# Business skills learning-path checklist

Save this Markdown file and work the stages in order. Check a box only when
that stage’s **Done when** condition is true. Provider courses stay on their
own sites — this checklist is yours to keep offline. No account, server, or
upload is required to use it.

**Companion guide:**
https://beancount.io/blog/2026/01/26/essential-business-skills-entrepreneurs-complete-learning-guide

**Public download URL (static, never locale-prefixed):**
`/downloads/business-skills-learning-path/en.md`

**How to use**

1. Work stages top to bottom (`finance` → `tax` → `marketing` → `ads` →
   `operations` → `leadership`).
2. Open each stage’s primary resource, then do the exercise.
3. Write notes under **My notes** (space for your own completion evidence).
4. Change `- [ ]` to `- [x]` when the completion condition is met.

**Language note:** External providers often teach in English (and sometimes
Spanish or a short language list). That is separate from this site’s localized
guides. Paths starting with `/docs`, `/tools`, or `/downloads` are on
beancount.io — open them from the companion guide (LocaleLink adds a locale
prefix for HTML pages) or prepend `https://beancount.io`. Static
`/downloads/…` URLs stay unprefixed in every locale.

---

## Stage 1 · finance · Cash & books {#stage-finance}

**Outcome:** Name cash in vs cash out and keep a simple ledger.

- **Resource:** [FDIC Money Smart for Small Business](https://www.fdic.gov/consumer-resource-center/money-smart-small-business)
- **Access:** Download **Financial Management**, **Managing Cash Flow**, and
  **Record Keeping** participant guides. These are instructor-led curriculum
  materials used here as self-study worksheets — **not** an FDIC/SBA
  self-paced certificate. Teaching languages: **English and Spanish**. No
  FDIC account required to download.
- **Also useful on this site:**
  - [Getting started](/docs/Basics/getting-started)
  - [Add your first transaction (UI)](/docs/add-your-first-transaction-ui)
  - [Cash-flow roles](/docs/cash-flow-roles)
  - [Introduction to Beancount](/docs/introduction-to-beancount)
  - [CSV → Beancount](/tools/csv-to-beancount)
  - [Sample CSV](/downloads/bookkeeping-workbook/example.csv)
  - [Freelance starter ledger](/downloads/starter-ledgers/freelance-starter.bean)
- **Exercise:** From a fictional or real month, list 8–12 cash movements
  (sales, expenses, owner draw). Enter them in Beancount (docs above) or
  import CSV via `/tools/csv-to-beancount`. Optional starter:
  `/downloads/starter-ledgers/freelance-starter.bean`.
- **Synthetic example** (adapt names/amounts; balanced postings):

  ```beancount
  option "operating_currency" "USD"

  2026-01-01 open Assets:Bank:Checking USD
  2026-01-01 open Income:Sales USD
  2026-01-01 open Expenses:Software USD
  2026-01-01 open Expenses:Rent USD
  2026-01-01 open Equity:Owner-Draws USD

  2026-03-02 * "Northwind Traders" "March project payment"
    Assets:Bank:Checking           3,200.00 USD
    Income:Sales                  -3,200.00 USD

  2026-03-05 * "Acme SaaS" "Subscription"
    Expenses:Software                49.00 USD
    Assets:Bank:Checking            -49.00 USD

  2026-03-08 * "Harbor Realty" "Studio rent"
    Expenses:Rent                 1,100.00 USD
    Assets:Bank:Checking         -1,100.00 USD

  2026-03-15 * "Owner" "Owner draw"
    Equity:Owner-Draws              400.00 USD
    Assets:Bank:Checking           -400.00 USD
  ```

- **Done when:** You can point to a saved ledger (or CSV) **and** a
  one-paragraph note of cash in vs cash out for that month.
- [ ] Stage `finance` complete
- **My notes:**

  ```
  Ledger / CSV path:
  Cash in (summary):
  Cash out (summary):
  One-paragraph cash-in vs cash-out:
  ```

---

## Stage 2 · tax · Tax awareness (not advice) {#stage-tax}

**Outcome:** Know where to find small-business tax forms/pubs and estimated-tax
basics. This stage is **orientation**, not personalized tax advice.

