Last Updated on July 7, 2023 by
Even in 2020, the number of small businesses in the U.S. grew to over 31 million. Starting your shop is still a popular dream among Americans, but the key is handling your money right to sustain your business.
So what goes into business budget planning for small businesses? What do you need to know to budget your small business correctly?
That’s what we’re here to look at today. Read on to find out how to create an effective small business budget.
Table of Contents
Why Make a Budget Anyway?
Budgeting for your business is basically an evolving analysis of how much money you spend and how much you’ll need in the future. It’s an educated guess about your business’s appearance in the coming months.
You have to look at what you spent this month, how it compares to last month, and how it fits your needs for the upcoming month. This lets you have the right amount of funds in place for any situation.
As such, a budget helps prepare you and your business for most financial climates. While some of it can be guesswork, that doesn’t mean you’re always left out to dry.
Examine Revenue
The first thing you should do when figuring out how to create a business budget is examined your revenue and income sources. Add everything together to see how much money your business is making.
Make sure you calculate revenue here, not profit. That is, don’t subtract any costs yet.
Once you have your income streams, divide them by 12 to find your monthly income. This might vary in real-time, but it’s a key step nonetheless.
Fixed Costs
Now that you have your revenue, it’s time to find your fixed costs with which to subtract for profit. These should be costs that don’t change much or at all during the year.
This might include rent, payroll, taxes, and other services. Find these numbers and subtract them from your income.
Find Variable Expenses
Identifying variable expenses is key for controlling your budget and revenue throughout the year. These are costs that change from month to month.
If you’re experiencing a profitable month, you can spend more on variable expenses and vice versa for leaner months. These costs are often things like equipment, utilities, and development costs.
Contingency/Rainy Day Funds
If you’re running your business right, chances are you’ll have some extra revenue that doesn’t go straight to paying off expenses. These should be saved as contingency funds.
You can also call them rainy day funds, as they act as emergency cash if something you didn’t account for pops up as an immediate cost. Being ready for these emergencies will keep your budget from varying too much.
Profit and Loss
With everything in place, add up your income and expenses and subtract one from the other. This will be your profit and loss statement, or P and L.
Depending on your business, this might be a large positive number or a small negative figure. Understand that many small businesses aren’t profitable for the first few years.
Budgeting properly month to month can help that number grow incrementally. Tools like Sage Intacct are extremely helpful for strategically controlling your budget.
Creating the Right Small Business Budget
Making your first small business budget can be a confusing and harrowing task. If this is your first go at budgeting, use this guide to help you create the most effective budget possible.
A Qick Overview
Creating an effective budget is crucial for the success of any small business. A budget helps you to plan your expenses and make informed decisions about where to allocate your resources. It lets you stay on top of your finances, avoid cash flow problems, and ultimately increase profitability.
Here are some steps to help you create an effective small business budget:
- Identify your income sources: Begin by listing all the income sources for your business. This could include sales, investments, or loans.
- Categorize your expenses: Next, categorize your expenses into different buckets, such as rent, utilities, salaries, marketing, and other expenses. This will give you a clear understanding of where your money is going.
- Set financial goals: Determine your goals for the year and break them into smaller, manageable milestones. This will help you to track your progress and make adjustments as needed.
- Create a budget plan: Use your income sources and expense categories to create a budget plan for your business. Make sure to factor in any unexpected expenses or seasonal fluctuations.
- Monitor and adjust: Regularly monitor your budget and adjust it as needed. This will help you to stay on track and make informed decisions about future spending.
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