Entrepreneurs are not always financial professionals. But it’s no secret that financial management is the key to business success. Here’s a guide to help you understand what the financial management of a small business entails along with tools and information you need to put a solid system in place.
Gross revenue is the total amount of sales recognized for a reporting period, prior to any deductions. This figure indicates the ability of a business to sell goods and services, but not its ability to generate a profit. Deductions from gross revenue include sales discounts and sales returns.
Section 162 of the Internal Revenue Code defines a business expense as any expense that is “ordinary and necessary” when running a business or trade. These may include accounting or bank fees, marketing and advertising expenses, wages paid to contract employees, insurance costs, utilities, office space rent, and more. For a list of tax deductible expenses, visit the IRS website here.
The difference between revenue and total business expenses is known as net profit. Net profit is one of the most important indicators of a company's financial health. By tracking increases and decreases, a business owner can determine if current strategies are working and can forecast profits based on revenues.
Cash flow is the net amount of cash and cash-equivalents moving into and out of a business. Calculating cash flow shows how liquid a company is and indicates if the company will remain in the black. Download a free cash flow statement template from QuickBooks here. For help analyzing cash flow, review this article from SmartBiz University: Analyzing Cash Flow.
A balance sheet is a snapshot of the financial condition of a business at a specific moment in time, usually at the close of an accounting period. A balance sheet comprises assets and liabilities. An asset is anything the business owns that has monetary value. Liabilities are the claims of creditors against the assets of the business. For a complete explanation of balance sheets and a free templet, visit the QuickBooks blog here.
An income statement, otherwise known as a profit and loss statement, is a summary of a company’s profit or loss during any one given period of time (such as a month, three months, or one year). The income statement records all revenues for a business during this given period, as well as the operating expenses for the business.
Cash flow is king when you’re running a business! A cash flow statement is a financial document that lists the cash that moves in and out of a company’s accounts. The basic formula is simple: cash in minus cash out. Find out what this equation reveals about your small business by visiting SmartBiz University, where we’ve covered all the key steps to analyzing cash flow.
Revenue forecast is a calculation of the amount of money that a company will receive from sales during a particular period. Can you afford to increase marketing or add staff? How much of a payment can you handle if you take out a business loan? As a business owner, you'll likely ask hundreds of similar questions. You can't answer accurately without revenue forecasting. Check out this article from Entrepreneur for more details: How to Forecast Revenue and Growth.
If you’ve never created a budget while managing your business finances or don’t yet understand why it’s such a helpful business tactic, here are some reasons why you should regularly create and reassess business budgets:
Budgeting allows you to concentrate on cash flow, cost reduction strategies, profit improvement and increasing ROI. It helps with both planning and control of the finances of the business. The SmartBiz Blog has resources to help get you started: Small Business Budget Templates for Download.
It takes money to make money, so the saying goes. Securing low-cost funds for your business can take you to the next level. It may seem counter intuitive to take on debt. But the right loan at the right time can help you expand and save money. For examples from real SmartBiz customers, review Determining Use of Proceeds from SmartBiz University. Below are a few ways funds can boost your business.
SmartBiz marketplace banks offer low-cost SBA Loans as well as Bank Term loans for small businesses who may not qualify for an SBA loan immediately or want funds faster than our streamlined SBA process provides. SmartBiz facilitates flexible financing options with one easy application process that matches you with the bank most likely to fund your loan. SmartBiz gets you to a “yes” quickly.
Use our secure software to pre-qualify in less than 5 minutes without impacting your credit score*. Get funds as fast as 7 days after your application is complete. Apply now here.
* SmartBiz conducts a soft credit pull that will not affect your credit score. However, in processing your loan application the lenders with whom we work will request your full credit report from one or more consumer reporting agencies, which is considered a hard credit pull and happens after your application is in the funding process and matched with a lender who is likely to fund your loan.
Shoebox accounting (tossing everything together and sorting it out later) can cripple your company. These days, small businesses need an accounting system that’s cost effective, up-to-date and can handle all financial tasks you need to run your company. If you’re not happy with your current system or need to establish one, consider one of these free accounting software systems:
Getting your financial systems and processes in place can seem overwhelming. If you need help, consider hiring a financial professional. Review this article from the Xero blog for tips to help you find the right fit: When you should hire an accountant. For in-depth information about business finances and financing a small business, visit SmartBiz University or the SmartBiz Small Business Blog.