Estimating a small business financial budget or calculating the costs involved in setting up and running a start-up is important. You may have limited funds and less investment options as a start-up entrepreneur or small business owner. Therefore, making a financial budget for your small company can be intimidating and possibly even challenging. However, if you prepare correctly, it's not that hard to make a budget!



Fiscal budget
And what exactly is a budget?
A financial budget is a plan that is well-defined and true over time. Financial budgets for small companies are typically accurate for 6-months to 1-year. Often includes projected sales volumes, profits, capital, expenditures, assets, liabilities , and cash flows. Simply put, the financial budget outlines how business can make money and lose money in the same timeframe.

Why do small companies need a budget?
A budget helps you as a small business owner. It decides whether you have enough capital to execute business plans. A new company can be an aggressive decision. As a small business owner, however, you must recognise whether you have the resources to finance procedures and extend operations as required. Every business' ultimate aim is to produce profits, so small businesses need to draught a budget.

There are also other explanations why small companies need a budget. But the three key reasons given below describe the need for a financial budget.

Having a financial budget provides an overview cap for all projects, so start-ups are not at risk of making more than expected projects.
With a financial budget, small companies will invest enough to survive. The aim is not to become too rigid and completely restrict expenditure.
Often, financial resources for small businesses ensure that the company isn't short to create emergency backup.
Steps to make a small business budget:
Inspect profits
Revenue is nothing but business capital. When making a budget, reviewing revenue is the first step and the centre of budgeting. Inspecting revenue simply means that small companies must assess revenues, production costs , expenses, and expenditure. When your sales review progresses, you will decide whether your company needs to proceed or take corrective steps.

Evaluate profits
List and review all your sources of income when developing a small business budget. Creating a small business budget allows you to identify sources of income. Examine how much money the company will make weekly, quarterly, bi-yearly, and annually. You may also incorporate any additional revenue streams your company would likely produce. Ensure responsibility for all sources of income and a clear image of your overall periodic revenue.

Analyze fixed rates
Distinguishing fixed costs is easy for small companies. It accounts for all recurring costs incurred for your small business operation. Fixed costs can occur regular, weekly , monthly, or annually. Detailed data on the fixed costs involved is important, so that small companies can subtract it with overall profits and move on to better analyse the budget.

Estimate variable costs
Small companies also face uneven expenses. For small companies, irregular expenditures can initially be negligible, but they can escalate with business growth. Maintaining an account or calculating conflicting expenditures in the financial budget is therefore critical from the outset. And, most of the time, these varying expenditures are vital to the business' functioning—such as energy costs, service costs, etc.

One-time spending
One-time costs aren't as common, but maybe pricer. These costs usually involve properties, facilities, permits or licencing. Calculating one-time financial budget expenditures will help you estimate resources needed to cover these expenditures. As a small business owner, you must ensure your one-time costs, mainly due to emergencies, don't breach the budget! Maintain a saving balance. Having extra money marked as reserve will help you not be caught off guard by one-time expenses.

Test Eventuality Fund
Maintaining savings is not just one-time costs, but small companies need to estimate and measure contingency funds. Start-up companies must set aside funds to cover any planned or unforeseen future expenses. Often referred to as contingency funds. Contingency funds support small businesses uncertainly. A common practise practised by most small companies and start-ups is to retain 10% as the overall expenditure contingency fund.

Creating P&L Argument
Statement of profit and loss

The next step is to construct a profit and loss statement after collecting all the above information. As a small business owner, a P&L argument can be daunting. But all you have to do is add and subtract to a coherent conclusion. Attach all income and expenditures for the specified period and deduct expenditures from income for the final sum. If you have a positive number, you gain while a negative number implies a loss. Instead of monthly P&L updates, small companies may obey P&L reports bi-annually or annually.

Speak to an expert
If you're a new start-up entrepreneur, you can not have the practical knowledge and experience to build a realistic financial budget. That's why small companies should consider talking to an expert before or during budgeting. An expert helps you consider the various factors affecting the budget. These include business form, business area, number of employees you recruit, etc. You will provide a straightforward budget plan and detailed financial forecast with an expert.

To feel it yourself, talk to Diligen's specialist.

At Diligen, we build budgets that serve as a small business action plan. We outline financial and organisational targets and help you accurately track and control income and expenses.

Contact us immediately for more information!

​The COVID–19 pandemic caused significant uncertainty in global exchange and exchange. Public protection policies and related regulations to curb COVID-19 spread have greatly affected businesses, jeopardising global commerce and trade. Moreover, the pandemic has forced businesses to bear high human and economic costs while decreasing profits prompting increased outsourcing of several additional services.

