Financial Plan For Your FIRST Small Business – Low Budget Plan

12 September 2024

One of the common reasons why small businesses fail is the lack of working capital. Poor financial decision-making can be detrimental to your small business.

This will not scare you or put you off the idea of starting your very first business. However, it is to convince you how important it is to draft a financial plan for your small business.

The importance of predicting your financial health is not just to maintain a steady cash flow but also…

Understand how lucrative your business is in the long run.

How long will your business be at break-even (no profit, no loss)?

When can your business start making a profit?

Most importantly, what is the contingency plan of any financial hurdle?

In this blog post below, we will be discussing the following:

Importance of a financial plan for your small business.
Elements of a financial plan for your small business.
A template to create a small business plan (for any business).

Importance Of A Financial Plan

Here is why you should begin creating your very first-ever financial plan for your small business.

1. A Business GPS?

Imagine yourself driving to a new destination without knowing where you are or in which direction you should proceed.

This is what it is like to open a business without having a financial plan.

A financial plan will give you a clear roadmap to your business journey, and determine how much to spend on each destination.

2. Where Is The Goal Post?

We all have a vague idea of what a startup goal should be. However, getting overwhelmed is common without a clear picture.

A financial plan will provide you with a clear goalpost. I am talking about tangible, measurable, and achievable goals.

Whether you want to expand your business, increase profits, or reduce costs, a financial plan gives you a clear path.

3. What Ifs & Risks!

It is given that your business won’t be smooth sailing forever!

Businesses often face unexpected expenses. It could be something as simple as equipment breakdowns or sudden major market changes!

As a business owner, being financially ready is a crucial step!

A financial plan can help you set aside emergency funds, so you’re prepared for these surprises.

4. A Long-Lasting Impression

Want investors early on for your business? Then, it would help if you offered them a steady financial plan.

Remember, lenders and investors want to see a well-thought-out financial plan before they commit their money.

Therefore, having a solid plan shows them that you understand your business’s financial health, its cash flow, and the potential profit opportunity. Hence, we are serious about making your business a success.

5. Improves Financial Decision-Making

With a financial plan, you better understand your cash flow, revenue, and expenses.

This knowledge helps you make informed decisions, like when to invest in new equipment or whether to cut costs.

Important Elements Of The Financial Plan Of A Small Business

Before you begin your financial planning, you should be aware of the different financial jargon for a business.

1. Cash Flow Projection

This includes predicting the market, what effect your product will have on the market, and how much you can earn from it.

Now, taking the potential amount you create capital expenditure for each month. The function of a cash flow projection is to ensure you have enough (at the end of the month) in terms of expansion.

It is common for a business to live month by month with no profit for the first six to eight months of the business. Essentially you are establishing your business.

However, if it crosses the one-year mark with just a break-evens, the following could be the reason:

Your business is not making money because of the lack of demand.
The expenditure is way over your income. You must start some cost-cutting methods.
There is a lack of marketing, and your small business is not reaching the target audience.
You do not have enough investment for the small business you are starting.

Keep these points in mind when starting your cash flow!

2. Balance Sheet

A balance sheet is a financial estimation of your small business’s current state. Here are some of the important items your balance sheet will have:

Income & Expenditure
Total owning & total owing (personal debts or small business loans).
Assets that are currently under collateral.

Upon reading it might sound simple. However, when it comes to a balanced business sheet, you will require a finance professional to craft one.

3. Personnel Expense

This brings us to the next point in any financial plan for a small business. The personnel expense, or the amount you are spending on hired personnel.

It doesn’t always have to be your employees. In fact, the number of employees for a small business will hardly reach 15 in the very first year.

A personnel expense includes individuals working as consultants for the business, and the different professionals you hire to help with the internal work (e.g. Finance officer to create the balance sheet).

Some of the common elements of a personnel expense are:

Cost is based on the positions each professional is holding.
Personal insurance plans for your workers (at least medical insurance).
Expenses are spared for other professionals working externally with the business.

4. Assets

The tangible assets that your small business owns:

Current Assets: What the business currently owns. These include inventories, machinery & tech devices, prepaid expenses (for example, digital tools), and other office supplies.

Tangible Assets: The one that physically exists under the name of your small business. Real estate (This will not include rented warehouses or offices. These will go under the expenditure section), land inventory, tangible investment (gold & bonds), and saleable merchandise.

