by Jean Miller | Accounting News, Business Growth, News
Running a small business can be stressful and time consuming, so it’s understandable when the financial health of your business gets neglected. Getting into the habit of reviewing your company’s overall financial health is a smart move to position your business for success now—and for years to come. Read on for an effective health checklist for your small business by focusing on three critical components: financial planning, budgeting, and investing.
Financial Planning
As a business owner you know that taxes are potentially one of the most substantial expenses affecting your bottom line. Therefore, you need to have defined business goals and personal financial goals in order to adhere to the most appropriate tax-planning strategies.
To do this you should:
- Keep an ongoing list of business and personal financial goals in order of priority, and consult this list when making any new financial decisions.
- Be sure you have a small-business structure that provides the most pertinent legal protections and benefits.
- Reduce taxes, or file an extension, and maximize applicable deductions and credits. Strategize by timing income and expenses to your advantage, utilizing charitable gifting, and saving for retirement with a Simple IRA, solo 401(k), or SEP IRA.
Budgeting
Issues with cash flow can derail a business to the point of no return. Get ahead of any challenges by managing your budget in accordance with your business plan.
- Know how much revenue it will take to cover any expenses before you can break even and generate a profit.
- Consistently keep an eye on your income, inventory, credit, and cash. Modify as needed in order to cover fixed expenses and hold onto a healthy cash reserve.
- When you do need financing, analyze your budget and cash flow trends to help determine the best financing options for your business.
Investing
As a small-business owner, don’t make the mistake of investing all of your money into your business. Make saving a habit so that you have enough cash reserves accessible in a pinch for both personal and business needs, but invest any extra cash inflow, and diversify non-business investments.
Additional Factor of Financial Health
In addition to financial planning, budgeting, and investing, you should be protecting your business with insurance. This could include liability insurance, property insurance, workers’ compensation insurance, health insurance, life and disability insurance, and business interruption insurance.
A financial health checklist is an important tool for aiding small-business owners in overseeing the financial condition of their company. Routinely taking stock of your business allows you to make smarter decisions for growth and success.
by Stephen Reed | Business Consulting, News, Resources, Tax
Failure is a very real possibility for small businesses. It’s a reality that will test your resolve as a business owner as well as the durability of your business strategy. When giving up feels like the only option, here are some tips to turn a sinking ship around.
Network
Connect with other business owners, influential people in your industry, and even professional business consultants. The chances are highly likely that you’re not the first business owner to be going through this phase. Be willing to ask questions and be open to new ideas.
Execute A Strategy
Do you have a clear vision of your overall strategy and the bigger picture for your business? If not, consider working with a professional marketing agency or consultant to help develop an effective plan to nurture client relationships and keep customers engaged in the long game, which will translate to consistent sales.
Invest in Employee Trust and Motivation
You wouldn’t have made it this far without significant contribution from your team, but be sure all employees are on the same page. Do they understand your business model and long-term goals? Are their contributions and talents valued? A dedicated and active team will build company morale and translate to better sales, better products, and better output.
Know Your Client Base
Business survival is dependent upon fulfilling customer needs and expectations, so it’s important to always be in tune to the pulse of industry current events, news, products, advertising trends, and overall awareness. Likewise, it’s crucial to keep your ears open to customer engagement, feedback, and satisfaction. Partake in market surveys, meet the customers you’re serving, have one-on-one meetings with clients, and invest in low-cost advertising methods.
Realize the Potential of Your Assets
If you find your business in dire circumstances, relief may come in the form of your company’s assets, which are meant to supply capital for your business. Trading assets might just prove to be the lifeline you need to keep from going under. For example, you can lease out buildings, office space, or machinery for a generous stipend. If at all possible, negotiate a rental or leasing arrangement rather than sell completely. However, if you’re convinced that selling is the right move for you, strive to maintain some proprietary rights in the property.
Go Back to the Drawing Board
Try to determine where things went awry in your business. If you collect data and monitor negative feedback, the trends will give you a clue. Start asking difficult questions about salaries, the amount of staff you’re employing, and compensation packages. What additional cost-cutting actions can you take?
by Stephen Reed | Estate Planning - Individual, News, Retirement, Tax Planning - Individual
For many, even hearing the word investing seems like a frightening proposition filled with great risk and little reward. While investing your hard earned money certainly involves patience and a willingness to learn some key principles, it does not have to be the intimidating process that many make it out to be. According to research, there are four concerns people often cite when choosing not to invest: lack of knowledge or experience, lack of pricing transparency, distrust of the financial industry and the sheer complexity of investing. Below, we discuss ways to conquer each of these concerns and begin investing well.
