Omaha Accounting Firm Offers Financial Literacy Course for Small Business Owners

Hayes & Associates' 10-week online program aims to help entrepreneurs better understand their finances and make more confident decisions.

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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More than 60 Omaha business owners and entrepreneurs have completed Hayes & Associates' online financial literacy course, which is designed to help small business owners better understand their financial reports and manage their finances with more confidence. The course, called Smart Start: Financial Literacy for Small Business Owners, is a 10-week program that covers key financial fundamentals, and the $1,000 tuition is waived for students thanks to grant funding.

Why it matters

Many small business owners struggle with financial management and feel intimidated by financial reports. This course aims to empower entrepreneurs with the knowledge and skills they need to take control of their business finances, make more informed decisions, and ultimately run their companies more successfully.

The details

The Smart Start course covers modules that help students understand what their business financial reports are telling them and how to use that information to make more confident decisions. The course also includes one-on-one support from Hayes & Associates team members. More than 60 business owners and entrepreneurs have already completed the program, describing it as valuable and easy to follow.

  • The next cohort of the Smart Start course starts on April 20, 2026.
  • The key IRS deadlines of March 15 for many business returns and April 15 for individual filings are approaching.

The players

Hayes & Associates

An Omaha CPA firm with 43 years in business that developed and launched the Smart Start financial literacy course for small business owners.

Frank Hayes

The president of Hayes & Associates.

Davida Adams-Stewart

The senior manager of client experience and talent management at Hayes & Associates.

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What they’re saying

“Tax time is when business owners feel the pressure, but it can also be the moment they finally take control. The more you know your numbers, the better your business can run. You can plan ahead more often and spot issues before they become expensive.”

— Frank Hayes, President, Hayes & Associates

“We created this course because we know many business owners are stretched thin and trying to figure it out alone. It is immensely fulfilling to see how this opportunity is changing lives in real time by breaking down financial fundamentals in a way that feels doable for business owners.”

— Davida Adams-Stewart, Senior Manager of Client Experience and Talent Management, Hayes & Associates

What’s next

The next cohort of the Smart Start financial literacy course for small business owners starts on April 20, 2026.

The takeaway

This program demonstrates how accounting firms can go beyond just tax preparation to empower small business owners with the financial literacy and skills they need to better manage their companies. By breaking down complex financial concepts in an accessible way, Hayes & Associates is helping Omaha entrepreneurs feel more confident and in control of their business finances.