2018/19 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

LUBS2035 Finance for Small Business

10 Credits Class Size: 70

Module manager: Isla Kapasi
Email: I.Kapasi@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2018/19

Mutually Exclusive

LUBS1035 Foundations of Finance
LUBS1225 Accounting for Managers
LUBS1235 Introductory Financial Accounting
LUBS1245 Introductory Management Accounting
LUBS1915 Introduction to Financial Accounting
LUBS1925 Introduction to Management Accounting
LUBS2205 Corporate Finance
LUBS2290 Intermediate Financial Accounting
LUBS2295 Intermediate Mgt Accounting
LUBS3140 Behavioural Finance
LUBS3150 International Banking and Finance
LUBS3160 Financial Derivatives
LUBS3540 Auditing and Information Systems
LUBS3550 Auditing and Assurance Services
LUBS3620 International Business Finance
LUBS3690 Principles of Taxation
LUBS3880 Corporate Governance

Module replaces

LEED2120 Finance for Small Business

This module is approved as a discovery module

Module summary

Are you running or planning to start your own business? Do you need to know where to get money, how to use it, and who to tell you've had it? This module will introduce you to the financial processes involved in setting up and running a business; the information contained in the module will prove useful to anyone who plans on running their own business, or who wants to work for a small enterprise. Over the course of the module, you will be introduced to the day-to-day financial tasks associated with running a business, including forecasting, costing and record keeping. The module also covers raising finance for a new enterprise, including everything from bank loans to angel funding. Through group work and individual assessment, you will be given the opportunity to demonstrate your understanding of key concepts, and learn how to use tools such as Excel to control your finances.

Objectives

This module aims to provide an introduction to the handling of financial information. This will include experience of working with a variety of data from diverse sources to enable them to demonstrate familiarity with and competence in using Excel and other tools to manipulate and manage data.
In addition students will be able to demonstrate that they understand the significance of information required to create financial records and plan appropriate strategies to reach profitable trading.

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of this module students will be able to:
- Describe and explain basic financial processes for business start-ups and actively trading small businesses
- Analyse data sets relating to small business finances and predict the impact of strategic decisions on the data

Skills outcomes

Upon completion of this module students will be able to:
Transferable
- Develop and effectively exercise analysis and research skills in the context of a group task
- Develop and exercise communication, presentation and associated skills in the context of group work

Subject specific
- Recognise and develop the skills required to plan and pitch a business project

Syllabus

The general outline of the syllabus is;

Week // Title // Content
1. Introduction - Introduction to module, introduction to basic product costs, mark-up & margins
2. Financial statements - Profit & loss, balance sheet; assets & liabilities
3. Business structures - Options for different legal statuses, advantages and disadvantages, financial implications
4. Group Work - Introducing the group work task
5. Sources of funding part 1 - Sources of funding you request: loans, grants; business plans and funding applications
6. Sources of funding part 2 - Sources of funding you bid for: venture capital, business angels; pitches and presentations
7. Group Work - Assessed group session
8. Forecasting - Financial projections, getting into profit
9. Employment Law - How to pay, what to pay, who to pay
10. Marketing - Costs vs. return on marketing, advertising & PR
11. Revision - Assessment advice

Teaching Methods

Delivery type Number Length hours Student hours
Group Project 1 6 6
Class tests, exams and assessment 1 2 2
Lecture 1 1.5 1.5
Seminar 10 2 20
Private study hours 70.5
Total Contact hours 29.5
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) 100

Private study

Students must attend the class workshops and take part in group activities that allow students to become acquainted with accounts.

Students are expected to read widely about different types and styles of management for small businesses, and understand the ways in which they are implemented at a variety of scales. In addition, students will be made of the extensive academic literature on small firm finance and be expected to familiarise themselves with this literature.

Excellent presentations and reports arise where the group have drafted materials early and have discussed and revised them.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Attendance will be expected at every session, and non-attendance without good reason followed up.
Issues will be addressed during the interactive workshop sessions.

Each session is interactive with group work, discussion and practice. Involvement is key to this process. Progress issues will be addressed during the workshops.

Students complete a standard group work contribution form as part of the assessment submission.

Methods of Assessment

Coursework
Assessment type Notes % of formal assessment
Project 2,000 words 70
Group Project 1,500 words 20
Oral Presentation Group presentation 10
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) 100

The group project is designed to help level 2 students develop their group work and presentation skills. The resit for this module will be 100% by 2 hour examination.

Reading List

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 12/12/2018

Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team