- **Resource:** [IRS Small Business and Self-Employed Tax Center](https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed)
  (Spanish hub if needed:
  https://www.irs.gov/es/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed)
- **Access:** Free public forms, publications, and eLearning. No account
  required to read. No certificate for this reading exercise.
- **Also useful:** [Tax prep guides](/docs/tax-prep-guides) — Beancount prep
  patterns only; not IRS advice. Cross-check country framing there.
- **Exercise:** Bookmark the Tax Center. Open one relevant publication or form
  family for your situation. Write three estimated-tax or recordkeeping
  questions to ask a qualified preparer.
- **Done when:** This checklist has the three questions **and** the URL of the
  IRS page/publication you used.
- [ ] Stage `tax` complete
- **My notes:**

  ```
  IRS page / publication URL:
  Questions for a qualified preparer:
  1.
  2.
  3.
  ```

---

## Stage 3 · marketing · Inbound plan {#stage-marketing}

**Outcome:** Outline an inbound/content plan for one offer.

- **Resource:** [HubSpot Academy — Digital Marketing](https://academy.hubspot.com/courses/digital-marketing)
- **Access:** Free certification course; **free HubSpot Academy account**
  required to take the course/exam. Teaching languages observed include
  English, Deutsch, Español, Français, 日本語 — not every CMS locale. Free
  cert is optional bonus; not required for stage completion.
- **Exercise:** After the first module (or equivalent intro lessons), write a
  half-page plan: audience, problem, one content channel, one CTA. You do not
  need to finish the full certificate for this stage.
- **Done when:** The plan is written; if pursuing the cert, note that the
  account was created (cert itself optional).
- [ ] Stage `marketing` complete
- **My notes:**

  ```
  Audience:
  Problem:
  Content channel:
  CTA:
  Academy account created? (yes/no):
  Free cert (optional): not started / in progress / done
  ```

---

## Stage 4 · ads · Paid fundamentals {#stage-ads}

**Outcome:** Complete one free Google Skillshop Ads lesson path and separate
vanity metrics from acquisition cost.

- **Resource:** [Google Skillshop](https://skillshop.withgoogle.com/)
  (prefer an Ads / digital advertising learning path from the catalog)
- **Access:** Free self-paced training; Google account / Skillshop sign-in for
  progress and product certifications. Do **not** confuse with paid
  Grow-with-Google career certificates on third-party platforms.
- **Exercise:** Complete one Skillshop Ads fundamentals lesson (or assessment
  unit). Record cost-per-acquisition vs vanity metrics in one sentence.
- **Done when:** Lesson/assessment marked complete in Skillshop **or** dated
  notes covering targeting, bid/budget, and one success metric.
- [ ] Stage `ads` complete
- **My notes:**

  ```
  Lesson / assessment (title + date):
  Targeting:
  Bid / budget:
  Success metric:
  CPA vs vanity (one sentence):
  ```

---

## Stage 5 · operations · Systems & automation {#stage-operations}

**Outcome:** Document one recurring workflow and automate or template the books.

- **Resource:** [SBA — Manage your business](https://www.sba.gov/counseling/manage-your-business/)
- **Optional enrichment:** [SCORE — Business education](https://www.score.org/business-education/)
  (verify the specific event card is marked FREE)
- **Access:** SBA guides are free to read (English-first). Counseling partners
  may ask for contact info. No certificate for reading.
- **Beancount step (pick one):**
  - [First month with bea](/docs/Basics/bea-first-month)
  - [Scriptable workflows](/docs/Solutions/scriptable-workflows)
  - [OFX → Beancount](/tools/ofx-to-beancount)
  - Optional forecast:
    [sample.bean](/downloads/cash-flow-forecast/sample.bean) +
    [Financial reporting templates](/docs/financial-reporting-templates)
- **Exercise:** Document one recurring workflow (e.g. weekly bookkeeping) as a
  short SOP. Implement one concrete Beancount step from the list above.
- **Done when:** A written SOP exists **and** one automation/import/report step
  has been run once.
- [ ] Stage `operations` complete
- **My notes:**

  ```
  Workflow name:
  SOP (bullets):
  -
  Beancount step used (doc/tool + date run):
  ```

---

## Stage 6 · leadership · External feedback {#stage-leadership}

**Outcome:** Get one external feedback loop (mentor or workshop).

- **Resource:** [SCORE — How mentoring works](https://www.score.org/how-mentoring-works/)
  (U.S.-based businesses or ideas). Non-U.S. readers: substitute a free local
  mentor/community and say so below.
- **Access:** Mentoring is free for the life of a U.S.-based business; signup
  required to be matched. English-primary site; local mentor languages vary.
- **Exercise:** Submit a mentoring request **or** register for one free SCORE
  workshop **or** schedule a 30-minute peer review of your `finance` ledger +
  `marketing` plan.
- **Done when:** Date of session/request is logged **and** one decision changed
  from the feedback.
- [ ] Stage `leadership` complete
- **My notes:**

  ```
  Path used (SCORE mentor / SCORE workshop / local peer):
  Date of request or session:
  Decision that changed:
  ```

---

## Path wrap-up

- [ ] All six stages checked above
- [ ] Next practice focus:

  ```
  Biggest remaining skill gap:
  First practice action next week:
  ```

Plain-text books beside the learning path: [Beancount.io](https://beancount.io).