Non-Tangible Assets: These are assets that are not in a physical form. Intellectual property, pre-paid tools, investments (stocks, Cryptocurrency, mutual funds).

Non-Operable Asset: Assets under your small business but from which you are not getting any income. For example, land you have an investment in but not yet open for any business-related functions.

Operable Asset: Assets that your business owns currently, and that are bringing some income. For example: produced goods, factory space, warehouses, and office space.

5. Products & Services

The products and services you are planning to offer will also come into the financial planning for small businesses.

These include the following:

The raw materials are required to create the goods.

Factory costing.
Warehouse costing.
Transport & Drop shipping costing.
Worker’s salary & insurance.
Contingency management funding. (In case of any accident or unpredictable situation).

The summation will give you the total cost of production. With which you can create and understand the market value of your product.

This step is very important to assess the profit and loss of each item.

6. Income Projections

Another crucial part of small business finance planning is prediction. This is how you can predict whether your income will have any substantial income.

Here is how you can protect your business income (before starting it):

Check business income projections of competitors through several data analyses.
Is your small business subject matter trending in the market? What is the current market share of such companies?
Are investors willing to invest in a business venture as such? In fact, check some of the Shark Tank successes, and analyze which business venture seems more profiting by investors themselves.
The inflation rate of the past decade regarding the product or service you are about to sell also matters.

7. Marketing

You cannot spend everything on logistics and not worry about marketing.

One cannot ignore this matter, especially in today’s day and age when small businesses are reaching new milestones by a simple influencer shoutout, or social media virality!

Here are some of the factors in which you will need to spend in marketing:

Social media marketing tools.
Influencer marketing.
Small ad-films over YouTube.
Website building and digital marketing (Website domain and SEO tools).

8. Risk Management

No business is protected from the risks that come to every business in its lifespan. However, the contingency plan is not getting ambushed by a sudden change.

Here are some of the financial risks/uncertainties your new business could face:

Market Risk: The ups and downs of the current & dynamic economy. In fact, after the pandemic, things have become a little less predictable.

Reputation Risk: Social media is indeed bringing customers and businesses closer. However, the downside of such connectivity is the risk of a tampered reputation, especially when audiences jump to conclusions upon hearing anything on the internet.

Competition Risk: This is a common risk every business faces. When your competitors launch something new & exciting, there could be a significant shift in sales numbers for you.

Environmental Risk: One good example of environmental risk that has previously impacted businesses majorly is the pandemic.

Political Risks: The political scenario of your country can have a considerable effect on your business, especially in terms of export-import & business expansion.

This is one of the reasons why having a financial contingency plan for managing sudden risk is one of the crucial components of a business financial plan.

Business Template For A Startup

As promised, we have a business template that will help you take that very first step for your startup.

Financial Plan For Startup (Template)

Table of Contents

1. Financial Overview: A Financial Overview will consist of a financial overview of your business’s current state. Also, please provide the key points and takeaways of the financial data that you will provide.

4. Assumptions – Market Research: This is the step for market research and predicting the business’s profit potential.

5. Break-Even Analysis: A table or graph which provides information on the number of units your business needs, and how much you need to sell to make a profit.

6. Financial Statements: This will include the following charts.

– Profit & Loss (Optional if you have a startup)

– Cash Flow Statement (How the monthly cash flow will look)

– Balance Sheet (Monthly/Quarterly/Yearly Income & Expenditure)

Elements For Your Balance Sheet

The following is what your balance sheets should include based on items required: monthly, quarterly, and yearly income & expenditure.

Operational Financial Plan

Business Location and Facilities
Technology and Equipment
Key Operational Processes
Supply Chain and Inventory Management

Management and Organization Financial Plan

Organizational Structure
Key Management Team
Roles and Responsibilities
Hiring and Training Plan

Financial Plan

Start-up Costs (for new businesses like loans, downpayment; collateral, and personal investments)
Revenue Projections
Expense Projections
Cash Flow Statement
Profit and Loss Statement
Break-even Analysis

Funding Requirements and Strategy

Funding Needed
Purpose of Funds
Potential Funding Sources
Funding Timeline

Key Risks

Risk Mitigation Strategies

Financial Tools to Ease Your Job

In the modern age of technology, you can always lean on tools to automate some of the financial tasks.

So, if you need that digital assistance when

Begin Your Journey!

