Smart Money Management Every Women Entrepreneur Should Know

Learn from successful entrepreneurs on how you can better practice smart money management in your business.

“I want to start a business but I don’t know anything about money.” How many times have we heard this? Or maybe you’ve even said this yourself at some point.

With only 25% of Filipinos financially literate according to S&P's Financial Literacy Survey, this sentiment is common.

Women and Entrepreneurship

Smart money management is important for women entrepreneurs. The Philippine Commission on Women shared that in 2025, almost two-thirds of all MSMEs are led by women: 66% of MSMEs (micro, small, and medium enterprises) and 62% of newly-registered businesses. Yet women have lower financial aptitude and financial literacy compared to men, according to a survey by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. The Philippines also ranked in the bottom 30% of surveyed countries when it comes to financial literacy.

It doesn’t take much to become financially literate, and support in closing the gap is available. The government and many organizations are supporting women-led entrepreneurship with development programs and educational initiatives. In the business community too, entrepreneurs—especially women entrepreneurs—are often willing to support each other in a variety of ways.

The Business Manual spoke to three such women entrepreneurs and founders and asked them what financial habits every entrepreneur should know.

Smart Money Management Lesson #1: Keep Personal and Business Finances Separate

Lou Ongpin-Dineros, founder and CEO of Happy Space Cleaning Services, a home and office cleaning service based in Kapitolyo, Pasig, highlights a common problem of Filipino entrepreneurs.

“Many small businesses struggle not because they’re unprofitable,” she said, “but because the owner mixes personal expenses with business cash. This makes it difficult to understand the real health of the business.”

All too often, Filipino entrepreneurs do not draw a line between their business and personal finances. They may not even be aware that the two should be separate. To fund the business, they may take a personal loan and face financial loss if the business struggles. When business does well, they may spend earnings for their family’s needs instead of pursuing business growth. Other times, they may even forego paying themselves while working long hours for free in a variety of roles to give the business a boost.

Lou Ongpin-Dineros navigates personal and business finances by creating a simple rule: "The business pays for business expenses. I pay myself a fixed amount, just like a salary.”

Doing so provided clarity about the business health of Happy Space.

It also allowed her to make smarter decisions about hiring, marketing, and expansion.

“Once you know your real numbers,” she said, “you can grow with confidence instead of guesswork.”

Smart Money Management Lesson #2: Financial Discipline Is Key

Given the wide scope of financial decisions entrepreneurs have to make, what aspects of money management should entrepreneurs focus on? Is it cash flow? Budgeting? Growth?