Financial Plan

Financial Plan
In many cases, the financial plan is the most important part of your business plan.
The financial plan is particularly important if you are proposing a major change or a new business.

Financial Plan
What do you need to include in your business plan to communicate financial viability?

Financial Plan
Financial viability is generally evaluated from three perspectives:
Solvency
Profitability
Liquidity

Financial Plan
Solvency evaluates changes in net worth
growth in your retirement account
Profitability monitor earnings
ability to generate income
Liquidity estimates cash flow and debt repayment ability
paying the bills when due

Solvency
Compares the assets invested (what you own) in the business with the sources of capital (liabilities – what you owe and your net worth)
Requires an up to date balance sheet

Profitability
Measures the earnings of the business
Requires an accrual income statement
Optionally use average net income from 3 years Schedule F tax forms

Liquidity
Measures the ability of the business to generate cash to meet short term obligations
Requires a cash flow statement, usually projected for next year or more

Financial Plan
The tools used to communicate a business’s financial situation are:
Balance sheet - solvency
Income statement - profitability
Cash flow plan – liquidity

Balance Sheet
A snapshot of how funds are invested in a business (assets) and the financing methods used (liabilities and owner’s equity) at a given point in time.

Balance Sheet
Most producers have an existing balance sheet because lenders require one annually.
If you need to develop or update your balance sheet you can use FINPACK or use the Guide worksheet.

Income Statement
An income statement measures how much income the business is making in relation to the resources used to produce that income.

Income Statement
Not all producers have an accrual income statement.
Should develop one for your business plan.
Can use FINPACK or the Guide worksheet.

Cash Flow Plan
A cash flow plan is a projection of all sources and uses of cash during a specified planning period.
It evaluates the business’s ability to meet loan payments and other financial obligations on time.

Cash Flow Plan
Most producers have an annual cash flow plan.
If you need to develop or update your cash flow plan you can use FINPACK or use the Guide worksheet.

Financial Plan
Include a balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow plan in your business plan.

Financial Plan
A written description of the strengths of these three measurements of your financial projections should also be included.
Also describe the assumptions you used to make your financial projections.

Your Financial Numbers
Generating your financial statements from a program like FINPACK will make development of your business plan easier.
FINPACK provides not only a balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow, but also financial ratios to help evaluate the meaning of your financial numbers.

Asset Management
Your financial plan should also describe how you acquire and manage capital assets - purchase, lease, or custom hire.
How efficiently are assets being used?

Asset Management
An analysis of your investment in capital assets relative to the size of your business may be valuable as you plan the future of your business.
Asset management is often the best indicator of future net worth growth.

Capital Required
The final part of your financial plan should describe how much money you need to implement your business plan.
Describe the sources of your financing.
Present your financing request if you have one.

Resources
Guide worksheets
Balance sheet – worksheet 4.35
Projected profitability - worksheet 4.33
Cash flow – worksheet 4.34