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The 4 Most Important Financial Tips for Small Businesses

StrategyDriven Managing Your Finances Article |Financial tips for small businesses|The 4 Most Important Financial Tips for Small BusinessesRunning a small business is not easy. There are so many things to think about, and it can be tough to stay organized when you’re juggling everything on your own. One of the most important aspects of being a small business owner is managing your finances. If you don’t understand financial concepts well, it will be difficult to make your business successful. This blog post will discuss the four most important financial tips for small businesses!

1) Make sure you have a budget:

This may seem obvious, but it’s essential to understand your finances. You need to know how much money you have coming in and how much you’re spending each month. Creating a budget will help you keep track of your finances and make sure you’re not overspending. If you don’t have a lot of experience with budgeting, there are plenty of resources available to help you get started. Many software programs can help you track your expenses and income.

2) Get A Credit Card:

A credit card can be an excellent tool for small businesses. It can help you build your credit score and give you access to funds in case of an emergency. Just be sure to use your credit card wisely and only spend what you can afford to pay back.

If you’re not using a credit card already, now is the time to get one! Just make sure you shop around for the best rates and compare credit cards before you decide which one is right for you.

And remember, always pay your balance in full and on time to avoid interest charges and late fees.

3) Keep Your Records Organized:

It’s important to keep track of all your financial records, including receipts, invoices, and statements. This will help you stay organized and make it easier to track your expenses. You can use a software program to help you keep track of your records, or you can simply create a system that works for you.

Whatever method you choose, just be sure to stay on top of your records so you can always know where your money is going. Organizing your financial records will also make it easier to prepare for tax season!

Paying taxes is one of the most critical responsibilities of any small business owner, so it’s crucial that you stay organized throughout the year.

4) Have A Plan For Your Money:

It’s not enough to just have a budget – you also need to have a plan for your money. For example, what will you do with the money you’re bringing in? Are you going to reinvest it back into your business? Are you going to save it for a rainy day?

You need to have a clear understanding of your financial goals, and you need to create a plan that will help you achieve those goals. It will be challenging to make intelligent decisions about your money without a plan.

In conclusion, these are the four most important financial tips for small businesses! If you can master these concepts, you’ll be well on your way to financial success. Just remember to stay organized, make a budget, get a credit card, and have a plan for your money. With these tips in mind, you’ll be sure to find success in the world of small business finance!

Three Tips for Budgeting Your Business’ Money Well

StrategyDriven Managing Your Finances Article |Budgeting Your Business|Three Tips for Budgeting Your Business' Money WellWhether you’re just starting out or have been running your business for a while now, keeping track of your company’s finances is essential for any entrepreneur. Of course, keeping on top of your company’s money isn’t always easy, especially if you have a lot going on in the day-to-day operations of your business. However, simple steps like budgeting, recording your expenditure and hiring a professional accountant are essential to ensure your business’ finances are handled correctly.

Make a Budget and Stick to It

Before you start any major project for your business, you want to decide on a budget. That way, when you’re planning out the steps to take in your project, you can make sure each task fits in with your budget. It’s probably best to have an ideal budget that you try to work towards and a maximum budget that you cannot go over. That way, you have some flexibility without worrying about spending beyond your means.

Ideally, you should have a budget for every facet of your company, from salary to office equipment to bonding activities. Then, as your company grows, you can adjust these budgets accordingly and how they feed into your annual budget overall. Although you can change as need be, it’s best to approach every aspect of your business with a budget to prevent yourself from overspending.

Record Everything You Spend

This step is crucial when it comes to budgeting your money. It’s challenging to set yourself a budget or keep to a budget without recording the details of each transaction. You want to keep a firm grasp of how much money you spend and record each outgoing expense as soon as possible. It’s best to have a financial report from all your employees every few weeks to evaluate how much money is spent and where. This also allows you to nip any unnecessary spending in the bud. By consistently checking in with your financials, you can adjust your budgets accordingly for the rest of the year.

