FDIC, SBA Announce Enhanced Money Smart for Small Business Curriculum

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) today 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 FDIC website, was jointly developed by the FDIC and SBA 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. The curriculum, which now includes 13 modules, is available for download 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 groupof 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.