Budgeting for small business might seem an overtly complex exercise for some business owners. However, there are no hidden demons in budgeting if a realistic estimate of spending is made possible and priorities clearly established.
A few common budgeting for small business pitfalls to avoid are listed below for a better understanding and utilization of the budgeting process:
Underestimating the costs:
Almost all businesses have a set of supplementary or ancillary costs that often go unnoticed and do not always make it to the budget. For instance, every time you purchase new software or equipment, although the cost of equipment might figure in your purchase, the associated costs such as training, time, and maintenance costs involved in the process might have missed the bus, thus resulting in an underestimation of the actual costs involved.
No Budgeting:
The biggest mistake of all budgeting short sights is to go about your business with no idea about the profitability in the future with no quantified predictions. Bills come in, checks go out – yet, it is a monotonous process with no order to the exercise.
Non Prioritization / Non-objective planning:
The business will go to waste if there is no concrete business plan attached to it. Without a clear goal setting, priorities cannot be set on your spending/purchasing. Setting goals and not tying your expenditures to them is an exercise with even lesser value.
Scrutinize all expenses, make the best choice:
As a small business owner, you can least afford to lose money. Budgeting for small business is the best time to compare estimates to actual pay-outs and adjust the figures accordingly. For instance, if a website maintenance service is costing you $1,000 a year, and a similar service is offered at $500, you can take time to scrutinize the individual service offerings, and decide to eliminate the additional costs incurred.
Monitor your cash flow:
Keep a close watch on your inflows and outflows, and ensure your budgeting for small business helps focus on projecting future cash flows too. A budget with the emphasis only on expenses and ignorance towards revenues will fail miserably in projecting cash flows. Keep having periodic checks to ensure your revenues match your expenses – else, it is a disaster-in-waiting for your small business.
Focus on what really matters:
Ensure you do not spend similar amounts of time on each item on your budget. Rather, spend the maximum time on those items that drive your profitability and business viability.
Bring in a flexible approach:
A good business is one that is flexible. For instance, if the actual revenue is not as expected, be prepared to trim down on your expenses. Here, it is crucial to follow a strategy where you overstate your expenses and understate your expected revenues. While a no-frills-attached approach to expense planning is a good idea, it also sets aside income wherever possible. In most unimaginable ways, such money set aside can bail out your business in the future. It can also serve as a contingency fund to dip into in case of budget overruns.
Use your budget as a limiting exercise, not as the LIMIT:
Sticking sincerely to your budget is fine, but do not act as a constraint. It should act to restrain your spending, but do not get too stiffened upon it. An unplanned trip to a trade conference or a valuable seminar will fetch you precious contacts although the expenses may be unbudgeted. Be prepared to go beyond your budget when a valuable investment comes knocking.
Get in touch with us at GKM for discussions on setting up a budget for your business requirements. We are here to help you grow your business.
