Brian Abergel Talks About How to Create a Business Budget for Your Small Business

A study by CB Insights revealed that many small businesses fail due to various factors, such as lack of focus, money, and pricing and cost issues. Having a realistic budget can help prevent these issues from happening in the first place. Before you start working on a budget, you must identify the areas of your business that you want to improve. This will allow you to set long- and short-term goals.

The goals are directly affected by your outgoing and incoming cash. Short-term objectives can be paying off debts or buying new equipment. Long-term goals, however, are vital because they are linked to the growth of your business. Having a clear and practical goal will allow you to make informed decisions regarding your business.

1. Analyze Costs

Creating a rough budget can negatively affect your objectives if you end up needing more money later. You need more funds to handle your growing expenses to achieve your goals. A budget that allows you to increase your profit and revenue will let you do so.

When calculating a budget, one-time, variable, and unexpected expenses should also be considered. Some examples of fixed payments include mortgages, rent, insurance, and salaries. Variable costs include commissions for labor and the cost of goods sold.

Overestimating the costs can be beneficial since you will have enough money to cover your expenses in the future. If you are new to the business world, you should consider startup costs. A budget that includes these expenses will allow you to make informed decisions and avoid unexpected financial surprises.

2. Negotiating Costs

Before you start calculating a budget, chat with your suppliers and try to get a lower rate on the products and services you need. Negotiating can also help build strong relationships with your suppliers, allowing you to save money regarding payments. For instance, if you have a seasonal business, you can use a cash reserve to pay for advance amounts to your suppliers. This process aims to find ways to reduce the cost of doing business.

3. Estimate Your Revenue

Overestimating your revenue and using borrowed money to meet your operational needs can lead to failure. Having a realistic budget will allow you to make informed decisions and avoid unexpected financial surprises. One of the essential steps that businesses should take is to monitor their revenue regularly.

Your previous year’s revenue figures can serve as a starting point for the upcoming year. A well-rounded revenue forecast can help you set realistic goals and improve your team’s performance.

4. Be Aware Of Your Gross Profit Margin

The gross profit margin is the amount of money you have left after all of your expenses have been paid at the end of the year. It can provide you with an overview of your company’s financial health.

If your company has a revenue of $5,000,000 and there are debts to be paid, then your expenses will be more than your revenue at the end of the year. This can be a red flag for a growing business as it means you have to identify the expenses that are not helping the company and eliminate them. List out the costs of all your purchased materials and deduct them from your total sales revenue. This will allow you to understand better how your business is doing and improve its performance.

Brian Abergel is a civil litigator based in Melbourne, Florida. He has extensive experience in various areas of the legal industry, such as construction and insurance defense. He has also worked on commercial and real estate litigation.

Over the course of a year, Brian has been working as a partner at Beachside Legal Services, where he focuses his practice on commercial and civil litigation, construction, and real estate. His firm has experienced significant growth and success. Before joining Beachside, Brian worked at various law firms in the Miami and Fort Lauderdale areas.

While he was a practicing attorney, Brian tried cases before the US District Court for Florida's Southern District.