How to Manage the Financial Side of a Startup

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Managing the financial side of a start-up business is often one of the most daunting prospects and unfortunately, it’s also the reason many small business owners don’t get off to a good start. Good financial management is crucial for a small business to survive in a volatile economy and against industry competition.

A business may enter the world as a good idea but without a good financial structure your business will struggle to turn a profit or be seen as credible. Some business owners may have been fortunate enough to learn the skills they need on an online MBA, putting them in a better situation to lead their business forward from the start, but that doesn’t mean all hope is lost for those who aren’t adept at handling finances. Here are a few tips for managing start-up finances.

Educate Yourself

If you’re lacking some business knowledge, and haven’t got the choice to enroll on an online MBA program whilst you work, there are other ways you can educate yourself about the various aspects of finance. Invest in some informative books and some helpful bedtime reading or search for business-focused websites which offer explanations and guidance.

A good place to start is to learn how to read financial statements because this one of your business’s most important financial documents – it tells you where your money originated from, how many transactions it took to reach you and where it is.

Separate Your Finances

Even if you’re not clued up on the financial side of running a business there’s a good chance that you’re making financial decisions every day from a personal perspective. However, it’s really important that you keep your personal and business finances separate from the start to avoid confusion and stress further down the line.

It’s a good idea to get a business credit card to put all related expenses on as this should help you to track your expenses and stay in control. It is also recommended that any small business owners open up a savings account which is solely for your company. By transferring a set amount from each payment you receive into your savings account you will gradually build up a considerable amount which can be used as a contingency plan or to pay taxes.

Exercise Caution

It’s important that business owners developing a start-up company always exercise caution when dealing with business finances in order to keep their expenses in check but still ensure they are providing customer satisfaction.

There are 2 types of cost in every business – fixed and variable. Fixed costs must be produced irrespective of whether your business is making money or not. The variable costs however provide a bit more scope for saving money, for instance, you could consider sharing an office space with another business to reduce the rent.

Owning and running your own business can be nerve-wracking but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. By learning good money management skills and keeping a positive mindset you will be able to turn your venture into a success story.

2 thoughts on “How to Manage the Financial Side of a Startup”

  1. Rather than throwing everything back into the company, try to separate a small amount. Put it in a separate account. You should aim to save enough so you can operate using that money for between three and six months. Some companies decide to save as much as 25%, whereas others decide to save as little as 5% of their income. It all depends on your industry and your fortunes.

    A savings fund is an example of good financial management because it will help you to get through the times where you have to run at a loss.
    Sagar Nandwani recently posted…Online Accounting Degrees: How Distance Learning Makes Your Life BetterMy Profile

    Reply
    • Hi SN,

      Thanks for the advice. It’s always a tough call trying to decide how much to reinvest in a startup while managing a savings rate of some sort.

      Reply

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