, national and international economy, these experts can advise necessary steps to adapt to current trends and proactively prepare for external impacts.
Additionally, depending on the size of your business and the expertise of your staff, these professionals may be able to fill gaps in your operating structure. For example, many CPAs offer services that mimic the role of a CFO, allowing owners to focus on managing the day-to-day tasks of employee management, sales, assets and equipment and more.
Another benefit of a team of experts is the ability to expand your network. At Hancock Whitney, we periodically sit down with our business clients to discuss projections and progress, and strategize on aligning with the right partners depending on the life stage of your business. We may recommend other professionals who can assist with succession planning, cash management and financial planning.
Boosting your knowledge
As a small business owner, you wear many hats, and no one expects you to know everything about each facet of launching, managing and growing your business. As you move into new phases of your business’s lifecycle, there are a variety of free, comprehensive resources you can rely on.
The Small Business Administration’s Business Guide offers step-by-step guidance on starting and building a business including information on business plans, legal requirements, intellectual property and access to funding.
FDIC Money Smarts provides lessons on thirteen core financial topics relevant to small business owners. These courses help provide foundational knowledge on topics including:
If you are considering starting your own business or are wanting to dive into unfamiliar concepts, take advantage of these offerings to learn at your own pace.
We’re here to help you
Helping our clients feel confident in their financial futures is our most important job. This is especially critical for small business owners and entrepreneurs who have a range of people—from their own families to their employees to their customers—depending upon their success.
To learn the litany of ways we can help, visit our small business resource center, or start the conversation with one of our team members, so we can determine how to best prepare your business for success.
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