Small businesses represent a crucial pillar of the U.S. economy, as they employ half of the nation’s private-sector workforce and are credited with roughly 63% of the new jobs that have been created from 1995 to 2021, as per federal statistics.1 Despite their pivotal role in the economy, small businesses often grapple with challenges on their path to success. To illustrate, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has documented that 18% of small businesses fail during their inaugural year, with merely one-third managing to endure the ten-year milestone.2 What is the primary factor cited by these businesses for their closure? Predictably, it’s cash flow issues. Below, we’ll discuss small business financial planning strategies that entrepreneurs can use to steer into continued success.
Establish a Budget – and Commit to It
The cornerstone of small business financial planning and financial stability is to create a budget and stay disciplined in following it. Establishing a dependable and consistent routine for tracking your short-term cash flow needs can help hold you accountable and keep you on track. Understanding not only where your money is currently being allocated but also having a firm grasp of your future cash flow can be incredibly helpful in the long run. To help, explore apps designed to assist you in formulating your business budget.
While it can be a good idea to use loans to eliminate any unnecessary expenses so that you can redirect your resources and focus on long-term investments, be careful of taking out too many loans or lines of credit unless you have a clearly defined strategy for where exactly that money is going to go and how you plan on paying it back.
Make Saving Your Primary Focus
If you’re familiar with the power of compounding, you know that the one number exempt from this magic is zero. Saving, regardless of the amount, is incredibly valuable over the long term. No contribution is too small. Consider your business’s future and your aspirations, set a savings target, include it in your budget, and devise a plan to transform that goal into a reality.
Reinvest Extra Capital into Your Business
When your business sees increased profits or experiences unforeseen growth, the temptation to revel in your achievements and reward yourself can be strong. While celebrating victories is important, it’s equally crucial not to lose sight of your long-term objectives. Reinvesting your capital back into your business is a smart small-business financial planning strategy to sustain your growth trajectory. Think about expanding your workforce, boosting your marketing efforts, or integrating cutting-edge technologies to enhance your business’s success.
Stay on Top of Your Personal Finances
The importance of this tip cannot be overstated. As a small business owner, it’s easy to become engrossed in the logistics and responsibilities that come with entrepreneurship, potentially leading to the neglect of your personal finances. While many companies provide retirement savings accounts and healthcare benefits to their employees, entrepreneurs often bear the responsibility of planning for their retirement independently.
So, while you’re building your small business financial planning strategy, take time to establish a well-defined strategy for managing your personal finances, too. It’s imperative to plan for the long term, contemplating your financial requirements in retirement and beyond the tenure of your business. Moreover, remember to set aside funds for your personal emergency savings rather than reinvesting all surplus capital back into the business. Most financial experts advise maintaining a personal rainy-day fund equivalent to three to six months’ worth of living expenses.
Don’t Hesitate to Ask for Help
Even though many entrepreneurs possess extensive knowledge in their respective fields, it doesn’t automatically imply expertise in finances or accounting. There’s no need to hesitate when it comes to reaching out for professional support in small business financial planning for your company. Enlisting the services of a financial advisor specializing in small business finances can ensure that your hard work transforms into tangible, long-term success.
Master Small Business Financial Planning for Long-Term Success
Small business financial planning is the linchpin of sustainable growth and long-term success. It’s the roadmap that guides entrepreneurs through the intricate terrain of fiscal responsibilities. By focusing on the steps above, small business owners can fortify their financial foundations. Equally important is the parallel focus on personal finances, including retirement planning and the creation of emergency funds, ensuring that the entrepreneur’s financial health aligns with their business’s prosperity. Ultimately, small business financial planning is the cornerstone upon which dreams are realized, wealth is built, and legacies are forged.