Build Financial Models That Actually Work
We teach spreadsheet skills that matter. No fluff, no shortcuts — just practical financial modeling that helps you understand business decisions better. Most people can read numbers, but learning to project them takes real practice.
View Program DetailsWhy Financial Modeling Matters More Than You Think
You don't need to be a finance wizard to benefit from this. Honestly, most business owners and managers make decisions based on gut feeling because they lack the tools to project scenarios properly.
We started teaching this in 2019 after noticing how many small business owners were drowning in spreadsheets they couldn't interpret. The truth is, financial modeling isn't about complex formulas — it's about asking the right questions and knowing how to answer them with data.
Our approach focuses on real-world applications. We don't promise you'll become a financial analyst overnight. Instead, we show you how to build models that help with actual decisions: whether to expand, how much inventory to order, when to hire someone new.
Three Things People Get Wrong About Financial Planning
Thinking Templates Are Enough
Downloaded a free cash flow template? Great start. But templates don't teach you the logic behind the numbers or how to adapt them when your business changes. We show you why each cell matters and when to break the rules.
Overcomplicating Everything
Complex doesn't mean better. Some of the most useful models we've built fit on a single screen. The trick is knowing which variables actually impact your decisions and which ones are just noise.
Ignoring Stress Testing
Your model works great when everything goes according to plan. But what happens when sales drop 20%? Or your supplier raises prices? We spend considerable time on scenario planning because that's where models prove their worth.
How We Actually Teach This Stuff
Start With Real Businesses
Every exercise uses actual business scenarios from Australian companies. You'll work with retail operations, service businesses, and manufacturing examples that reflect what you might encounter in your own work.
Build From Scratch
We don't hand you finished models to fill in. You create each one from a blank spreadsheet, which means you understand every connection and assumption. This takes longer, but it sticks.
Learn By Breaking Things
Mistakes teach better than perfect examples. We intentionally have you test wrong assumptions so you can see what breaks and why. This builds intuition faster than just following instructions.
Get Feedback That Helps
Our instructors review your work and explain not just what's wrong, but why it matters for decision-making. Sometimes a technically correct model still misses the business point entirely.
What You'll Actually Be Able To Do
Project Cash Flow With Confidence
Build monthly cash projections that account for seasonality, payment terms, and growth scenarios. You'll know how to spot cash crunches before they happen and model solutions that actually work for your situation.
Test Business Decisions Properly
Whether you're considering new equipment, a staff member, or a second location, you'll build models that show the financial impact across different scenarios. No more guessing if you can afford something.
Create Pricing Models That Make Sense
Stop pulling prices from thin air or just matching competitors. Build pricing structures that reflect your actual costs, desired margins, and volume assumptions. You'll understand the trade-offs between price and volume clearly.
Prepare Better Budgets
Move beyond last year's numbers plus ten percent. Create budgets that link to your actual business drivers and adjust automatically when assumptions change. Your accountant will appreciate this.
What Past Participants Say
I'd been running my cafe for three years without really understanding if I was making money or just breaking even. The cash flow model I built during this program showed me exactly where money was leaking out. Fixed two major issues within a month of finishing.
As a project manager, I thought I understood budgets. Turns out I was just tracking spending without really forecasting it properly. Now I can model project scenarios and show clients exactly what different scope changes will cost, not just guess.
Next Program Starts August 2026
We run small groups because everyone needs proper attention. The August cohort has limited spots and we typically fill up about three months ahead. If you're serious about improving your financial planning capabilities, have a look at the full program structure.
Classes run Tuesday evenings over twelve weeks, with optional Saturday workshops for people who need extra help. Most participants spend about 4-5 hours weekly on exercises between sessions.
Who This Actually Helps
Most participants are business owners, managers, or consultants who make financial decisions regularly but lack formal finance training. You don't need to be good at math — spreadsheets handle that part. You just need to think logically about how your business works.
We've taught accountants who wanted to offer better advisory services, operations managers planning expansions, and startup founders trying to understand their runway. The common thread? They all needed to make better predictions about money.
If you're comfortable with basic Excel (sum, multiply, simple formulas), you've got enough technical skill. The hard part is learning to think in systems and understand which assumptions matter most. That's what we focus on.
