When you started your business, you probably dreamed about flexible hours and highly profitable, stimulating work. Ideally, you would’ve adopted best practice and documented those dreams in a concise, one page Business Plan.
The plan would specify how much cash you need from the business, your role, and the hours you’d be working. In other words, what the business was going to deliver to you personally as an owner.
However, changes to the economic landscape can mean facing tougher conditions than when you started your business. Whatever you previously dreamed of or planned for might need to be reconsidered.
Take the opportunity to reinvent your business to deliver what you want.
Trimming what you need personally from the business in a more challenging environment will give you the best footing to survive, and perhaps thrive.
Consider the following:
- Can you still have the lifestyle you want with less cash strain on the business? A walk with friends, instead of a dinner out, is great for your health and easier on your wallet.
- Are there personal costs that can be avoided? Do you need that second takeaway coffee each day?
- Can you refinance your personal and/or housing debts to achieve lower interest rates or reduced principal repayments?
- Can you spend less on vacations or travel in the next 12 months?
- Can you modify your role in the business to reduce stress or workload?
- Will these needs be different in the medium term? I.e. can you hunker down for 12 months or until the business’s profitability and cashflow improve?
The best way to reduce the cashflow strain on your business is to revise your personal budget. Your budget will identify potential savings you can make and provide a benchmark against which your actual spending can be tracked in the future. The Business Plan and budget can then be built around how the business can deliver the level of personal cashflow you need.
There are no shortcuts here. The process of personal budgeting with ongoing monitoring of your expenditure is essential. The good news is that the process is both empowering and enlightening at the same time. You’ll be amazed at where personal savings can be made and you will feel much more in control of your business.
Contact us if you need help developing your Business Plan or personal budget.
“You must gain control of your money, or the lack of it will forever control you.” – Dave Ramsey