In such times, the first collection of business responses is to ensure that they retain consumer demand and continue their operations without interruption. Companies also opt to outsource accounting services, human resource management, IT services, etc. to reduce their losses and improve financial recovery.

Accounting obligations
Outsourced accounting services attract businesses , particularly those struggling with mounting overhead costs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some accounting and financial reporting activities can be very time-consuming. Payroll administration, bookkeeping, cash-flow control, etc. Companies tend to delegate all accounting services or certain accounting tasks, depending on the roles involved.

Here are some accounting duties often outsourced by companies:
Production of receivables
Manage cash flow
Cash and financial transactions
Monthly reconciliation
Financial Statements (Monthly, Quarterly & Yearly)
Budgeting & Financial Forecasts (Monthly, Quarterly & Yearly)
Tax preparation and estimation assistance
Maintaining GST / VAT records & Other Enforcement
Reasons for outsourcing accounting services:
Outsourcing accounting services

How does outsourced accounting support during COVID-19?

1. Continue financial transactions
Because of COVID-19, several places are under lockdown and numerous non-essential businesses have been restricted. Companies are forced to close and revenue has decelerated. However, businesses must make payments, file taxes, record expenditures and revenue, maintain accounts, and find alternatives to cash collection. In certain conditions, accounting outsourcing allows businesses to manage their financial activities successively.

2. Keep aware and compliant
Staying aware and compliant is an essential aspect in outsourcing accounting services. Companies are trying to keep updated on the numerous new financial regulations introduced by COVID-19. Worldwide, government and regulatory bodies have adopted new laws that businesses must adhere to in addressing the ongoing economic crises. However, these laws can be nuanced, and finding an accounting service provider with experience in keeping aware and the complaint is definitely beneficial.

3. Using the new technologies
The new pandemic climate has improved recent accounting methods and technologies. But by outsourcing accounting services, businesses do not invest in these technologies. Accounting service providers, for example, encourage businesses to use the latest accounting software. This means organisations will remove additional software hosting, installation, and maintenance costs. In addition , cloud accounting software provides confidentiality, data storage, trouble-free running, and universal accessibility – ideal for remote operation.

4. Agile for Post COVID-19 Openings
The COVID-19 pandemic certainly disrupted the economy, but it also created a rare source of opportunities with reduced competition. Post COVID-19, economic recovery would offer a unique source of opportunities for companies willing to respond to changing business demands. Being agile would enable businesses to become a leading indicator of growth and performance – achievable by outsourcing accounting services. An outsourced accountant will help businesses be flexible and take advantage of opportunities at the right time.

5. High-level scalability
Outsourced accounting firms provide high-scalability businesses. Companies may manage basic tasks like bookkeeping and specialised experience and tackle mergers or acquisitions complexities. It also offers additional support through its in-house teams focused on corporate risk management, due diligence, audit management , tax planning, etc.

The number of partnerships within an accounting service provider will help businesses streamline and improve their overall scalability.

OUTSOURCING TAKE

Concluding
Companies may reduce costs associated with employing an accountant through an outsourced accounting service provider, such as compensation, health benefits, paid leave, training, payroll taxes, related overheads, etc. Companies often offer personalised assistance, the latest financial accounting tools, dedicated staff and much more for the fraction of the actual costs involved.

Thus, outsourcing accounting services is a cost-effective way to minimise total costs and also ensure that all aspects of accounting requirements are met significantly.

Consult our financial experts to learn how to keep the company's assets safe during this crisis.

Contact us immediately for more information!

​A report by Forbes stated that around 30% of Fortune 500 CEOs have spent the initial years of their careers developing a foundation in finance. This showcases that large companies prefer CEOs with a strong background in finance. Companies require CEOs – who can generate value and recognize the financial factors affecting the organization. Characteristically, CEOs are supposed to navigate strategic opportunities for the company that usually arises from financial developments.

Hence, CEOs must have a strong financial background – be it Fortune 500 companies or SMEs. Every type of company needs a CEO who can cultivate strategies and comprehend financial complications while making important business decisions.

If you are a CEO, willing to upgrade and adopt new methods to improve your financial skill, we have listed the best financial tools every CEO needs. But before we go ahead let’s understand why you as a CEO should adopt these financial tools.

Why CEOs Must Adapt to Financial Tools?
The application of financial tools allows CEOs to describe, predict, measure, regulate, and report the processes to meet the organization’s goal. Adapting financial tools also creates a monetary leeway to navigate through emerging challenges.

