Financial management is one of the key roles played by small business owners, from bookkeeping and budget creation, to accessing financing options and securing business financing.
An effective budget can help you control spending, manage cash flow and meet revenue goals more easily. Furthermore, it can aid you in making better decisions regarding how much of the company profits should go back into paying yourself from company profits.
Financial Statements
Financial statements are formal records that describe the activities and position of a small business at any given point in time. Investors use them to assess investment risks; lenders use them to determine loan eligibility; business owners use them as tools to make more informed decisions; they’re even used by government authorities when required by regulations.
The three major financial statements for any business are its balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement. A balance sheet displays what assets your company owns (assets) and liabilities it owes (liabilities), while income statements show revenues and expenses during a specific timeframe while cash flow statements provide more detailed accountings of cash coming in and out over this same time frame.
Small businesses frequently rely on bookkeeping software to record and generate their financial statements, making the process simpler while giving a clearer picture of how your small business is faring by making it easier to identify trends – for instance a loss can indicate too much money is leaving than coming in.
Cash Flow
Financial planners rely on having access to liquid capital as a reliable buffer against short-term expenses and risks, increasing confidence levels while opening doors for investment opportunities. A healthy cash flow is vitally important. It provides ample capital that acts as a safety net during short-term expenses or risks while simultaneously increasing investment potential.
An income statement alone isn’t enough; businesses should also create a cash flow statement which shows expenses and profits over a given timeframe. The cash flow statement should focus on regularly recurring costs like office supplies, payroll and commercial rent before subtracting cash disbursements from cash revenues to determine whether there was profit or loss in this time period.
An accurate cash flow statement can help a business plan for future expansion and avoid problems like late invoice payments or unexpected expenses. It may also encourage businesses to consider options like asking customers for deposits or offering discounts for early milestone payments – prompting customers to pay faster while strengthening relationships with suppliers and building good business relationships. It may even motivate a business to explore credit card offers with rewards programs for extra float and savings.
Taxes
People often hear the phrase, “Cash is King”, particularly with regard to small businesses. Cash flow is essential in keeping a business running and must always show positive numbers – more money coming in than going out – each month; otherwise even viable and potentially profitable companies may collapse without adequate cash flows.
Establishing and monitoring a budget, bookkeeping, expenses, income and filing annual accounts are all part of effective financial management. While these time-consuming tasks are undoubtedly time consuming, they help ensure your business complies with tax laws while also providing essential data needed for making key decisions.
Decide whether cash or accrual accounting best meets your business needs. With cash accounting, transactions only reflect in your accounting records when actual money exchanged hands while accrual accounting recognizes revenue and expenses as soon as they invoice customers or pay bills.
Financing
Finance is an integral component of business management. It encompasses how businesses earn and spend money, invest for long-term growth, make strategic financial decisions and manage risk.
Without proper finances, your small business could struggle to meet short-term goals and remain afloat, which could result in costly mistakes and bankruptcy. But with some knowledge and best practices in mind, establishing a solid financial base that supports its sustainability and success should not be an uphill struggle.
Personal and business accounts must remain separate to avoid costly errors such as paying late fees or interest on loans, being denied financing due to bad credit, which could limit growth opportunities and disrupt cash flow. A strong understanding of financing products such as bank loans, venture capital funding, asset-based and accounts receivable financing solutions as well as trade lines, merchant cash advances and business credit cards will be invaluable assets in managing both the personal and professional accounts for optimal success.
