Why Your Business Needs a Budget to make informed decisions.

Isaac knows that having a budget is key to running a successful small business. But his everyday responsibilities as a business owner leave him little time to create one.

Operating a business without a budget can be risky. A budget is a useful tool that will help Isaac make informed decisions. The budget can serve as a guide for meeting the company’s financial goals. For a budget to be an effective management tool, though, Isaac will need to incorporate accurate data and reasonable goals into his budget.

Isaac should involve key employees in the budgeting process. They can be a good source of cost-saving and revenue-increasing ideas. In addition, managers and department heads should be encouraged to submit expense projections. If Isaac isn’t sure how the numbers were calculated, he can ask for explanations.

Isaac will want to be sure that the budget takes into account future cost increases, such as those associated with health care and new employees. He also should work a contingency plan into his budget that identifies items that can be cut or postponed if sales are down.

Creating a business budget is not a “set and forget” situation. Periodically, Isaac should compare his actual results with his budget projections to see if they are realistic and to determine whether any adjustments should be made.

Preparing and implementing a budget may take some time in the beginning, but in the long run, it can be an effective tool for managing a small business.  That is why your business needs a budget.