For example, if your business has a budget for $300 each month on supplies and $350 on advertising, you could break it down further to see that it costs $10 per day on supplies and $8 per day on advertising. You can then compare how much money you’ve spent in these areas every few weeks to see if you’re sticking to, going under or going over your budget.

If recording your expenditure does reveal that you are spending less than your budget, then this may be a sign to reevaluate. For instance, if your advertising costs are lower than your budget, this could be a sign that your business should be advertising more.

Recording every cost may not seem overly complicated now, but keeping track of things becomes crucial when your company starts growing more prominent and spending more money.

Hire a Professional

Once you get to a certain size, you want to look into hiring a professional accountant to make sure your finances are on track. As managing your business’ finances becomes a more significant task, you may simply find that you don’t have the time or expertise to control the financial side of things yourself.

You want to find an accountant that fits your business’ needs, whether that means hiring a virtual accountant, an accountant that specialises in your field or promoting one of your previous employees to manage your financial data. Either way, hiring an accountant is the best way to make sure you don’t make crucial mistakes as you continue on.

How To Impress Potential Business Investors

StrategyDriven Managing Your Finances Article |Business Investors|How To Impress Potential Business InvestorsNot all businesses require investors, but if yours does because you want it to grow more quickly, you can’t keep up with demand, or you can see that it will be much bigger than you can handle on your own, you will need to be able to impress those who might invest their money with you.

When you meet with investors, you have one chance to get your pitch right and let them know why they should give you their money and not invest it elsewhere. This is why you need to be wholly prepared beforehand. Here are some tips so that you will be prepared and ready to be a success.

Know Your Figures

What investors are going to be most interested in is the financial aspect of your business. It’s true they may also love what you do – in fact, it certainly helps – but this is not the only reason they will invest. They need to know that they will make a return on this investment; this is how they make money, and they won’t want to lose.

You will need to really know your figures if you are going to impress potential business investors and prove to them that their money will grow if they put it into your business. You will therefore need to be sure of:

  • How much your goods cost to buy
  • What your margins are
  • How much profit you can make
  • What your other outgoings out
  • What potential growth there is and over how long

Knowing these figures will help your investor decide whether it is worth them investing with you and see that you understand your business and business in general.

Show Them You’re Serious

An investor will need to know you’re serious about your business before they will invest. The last thing they want to do is give you the money you have been looking for, only to find that you grow tired of this business and want to move on to something else. If you can show that you are serious about what you are doing and that you have gone to great lengths to get it this far, they will be more comfortable investing.

One way to show how serious you are is to have a professional website. Investing in this and having experts create it for you is proof that you aren’t going to give up and do something else any time soon. Your website is also a great way to showcase what you do and is therefore an easy place to direct potential investors if they want to see exactly what you do. Make sure it is up to date and contains all the relevant information they will need to see.

You can also show you’re serious by having a thorough, up-to-date, well-thought-out business plan. This will show that you have considered where you want the business to go and what you want to be able to do with it in the future, whether that’s finding the top places to buy a second business to add to your portfolio, selling your current company when it reaches a certain level of profit, or anything else.

Prove That You’re Different

It is relatively easy to set up a business these days, thanks to technology. The fact that jobs are sometimes difficult to come by is another reason there are many new businesses being created; people are making jobs for themselves.

You will need to show any potential investor that you are not only different but better than your competitors. Show them what problem you are solving and how your business is solving it, for example. You can also show them evidence that you are an expert in your field, making your business the one that people are more likely to come to.

Address Possible Issues

You’re eager for your business to change the world and solve existing issues, which is fantastic. However, this is insufficient information to persuade investors that your prized project is going to work out and won’t fall apart when it’s put under pressure.

Consider the potential problems that your project and brand could encounter in the future. They should be highlighted or perhaps given their own section in any presentation you offer your potential investors. Investors want to know that their money is secure even when things aren’t going well. The greatest impression you can create is to show them that you know how to solve issues and that you’ve thought ahead to what they might be.

