If you're going to be in business, you must know how to keep score. To gain this knowledge will require that you go to school to learn both accounting and computer software that is used to support your particular business. With this knowledge, you can talk intelligently about your accounting needs with employees, bankers, and your own accountant. The financial matters you will confront in your own business are little different from those of large …showed first 75 words of 336 total…

…showed last 75 words of 336 total…evaluate your competitors or businesses you might wish to acquire (or be acquired by). While information about companies may be obtained from stock brokers or interviews with key executives, the best source to learn about your most successful and publicly owned competitors is to read their annual reports. You will need to understand accounting to draw intelligent conclusions. Accounting courses at your local community college will give you most of what you need to know.