This is a sign for you to begin your journey as a first-time business owner. Yes, it is overwhelming, and yes it can be intimidating (hence the long procrastinating period!).

Creating a financial plan for even a startup can be intimidating. Here is how you can make this journey a little easier.

Start with defining your business first. The executive plan is a must. You should know what your business is all about.

Then, move through the basic income and expenditures.

Take help from professionals in tax advice and create a detailed balance sheet.

Finally, consider seeing your whole financial plan in a timely manner. It is important to take one step at a time.

Hopefully, we can give you enough answers about a business financial plan. How is your journey going? Please let us know in the comment section below.

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How To Know If Your Health Insurance Covers Visits To The Chiropractor

Your health is an essential preference in your life. You want to be sure you are happy, healthy, and able to do whatever you want throughout your day. Sometimes, this may require visiting a specialist or seeing certain doctors to be sure you are under the best health insurance covers. If you've been experiencing back pain, headaches, or neck pain, you may need chiropractic care. These specific doctors deal with disorders of the musculoskeletal system and help you recover from many different things. Whether you have general back pain, are recovering from a sports injury, or just need somebody’s adjustments, a visit to chiropractic care may help with that. Seeking specific medical care can sometimes be a stressful experience, especially if you are worried about the cost. When you are under good health insurance covers, you do not need to worry about the cost of the treatment in medical care. 4 Things To Understand Your Health Insurance Coverage You know your health insurance covers regular checkups and doctor's visits of that nature, but how can you be sure if you're covered for a chiropractic treatment plan? Start by checking with your insurance company and looking for specific practitioners. There are ways to check your health coverage and figure out how you're going to pay for your chiropractic care. Here are four things to understand your health insurance nature. 1. Research The Most Comprehensive Health Care Plans It all starts with picking out the right health care plan. You can compare plans online and see the complete layout of each option. Find a health insurance coverage plan that fits your lifestyle and will benefit your overall health. You can research different providers, what your premiums include, and how you can customize your coverage. While many health plans are provided by your employer, you can still pick and chose some of the human services you need. Or, if it's your first time on the health insurance marketplace, you can use online tools to explore health insurance options. That's the best way to compare prices and coverages to get an insurance plan that will include the chiropractic care you need. 2. Look For Providers In Your Network If you are unfamiliar with how health insurance plans work, you need to know about in-network and out-of-network providers. When you go to a specialist that is in your healthcare network, you will usually have all or most of those costs health insurance covers. As you are looking for a chiropractic office, start by checking in with your insurance website to find the specialists that belong under your health insurance coverages. For example, residents of Governor's Park, CO, have a great office nearby, so when they search for"chiropractor Lone Tree, CO," they won't be disappointed. These providers offer everything you need for your family care, from chiropractor appointments to massage therapy, acupuncture, and even physical therapy. Help your overall wellness with these services. 3.Ask For Referrals From Your Doctor Are you confused about what chiropractors are considered in-network? Luckily, most primary doctors can easily access that information. When you speak to your family doctor, mention that you've been considering chiropractic services. They can then direct you to a local location that will be covered by your insurance. In fact, many chiropractic offices need a referral before they can start on your treatment plan. The referral simply lets them know your unique needs from the perspective of another medical professional. Always check with your health insurance covers first. The insurance company will let you know if this is a custom orthotics and chiropractor practice that's covered by your insurance plan. 4. Check If You Have Full Or Partial Coverage While your health insurance plan may cover some chiropractic adjustments, you need to be sure to read the fine print. There may be exclusions or specifications you need to pay attention to. Be aware that your health insurance covers may not pay for the entire treatment, and you may have some out-of-pocket costs, even if you are covered. Conclusion The health insurance covers and the plans are prime checking factors before you are availing the services from the popular health insurances. These fours are the best way to analyze the nature of your health insurance plannings and facilities. Most of the insurances are covering all medical costs, but connections are significant. If you do not check the connection medical facility, you may lose the facility your insurance company is offering you. Read Also: How to Choose the Best Merchant Account for Your Burgeoning Insurance Small Business Guide to Private Health Insurance Exchanges

