What Are Budgets and Forecasts? They are predictions of future income and expenses and cash flow. They also predict future performance with financial forecasts and projections and with financial models.
Why Budget and Forecast? Budgets and forecasts provide a feasibility analysis. They can help develop a business model Cheap Chicago Bears Hats , review your key assumptions, and identify resource and capital needs. Budgets and forecasts can be used to find funding. They demonstrate the potential of your business to investors and lenders. Budgets and forecasts can also be used as a management tool. They can help you establish milestones and require accountability for accomplishing the milestones. They can help identify risks and show benchmarks. This will help the small business owner make the necessary adjustments to avoid the risks, to reach the milestones, and to measure up to benchmarks.
Why Are Forecast Important? A forecast can establish measurements to guide management, to facilitate planning, and to facilitate goal-setting.
What Areas Do You Need to Forecast? It is critical that you forecast your start-up costs so that you know how much it will cost to open your doors. You need to prepare estimated start-up financial statements and estimated short and long-term revenue forecasts. As part of your forecasts, you will review key concepts and issues that will make a difference in your company's survival. You also need to forecast the resources you will need and set up a schedule for using and replenishing your resources.
Do Investors Want to See Forecasts? Yes Cheap Chicago Bears T-Shirts , your forecasts will show investors that you know your business, that you are likely to succeed, and that you will make wise use of their money. You must have at least a five-year forecast that shows significant profit by year five, significant net income by year two, and that investors will earn approximately 10% return on their investment.
Do Lenders Want to See Forecasts? Yes, your forecasts will show lenders that you know your business and the you will be able to repay the loan. Be sure you forecast for the entire period of the loan and use conservative financial ratios, because the lenders will. Also Cheap Chicago Bears Hoodie , you will need to collateralize and personally guarantee the loan.
The investors and lenders will want to see forecasts of your profit and loss and revenue. They will also want to see what drives income in your industry; for example, sales, distribution, advertising, internet search engines, referrals, location Customized Chicago Bears Jersey , price, or coupons or other discounts. You also must forecast the revenue cycle for your target customer. How much time will you need to start production, and how quickly will your product or service be accepted in the market?
What Other Forecasts Are Needed? Another important forecast is the total personnel required to support your desired revenue. If your revenues result from sales, you should start with the desired revenue in year 5. From year 5 subtract 40% from each prior year. On the basis of your research, estimate the number of sales each sales person will make each year. From that you can calculate number of salespeople required.
After you make your forecasts, you should complete a sensitivity analysis by adjusting each major item estimated by 10% plus or minus. Examine the impact on revenues, profit Cheap Chicago Bears Jerseys , and cash needs. Remember that most operating expenses are roughly proportional to personnel headcount. These are your variable expenses such as salaries, benefits, employment taxes, furniture, computers, rent, supplies Riley Ridley Bears Jersey , utilities, training, travel, meals, training, and dues. Other non-variable expenses may or may not be proportional such as professional services, subcontractors David Montgomery Bears Jersey , advertising, and trade shows. Use your forecasts to compare yourself to others in your industry by such things as revenue per employee, revenue per salesperson, gross margin, expense categories as a percentage of revenues, readsheet, and it will be difficult for your to be objective in developing your business model. Also, you are the entrepreneur and your efforts are better spent building and developing your business which is what you do best.
Jo Ann Joy, CEO, Indigo Business Solutions JoAnnJoy@ , Phone: (602) 663-7007 The future of your business starts here.
For more information about these and other important topics and for legal consultation, please visit our website at Copyright 2006. Indigo Business Solutions is a registered trade name.
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