What Is A Net Working Capital And Why Is It Important?

StrategyDriven Managing Your Finances Article |Net Working Capital|What Is A Net Working Capital And Why Is It Important?Many, if not most, businesses need money to develop, survive, and grow. Organizations need the right amount of cash to meet both short-term and long-term needs without high risks of ruining their businesses. Thus, a stable and sufficient net working capital should exist within these companies’ financial accounts.

Net Working Capital: A Brief Overview

Perhaps the simplest definition of net working capital is money that a business has in its bank account. It’s also the measurement of the liquidity, efficiency of operations, and overall financial health of a business entity. Therefore, if a business possesses a working capital of good standing, it can grow through various investments.

Note that it’s possible to grow the net working capital through various means. Organizations can produce additional sales, build long-term relationships with clients, and develop products and services. It’s also possible to acquire additional working capital by borrowing the cash from reliable lending corporations.

Having a lender loan the cash you need to start and maintain projects might help your company grow. You can use the acquired money to purchase equipment to streamline processes or hire additional workers to finish tasks quickly.

Calculating Net Working Capital

Always keep in mind that money is a finite resource. Hence, it would be best to learn how to calculate working capital to let you know the amount of money needed to develop, sustain, or grow business operations.

Don’t worry, as it’s not severely challenging to calculate your company’s working capital. It’s as straightforward as subtracting your business’ current liabilities from its current assets.
Your firm’s current assets may include (but not limited to) the following:

  • Current inventory
  • Cash and cash equivalent
  • Accounts receivables
  • Prepaid expenses
  • Marketable investments and securities
  • Other liquid assets

As for your current liabilities, these may include the following:

  • Accounts payables
  • Taxes
  • Accumulated expenses
  • Interest payables
  • Short-term loans

For example, a small business wants to calculate its net working capital and compiles all the data required to acquire this figure. After gathering all the necessary receipts, documents, and files, the company might find its current assets at USD$100,000. They then need to collect and calculate payables, such as taxes, loans, and other expenses. Now, it finds that the business has USD$45,000 in current liabilities. Using the formula of subtracting current liabilities from current assets, the net working capital is USD$55,000. Hence, the company could use this amount to cover operational costs and meet other short-term obligations.

It’s highly recommended for entrepreneurs to know how to calculate their company’s net working capital. The ability to be aware of your business’ income sources helps you check whether you have a steady income source to thrive and survive.

Importance Of Net Working Capital

Without a sufficient amount in one’s net working capital could lead to mild or serious issues. Avoid these concerns by looking at the various reasons why a working capital is essential in developing and maintaining a business.

  • Maintain Smooth Operations

Maintaining smooth business operations is crucial to the profitability of relatively any company. A successful business thrives on providing products or services that people want to purchase.

Providing your business with a stable and sufficient working capital helps the organization maintain smooth operations. Otherwise, you might encounter certain problems, such as the lack of funds to provide workers’ salaries.
If this scenario happens, it could lead to more serious risks. Your employees might go on strike and may not return to their working stations until you provide them with their just financial compensations.

Another problem you might run into is the lack of stable finances to continue producing goods for customers. If your sales representative tells your customers that you don’t have enough stocks for a particular item, you’re going to lose valuable sales. Furthermore, customers might opt to purchase from your competitors instead, and this scenario accounts for lost short-term and long-term sales opportunities.

  • Improve Company Earnings And Profitability

Many small businesses don’t have the financial resources available to sustain their operations and make them grow, unlike large corporations. Therefore, it might be tough to create a profit without knowing and possessing financial stability in the business’s net working capital.
If so, begin by asking yourself how you plan to handle your working capital. Using the formula mentioned above would calculate your company’s net working capital to know the budget for your short-term and long-term projects. In turn, you can figure out the company’s earning potentials and maintain profitability to access eventual growth opportunities.