A Little on the Side…Or Not? Your Guide to Supplemental Insurance

Have you ever experienced something you didn't expect? It might have been something good, like bumping into an old friend on vacation or being taken to a surprise party. Or it could have been something not so favorable: a car accident, the loss of a job, a sudden illness… The world is an unpredictable place. Each new day brings its own surprises - both good and bad. We can't plan for those surprises, but we can protect ourselves. In 2017, Americans spent $1.2 trillion on health insurance premiums. Having a good health insurance plan can protect you in the event of an unforeseen injury or illness. But it's not always enough. Some people go to make a claim only to find that it isn't covered. Others can afford to make their monthly premiums, but when they need medical assistance, they can't afford to pay their copays. Even with health insurance, medical bills are the leading cause of bankruptcy in the US. Supplemental insurance may help cover those costs so you don't need to add a financial emergency along to your medical emergency. What Is Supplemental Insurance? As the name might suggest, supplemental insurance is a type of insurance that supplements your existing healthcare coverage. There is a wide variety of health insurance plans, but most plans give you a choice between a low monthly premium and a high deductible or a high monthly payment with a low deductible. Most people choose to go with a low monthly premium-especially if they're generally in good health. But since 61% of Americans don't have enough savings to cover a $1,000 emergency, that high deductible could ruin them. Supplemental insurance is a separate health insurance policy that can be used to cover additional expenses that you may be unable to cover on your own. You might use it to pay for a deductible, copays, or care that your regular insurance does not cover. Some supplemental insurance companies will even cover lost wages for time off due to illness. Supplemental insurance carries its own monthly premium. However, this premium is often lower than the difference between your current insurance plan and a plan that would cover everything else you need. Types of Supplemental Insurance: Just like every health insurance plan is different, there are several different kinds of supplemental insurance. You can mix and match these plans as needed. Dental Insurance: It's likely that you already have supplemental insurance without realizing it. Most health insurance plans do not cover dental work. And since regular visits to the dentist are an important way to fight dental problems, that could leave you on the hook for expensive out of pocket costs. To cover your dental care costs, you must have a supplemental plan. This supplemental is often provided in your benefits package from your employer without you even realizing it. If you manage your own insurance, your primary insurance provider may offer a separate plan to cover these. Vision Insurance: Like dental insurance, vision care is not typically covered by most health insurance policies. And that's bad news considering that 75% of Americans need some kind of vision correction. While you could always see an optician at the cheap eye clinic in the strip mall, that's a poor substitute for regular appointments with an optometrist or ophthalmologist. An optician can also miss other serious problems that an optometrist or ophthalmologist would catch. Supplementing your medical insurance with vision insurance can keep your vision care expenses from running through the roof. Medigap: Medicare is a state-run insurance program that covers citizens over 65 or certain individuals with disabilities. It is funded through taxes, so recipients do not pay a monthly premium. Many people depend on Medicare to cover the cost of their ongoing healthcare. But it doesn't cover everything. Medigap plans can help cover out-of-pocket expenses or necessary care that is not covered by Medicare. Travel Insurance: If you're traveling away from home and you are injured or become ill, you may not be able to find any healthcare providers within your network. Purchasing supplemental travel insurance before you travel is a good way you can stay covered if the worst should happen. Critical Illness Insurance: While insurance exists to cover unforeseen costs that you cannot afford, every insurance plan has an annual limit or a cap on how much they will cover. If you reach that cap, you must pay for any costs beyond that. If you become seriously ill, it can be easy to reach the cap in a hurry. Supplemental critical illness insurance is used to cover expenses beyond your insurance policy's annual limit. Do I Need It? You might be reading this thinking, "this is all well and good, but do I actually need supplemental insurance?" Can you afford to pay your entire deductible? Can you pay for out-of-pocket expenses like copays and prescriptions? Can you afford to pay for additional care out of pocket? Are you at risk of reaching your policy's annual limit? If you answered "yes" to most of those questions, then you might not need supplemental insurance. If you have a savings account that you can dip into to cover extra costs, you can skip it and pay less per month. However, if you do not have a lot saved up, paying a few dollars more per month for supplemental insurance could save you if you suffer a health crisis. Take a look at your financial situation, your current health insurance, and your overall health and make an informed decision. Protect Yourself: Supplemental insurance is a great way to protect yourself from uncovered medical expenses. But as the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. You can help prevent runaway medical costs by taking care of your health. For more articles about how you can stay healthy, visit the health & fitness section of our blog! Read Also: How To Get Low-Cost Life Insurance For Seniors Small Business Guide To Private Health Insurance Exchanges

How to become a sub-broker?

