The Money Conversation Every Entrepreneur Needs to Have with Veronica Diaz & Ana Rebro

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 Rebro06:55 – What banks look for when entrepreneurs are ready to grow08:05 – Why women entrepreneurs need more honest conversations about money09:15 – Why getting financing for your business can feel so confusing10:59 – Why the bank needs more than a great business idea13:10 – The importance of knowing your financial numbers14:01 – The 3 Cs of Credit: character, capacity, and collateral18:29 – Why financing is a team sport20:25 – Where to start when looking for business funding22:23 – Why entrepreneurs need to seek out information before walking into the bank23:43 – Financial statements explained as the story of your business26:33 – Why business owners shouldn’t wait until year-end to understand their numbers27:43 – What banks want to see in your financials30:17 – Using personal money, credit cards, or family loans to fund your business32:21 – How to untangle mixed personal and business expenses34:31 – Why understanding business valuation matters before you’re ready to sell37:10 – The biggest mistake entrepreneurs make when building long-term value38:35 – When business valuation matters to a bank39:44 – What small business owners need to know but rarely hear44:14 – Why honesty matters when talking to the bank46:53 – How to connect with Veronica and the CIBC Business Client Advice Centre47:56 – How to connect with Ana and Farnham & Company Veronica's Links:Contact the CIBC Business Client Advice Centre: 1-866-992-7223CIBC Women Entrepreneurs Hub: https://www.cibc.com/en/business/programs/women-entrepreneurs.htmlLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/veronica-diaz-cfa-37039414/ Ana's Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arebroWebsite: https://farnhamco.ca/Join This Mother Means Business : www.thismothermeansbusiness.com Laura's Links:• Website • Laura's Instagram • LinkedIn • Facebook • Pinterest • TikTok