Every type of company has financial requirements – such as income statement, tax obligations, banking procedures, balance sheet, cash-flow management, etc. These requirements are vital, irrespective of the industry. Therefore, CEOs need to know gross margins, overhead costs, assets, liabilities, etc. Understanding the movement of money in the company is also extremely important for every CEO.

For example – A CEO must know how revenue builds reserves on a balance sheet and improves the financial position of the company or how investments are converted to cash. To analyze such balance sheets, profit and loss, and cash flow linkages, the CEO must know accounting basics and software or ERPs used by the entity.

There are several financial tools and having in-depth knowledge of each of these tools is difficult. Nevertheless, we have listed the top 7 most essential financial tools every CEO needs.

The Top 7 Essential Financial Tools Every CEO Needs 
     1. Accounting Software
 Accounting software is the most important financial tool as it is used in every level or type of industry. There are several types of accounting software, but a CEO must know about cloud-based accounting software or an integrated ERP software. Moreover, if a CEO knows how to use accounting software, it enables him or her to increase efficiency by introducing automation and make speedy decisions rather than manually processing.

    2. Budget Management 
CEO’s create organization goals and steer the company to achieve it on said budgets. However, if a CEO does not know how to use budget management tools, these goals can get superficial. With the use of budget management tools, CEOs can budget and forecast before a business plan is put into action. Successful CEOs use tools to save time and help make budgeting and forecasting more efficient and accurate. Through budget management tools, the CEO can follow industry trends, refer to historical data, compare cash flow & profits, analyze funding, etc.

    3. Cash-Flow Management 
Cash flow is very important for the financial management of a business. Using a cash flow management tool allows CEOs to plan future cash requirements and evade liquidity crises. CEOs must be well-versed with cash flow management tools mainly because a company cannot afford to run out of cash. A CEO needs a cash flow management tool to examine operating cash flow, analyze incoming and outgoing cash, and subsequently create strategies to maintain significant cash flow. A cash flow management tool always helps CEOs to have a system in place to understand the cash flow within the company.

Cash Flow Management

    4. Payroll System
 A payroll system becomes an essential element for CEOs because it allows them to manage business’ administrative tasks correctly. Even though the HR representatives work on payroll systems, a CEO is responsible for the overall management of human resources and administrative tasks. In large companies, payroll management can get complicated and an operative payroll system can make things simple, intuitive, and easy. With the right payroll management system tool, a CEO can handle employee’s financial records in a hassle-free and automated way. The CEO can also have a broad picture and collectively analyze department salaries, bonuses, deductions, etc.

    5. Tax Preparation System
Although accountants file tax, determine deductions, and prepare tax returns – a CEO needs to examine and advise the accounting team. A tax preparation system is an essential financial tool for CEOs, as it streamlines the process and ensures tax filing is done accurately. These systems also schedule timely alerts for the CEOs to manage and inspect the actions made by the accounting team. Hence, to minimizes mistakes and maximizes returns – CEOs must be familiar with tax preparation systems.

    6. Billing & Payment System
The system on online payment mechanizes or billing systems for every company can be different. Depending on the business activity performed by the company, a payment gateway is been integrated or software is bought to generate bills. Whichever case may be, CEOs need to understand the movement on money, sales in the company, customers, products, etc. The ultimate goal of the CEO is to analyze incoming funds and creates reports for the entire management. With the help of this financial tool, the CEO can also reduce administration, lessen errors, integrate CRM systems, create transparency, and simplify reporting.

Billing & Payment system

    7. Financial Reporting Systems
Using tools for financial reporting offers advanced financial insights that can help CEOs make important and informed decisions. Financial reports are created on a monthly, quarterly, yearly, or even five-yearly basis – depending on the scope of the company. Financial reports are the blueprints for uplifting the company, so CEOs must know how to create a financial report using tools and systems. With a financial reporting system, CEOs get instant perceptibility on data related to accounting, budgeting, sales, orders, and billing. This helps CEOs to illustrate the company’s growth, use advanced automation, increase productivity, forecast, and eventually plan better for the company.

Financial Reporting System

Conclusion 
Every CEO functions differently, so would you. Hence, find out which financial tools suit your management style and your company’s requirements.

Nonetheless, whichever tools you may prefer, the objective is to focus on productivity, enhance collaboration, track progress, and work closely with specific departments and teams. Also, ensure to opt for financial tools that leverage business intelligence (BI) and data visualization. Finally, the financial tool must make sense by collecting all the business data and turn it into actionable insights for the CEOs.