To become a reputed and successful entrepreneur, it takes hard work. In India, the opportunities for launching new businesses are umpteen, but the competition is fierce. There is no magic mantra that can help one company find success within record time. It requires dedication, perseverance, and knowledge. Sub-brokers are entrepreneurs with immense potential for making a profit. They are not trading members of stock exchanges, but they can act on the behalf of one. They can also assist business owners and new investors to buy or sell securities through registered trade members. The opportunities of a sub-broker business are plenty. If you have a fair idea of the share market and its products, it is going to be a rewarding business for you. In fact, it is a rewarding profession for novices as well. Anyone with the aptitude for share trading and the will to learn about the share market should be able to master the necessary skills of a sub-broker. What are the necessary qualifications of a sub-broker? The qualifying criteria remain more or less constant across the country for sub-brokers. Here’s a list of the edibility requirement for joining the elites – The person should have a graduate degree. Any subject should do, but the aptitude for share trading is a must. The applicant should have passed their 10+2 examinations at the least. They should know about the financial markets of the country. They should either have the qualification that gives them the knowledge of it or previous experience that gives them the insight of the share markets. He or she should also be able to manage basic financial transactions. They should have the latest information on the economic, socioeconomic, political and environmental scenario in the country. That is because every change in the scenario impacts the share market. They should know how to operate computers. The applicant must also be able to learn specific trading and monitoring software necessary for the process. Nothing can replace good communication skill for sub-brokers. They should be able to convince and comfort their clients during and after investment. It is a highly competitive niche and reliable skills of communication can give you an edge over your competitors. They should be good at management. You must remember that every business is about great management. Nothing can take the place of management when it boils down to man, market, and money. The aspiring sub-broker should clear the basic NISM modules on mutual funds, equities, F&O, and commodities. These regulations ensure that all sub-broking work should follow the completion of these modules. How to find a stockbroker to work with? Next, it is time for the sub-broker to find a broker as a partner. It is the most crucial step towards setting up the sub-broking business and you need to keep a few things in mind before you go down this path – i. Pick a good broker Finding a good stockbroker does not mean looking for one with a lucrative office or higher profit share. The broker you should look for should be reputed in the market, should be trustworthy and active. Make a list of the priority values you want to see in your stockbroker. Consult with your friends, family and fellow sub-brokers during the selection process. Check the broker’s profile before you go into business with him or her. ii. You should be ready for the full-time commitment Being a sub-broker is not a part-time hobby. It is a business and a full-time commitment. You will almost never be off the clock. Even when you will be away from your desk, you will be receiving updates on your mobile phones. Staying connected 24/7/365 will ensure that you will always be ready when a big business opportunity knocks on your door. iii. You need to be more than the average sub-broker Clients expect a lot more than the usual assistance and dealing. It is a competitive market, and you need to cater to your clients’ needs for market advice, investment aide, and product selection. Every client now deals in multiple products like mutual funds, currency, equities, and securities. It has become the responsibility of the sub-broker to advise them on the selection of products to avail the best investment opportunity at the time. What are the finishing touches of becoming a fine sub-broker? Get your own client database Becoming a good sub-broker takes a lot of practice and time. It is important to have databases of people, who are likely to become your clients soon. It is possibly the only profession where cold calls are still valuable and useful. The first stage of the database may consist of your family, friends, ex-colleagues and social media contacts only, but you need to start working on that data. You will have to go through multiple rounds of meetings with your clients, explain the prospects, your business USP and their chances of making profits in the long run. Build your network Finding a reliable sub-broker is a challenge for many regular share market clients. You need to fill that gap and become the sub-broker they can trust. So, do not push sales from the first round of calling and meeting. Ask for references once you establish a relationship with the client. Attend networking meetings. They might be a tad bit cliché, but they are always effective in getting new leads for the new sub-broker. Yes, you should expect to find them the moment you step in. It will take some time for others to warm up to you and for you to notice the new opportunities in the market. Keep yourself updated Lastly, no great sub-broker can remain great without regular brush-up of their market knowledge. So, go ahead, install some of the best market update applications, follow rewarding share trading blogs and follow the news on the changes in the financial policies of the country that can affect the market. To offer your clients a little more than the next sub-broker is offering, stay updated with the international market news as well. The ups and downs of the global market always influence the prices in the Indian share market. Read Also : How To Choose The Best Broker For You How Real Estate Factors Into Business Decisions