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What if there were a tool that helped you create crystal-clear plans, provided you with continual feedback about how well your plan was working, and that told you exactly what’s working and what isn’t?
Well, there is such a tool. It’s called the Budget vs. Actual Report and it’s exactly what you need to be able to consistently make smart business decisions to keep your business on track for success.
Clarifying your Plan
The more clear you are about your business goals, the more likely you are to achieve them. Creating a budget forces you to examine the details of your goals, as well as how even a single business decision affects all other aspects of your company’s operations.
Example: Let’s say that you want to grow your sales by 15% this year.
Does that mean you need to hire another salesperson? When will the business start to see new sales from this person? Do you need to set up an office for them? New phone line? Buy them a computer? Do you need to do more advertising? How much more will you spend? When will you see the return on your advertising expenditure?
Navigating
Once you clarify your goals, then you start making business decisions to help you reach your desired outcome. Some of those decisions will be great and give you better than expected results, but others might not.
This is when the Budget vs Actual Report becomes an effective management tool. When you compare your budgeted sales and expenses to your actual results, you see exactly how far off you might be with regard to your budget, goals, and plans.
Sometimes you need to adjust your plan (budget) and sometimes you need to focus more attention to the areas of your business that are not performing as well as you planned. Either way, you are gleaning valuable insights into your business.
It’s like sailing a boat. You may be off-course most of the time, but having a clear goal and making many adjustments helps you reach your destination.
Now then
We often know what we need to do but don’t take the necessary action. It may seem like a huge hassle to create a budget and then create a Budget vs. Actual Report every month, but as with any new skill, it does get easier.
Turn your dreams into reality.
© 2012, Bruce Mc. All rights reserved.
Awesome blog. Too many times, businesses, especially small businesses, don’t put together a plan much less a budget so that they have clear documentation as to what their goal is.
Thank you for sharing and reminding us how important that this is.