Episode Details

In this special episode, Laura sits down with Veronica Diaz, Associate Vice President, Business Banking National Office at CIBC, and Ana Rebro, CPA and Managing Partner at Farnham Accountants & Advisors to unpack the confusion so many women feel around business finances — from getting funding and understanding financial statements to separating personal and business finances and building a business with long-term value.

This conversation is honest, empowering, and full of practical insight for entrepreneurs at every stage of business.

In this episode you will hear:

01:17 – Meet Veronica Diaz and Ana Rebro

06:55 – What banks look for when entrepreneurs are ready to grow

08:05 – Why women entrepreneurs need more honest conversations about money

09:15 – Why getting financing for your business can feel so confusing

10:59 – Why the bank needs more than a great business idea

13:10 – The importance of knowing your financial numbers

14:01 – The 3 Cs of Credit: character, capacity, and collateral

18:29 – Why financing is a team sport

20:25 – Where to start when looking for business funding

22:23 – Why entrepreneurs need to seek out information before walking into the bank

23:43 – Financial statements explained as the story of your business

26:33 – Why business owners shouldn’t wait until year-end to understand their numbers

27:43 – What banks want to see in your financials

30:17 – Using personal money, credit cards, or family loans to fund your business

32:21 – How to untangle mixed personal and business expenses

34:31 – Why understanding business valuation matters before you’re ready to sell

37:10 – The biggest mistake entrepreneurs make when building long-term value

38:35 – When business valuation matters to a bank

39:44 – What small business owners need to know but rarely hear

44:14 – Why honesty matters when talking to the bank

46:53 – How to connect with Veronica and the CIBC Business Client Advice Centre

47:56 – How to connect with Ana and Farnham & Company

Veronica's Links:

Contact the CIBC Business Client Advice Centre: 1-866-992-7223

CIBC Women Entrepreneurs Hub: https://www.cibc.com/en/business/programs/women-entrepreneurs.html

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/veronica-diaz-cfa-37039414/

Ana's Links:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arebro

Website: https://farnhamco.ca/

Join This Mother Means Business Community : www.thismothermeansbusiness.com/community

Laura's Links:
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