Not sure if you can manage it all? Speak to an expert financial advisor from Diligen to understand the various financial tools available by booking a free consultation. You may also choose to appoint a Virtual CFO for yourself, to provide you senior-level expertise without having to depend on a full-time employee.

For more information contact us right away!

Managing financial aspects is essential for any form of company or business organisation. Businesses need to regularly report and track profits and expenditures to assess the company's financial status. Through accounting and bookkeeping, businesses can produce reliable financial reports, review their operational performance, and assess where changes are needed.

An accounting team will ensure correct monitoring of company finances. But this can be resource-intensive and costly for the business. A specialist accounting service provider is therefore preferably outsourced.

Why is India the best place to employ an accounting service provider?

The number on why businesses worldwide tend to outsource accounting to India is due to substantial cost savings. Businesses can employ India's best accounting service provider at just 40 % to 50% of the bill. Moreover, accounting and bookkeeping service providers in India consistently provide reliable , high-quality support. This ensures India remains the top accounting outsourcing destination!

Accounting the entity 's finances and holding their accounts is an important activity for SMEs and small businesses. But recruiting a whole accounting team, educating bookkeeping workers and finding the right bookkeeping software can be costly. With the outsourcing of accounting to India, not bookkeeping, businesses will concentrate on their core competency. Businesses may neglect the need for an accounting staff and remove the lengthy recruiting process to save time and money.

Not sure yet? Let 's find out why everyone else outsources accounting to India:

Improved performance
Outsourcing accounting to India enables companies to focus on their core competencies. This helps them to streamline, improve productivity and increase performance. Outsourcing accounting work to India also helps handle advanced business finance situations such as M&A, investor relationships, by providing access to qualified financial experts as needed. This also allows companies a degree of scalability, essentially increasing overall performance.

Cost-efficient
By outsourcing accounting to India, companies can do more work and produce more revenue with fewer personnel. High-quality financial services at low operating costs. Also, trained professionals and operating costs are economical, allowing businesses to outsource their accounts in India.

Advanced creative technology
Outsourcing accounting to India is more common than ever, as advanced innovation and technology are incorporated. Global business accountants and internationally-reputable CPA companies outsource accounting to India. This is primarily because Indian accounting service providers have developed using advanced innovation and technology methods. Indian accounting service providers provide technologies like RPA, artificial intelligence, cloud-based technology, mobile apps, etc.

Beneficial time zone
India's an attractive time zone! Indian time differences with most developed countries allow Indian accounting firms to assist foreign firms 24/7. The time zone enables accounting service providers in India to be continuously available during the day. There's plenty of office in India working on a day-shift and night-shift basis. It also provides opportunities to complete assignments faster than expected. The extremely beneficial time zone increases efficiency and productivity. This provides multinational companies and international CPA firms with more flexibility to focus on other responsibilities.

High-quality accountants
Enable highly qualified accountants with the highest, most reliable financial services. Accountants in India meet international norms and are educated in languages such as US GAAP, IFRA, etc. These experienced accounting managers and competent account managers provide the best accounting services. They also understand the latest accounting and finance software. International corporations and CPA firms tend to outsource accounting to India.

Various skills

Simplify compliance
CPA companies and international accountants have multiple obligations for their core competencies. Ensuring that the tax laws and updating legislative processes are up-to - date can be challenging. Outsourcing accounting work to India not only offers state-of-the-art accounting services, but also increases the knowledge base.

Uncompromising security
Accounting data can be highly complicated and sensitive. Because of this, organisations must determine the safety and security practises followed by the outsourced accounting service provider. Outsourcing accounts to India, however, provides uncompromised protection and safeguards essential company data. Indian accounting firms retain independence and sign confidentiality agreements. India has data security policies in place and data protection acts to guard sensitive financial and client data.

Various skills
Indian accounting service providers operate across countries with a wide variety of sectors, acknowledging international best practises to provide global expertise. CPAs, Chartered Accountants and Financial Gurus in India are also qualified and trained to provide financial expertise to foreign clients. Moreover, as recruiting a diverse in-house accounting team is not feasible for companies, outsourcing accounting to India becomes a preferred choice.



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Diligen is a leading outsourcing firm providing customer accounting services across India, USA, UK , Canada , Australia, etc. We offer numerous accounting services and financial support to clients worldwide. From CPA companies or multinational business accountants, we assist at all stages. We collaborated with many multinational companies from various sectors, backgrounds and domains.

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