LACK OF KNOWLEDGE/EXPERIENCE
We can’t sit here and act like investing is a walk in the park. It takes time, patience and at least a general understanding of some finance and investment principles. However, you do not need to have your MBA or have worked in finance for 10 years to grasp the fundamentals of investing. Luckily, we live in an age where you have a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips. A simple internet search can return articles, blogs, podcasts and more that discuss concepts such as long-term compounding of returns or diversification to lower risk. Solid research combined with common sense can put you well on your way to investing sensibly.
LACK OF PRICING TRANSPARENCY
Surely, there are often additional charges, such as fixed index annuities and variable annuities, that can seem confusing or excessive when considering the cost of investing. However, there are plenty of investment structures out there with clearly defined and labeled fees. Sites like morningstar.com allow you to search for investment quotes and discover the annual expenses and sales charges associated with that fund, providing you with a clear directive and comparison to invest where it makes the most sense for you.
DISTRUST OF THE FINANCIAL INDUSTRY
Markets shift on a daily, sometimes even hourly basis, and there are financial advisers out there who take advantage of people’s lack of knowledge, so while a dose of skepticism may be healthy when you begin investing, it should not stop you entirely. If you understand upfront that the markets will indeed fluctuate, sometimes dramatically, so you must remain patient, and know that every investment firm may not have your best interest in mind, you will enter the market cautiously and avoid falling into unknown investment traps.
COMPLEXITY OF INVESTING
Many financial firms will advise a plan of constantly scanning the market and jumping in and out of funds based on new data to be the smartest investor, a process that truly does sound complicated and confusing. However, while this process may work for some, it is not a one-size-fits-all formula. There are a variety of options, from total stock or bond market index funds to target fund portfolios, where you can build wealth for your future with less hassle and constant shifting.
Many let the fear of failure stop them from even trying, but you don’t have to let your fears control you. Be smart, consider your options and do some solid research to mitigate uncertainties, then get those feet wet and start planning and investing for your future, today.
by Jean Miller | Estate Planning - Individual, News, Retirement, Tax, Tax Consulting, Tax Planning, Tax Planning - Individual
Many older generations believe millennials to be poor budgeters and decision makers who don’t consider, or care to consider, their financial futures beyond tomorrow’s trip to get Thai food. While that may be the case for a select number of those under 35, millennials do not have to ascribe to this stereotype and, even on a limited budget, can begin saving for their futures. Below are some helpful tips for getting your money organized and putting some away for your future, even on the tightest of budgets.
- Budget, budget, budget – One thing is for certain, while all millennials may not be financially incompetent, they are almost all technologically adept. And in today’s world, it’s simple to track your spending and stop living paycheck to paycheck, right from your smartphone. Whether you track your funds and spending on your bank’s app, or use an outside app as a budgeting tool, it’s vital to consider what’s coming in, what’s going out, and what habits you can change to have more to set aside.
- Pay yourself first – Unfortunately, this doesn’t mean every payday you get to go buy a new shirt or gadget. Rather, every paycheck, set aside a small percentage (5%) for an emergency fund and another 10% for a retirement fund. If your company offers a retirement fund and matching contributions, it is absolutely vital to contribute, even if the funds only amount to 3% of your annual salary. If you don’t have a 401(k) option, consider opening a Roth IRA and begin saving on your own. Even setting aside an amount as small as $25 a month can mean thousands for your future, if you stay diligent.
- Talk about your finances – Whether you’re married or single, find someone you trust to discuss your finances with who can keep you accountable. This could mean you and your spouse regularly keep track of your spending and cash flow, reminding each other when slips occur, or it could look like sitting down with a parent, friend or outside source whose financial acumen you admire, asking for help/accountability. Having someone to remind you of your goals, pushing you to stay on track, will always prove beneficial.
- Steer clear of the “lifestyle” shift – For many, a new job or a raise might make them think they’ve “earned” a bigger apartment, or can put more in their vacation or entertainment funds. While rewarding yourself is healthy now and again, rather than sending that extra cash straight out the door, consider creating a S.M.A.R.T financial goal (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time bound), and begin putting funds aside to save for that goal. So whether it’s saving for your first house, buying a new car or just adding more to your retirement fund, don’t jump right in when finances increase, plan and save with clear goals in mind.
Budgeting well and saving is process that takes commitment and continuity, but with proper tracking and monitoring, and some strong accountability, anyone can achieve their financial goals and begin putting money away for the future.