  • Minimize Costs While Maximizing Returns

Knowing your company’s net working capital also helps you minimize costs while maximizing revenue potentials. It’s because knowing the figure in that aspect enables you to balance various benefits versus the costs.

For example, you might find that your organization is holding high inventory levels. Note that several benefits may come from having plenty of stock to offer to clients. That idea might not always be the most efficient solution, especially for startups and small businesses.
Excess inventory will take up valuable storage space. Hence, your company may not have enough room for other products, unless you’re willing to spend extra cash for additional storage. Furthermore, you need to add the costs of financing and insuring the inventory in case of losses. In turn, the excess stocks may lead to more costs for your organization if you can’t dispose of them soon.

It’s possible to figure out the right number of products needed for your business’ storage while satiating the needs of your loyal customers without spending too much of the company’s financial assets. You could achieve the answer to this particular concern by calculating your business’s net working capital.

  • Helps Identify And Solve Efficiency Issues

When your company has problems with the flow of funds, it might be because you may have too little money for your accounts receivables. But you might not know about this issue if you don’t know how to calculate for your firm’s net working capital.

In turn, you can identify and solve efficiency issues in your business. Identifying your organization’s working capital allows you to look at where your money is coming from and where it’s going. Thus, you can formulate plans to solve productivity issues to increase the business’ cash flow.

Conclusion

A company’s net working capital helps meet its short-term goals, which might lead to long-term solutions. Calculating the working capital and understanding its importance allows entrepreneurs to develop actionable strategies and implement projects based on their spending power.

Operation Getting More Value In Business

As a business, providing customers with value for money. However, you mustn’t forget to ensure that your spending generates the best results too. Making your capital work harder will lift a great weight from your shoulders while also enabling you to pass some of the savings onto your clients.

So, how exactly can you ensure that all decisions are made in the best interests of your customers? Here’s all you need to know.

StrategyDriven Managing Your Finances Article | Business Financies

Assemble The Strongest Possible Team

The majority of business matters will be handled by your employees. Therefore, getting the recruitment process under control should be the first item on your agenda. This should be followed by an ongoing investment into their development both individually and as a team. The best ways to achieve this are through training and team building exercises. When they work harder, you’ll get more value for money on a daily basis. There is no stronger foundation for success.

Keep Assets In Good Health

Taking care of your business assets will unlock greater performance levels and prolong the lifespans. Keeping business vehicles in good health with the right gas oil is a significant step in the right direction. Meanwhile, computer system updates should bring telling results too. Even though the daily maintenance can have a very significant impact, you must learn to spot signs of faults. The sooner you act, the sooner you’ll restore their health. This should save a lot of money in the long run.

Research Your Purchases

You already know that customers want to get the best value for money when buying products or services. You should take a similar approach before completing your transactions. Simple ideas like using price comparison sites can work wonders. Likewise, you’ll want to check that any company you plan to do with business can be trusted. Falling victim of fraudulent activity or inadequate supplies will harm the venture and could be very hard to recover from. It’s best to be safe rather than sorry.

Know Your Demographic

Marketing is an area where only the best will do. Efficient marketing should be built around targeting a key audience. It’s impossible to impress everyone, but smarter research and insights will allow you to focus on the people that are likely to purchase. SEO, PPC, trade show stools, printed materials, and social media marketing can all be used to great effect. Remember to analyse the success of every campaign and make the necessary adjustments for ongoing success.

Avoid Bad Debts

While you obviously want to get as many sales as possible, you must not force thing when dealing with repayment plans. Good sales figures count for nothing if the money never arrives. Understanding bad debts and how to avoid falling victim to them is vital. While some people will default on payments, but you don’t want to let this become a major problem. Protect yourself in this manner, and your hopes of maintaining a positive cash flow will be greatly increased.

When the financial elements are under control, you can focus on actively driving the venture in the right direction.