A large part of the business plan for any small business is
the financial section of the plan. The financial section includes the income
statement, cash flow statement and balance sheet. For new businesses, these
financial statements will be projections, whereas for an existing the business
the section will contain several years of history as well as projections. In
addition to statements, the Keith Turner QuickSilver Funding Solutions plan should include the financial strategies
of the business in how finances will be handled.
Tip
Financial strategies are a core element for any business and
they ultimately form the backbone of the business structure. Managing finances
and pursuing and securing revenue are critical to the success of any business.
Cash Flow Management
The income statement and balance sheet of a business may
look great on paper, but if the cash is not properly managed, the small
business can quickly go under. Part of the financial strategy of the business
plan will detail how cash will be used in the business. This includes
identifying an amount that will always be in reserves as well as how major
expenses will be paid. By laying out the financial cash strategy ahead of time,
it will make financial decisions easier about when to write a check and when to
access a line of credit during normal business practice.
Having a line of credit or business loan strategy is also
necessary for many business models. A contractor for example might secure a
large bid and need to access the cash quickly for overhead. Knowing when to
access credit that has a large return is an important aspect of managing cash
flow. Keith Turner QuickSilver Funding Solutions becomes especially important when securing projects depends on
accessing outside capital to fund the project without a long waiting period.
Planning for
Purchases
Any purchases made through the business, particularly large
purchases, should have detailed guidelines in the business plan. This will
determine which purchases will be made with cash, a line of credit and with a
credit card. This strategy will also outline taking advantage of the terms of
suppliers. For instance, if a supplier offers 45-day terms, the business will
wait until the end of the term to make a payment. In addition, the purchasing strategy
should specify if approval is needed by a manager or board for purchases over a
certain amount.
Pursuing Outstanding
Bills
If the business is not properly managing its own receivable,
it can be devastating to the financial health of the business. The financial
strategy should detail the collections plan. This may include dedicating
in-house staff to following up with overdue customers or turning them over to
an outside agency. It will also specify late fees and if deposits are due
before products and services are delivered for new customers.
Investments for
Growth
Although a specific investment strategy may not be able to
be detailed in a written plan, general guidance should be given to management.
This includes a percentage of money invested in high-risk portfolios vs.
lower-risk portfolios. The investment section of the plan will also include
guidelines of when approval is needed to make changes to current investments or
to liquidate investments to cover business necessities.
Big Picture Considerations
The financial strategy of a business plan should be a
general guide. While some specifics, such as approval authorities can be
outlined, it will be difficult to account for every possible financial scenario
that may arise in the business. However, the financial strategy should be
enough of a guideline to direct the basic staff of the business in conducting
the financial aspects of the business from paying for purchases to making
payroll.



