How to Inflation-Proof Your Business

Inflation has reared its ugly head over the last couple of years, and while it seems to have settled down a bit in 2023, forecasters are predicting 2024 will be a wild ride.

Inflation reduces the purchasing power of your money; you pay more and get less. The impact can be severe, affecting supply chain, cash flow, and profit margins.

Costs of raw materials, supplies, and utilities are rising faster than you can increase prices. Employees want higher wages to handle their own inflation woes. The cost of borrowing keeps rising, making it difficult to finance investments in the business.

And consumers tend to spend less during times of increasing inflation.

How can you adapt your business and thrive during these crazy times?

  1. Employee retention is key. There is a labor shortage, and good people are hard to find. The cost of replacing employees is much higher than many employers realize; in some cases, the cost can be as much as 100% of an employee’s annual salary. Employees want higher wages since they are facing their own inflationary problems. But there are other ways to retain good employees outside of increasing wages; you can offer flexible work hours or additional paid time off. You can also think of simple things to increase morale, like bringing in lunch once a week.
  2. Look for local suppliers if you are experiencing supply chain backups. Try to diversify the number of suppliers you use and compare their pricing regularly.
  3. Review processes and look for ways to streamline and improve efficiency. Encourage feedback from employees, especially those who are most productive.
  4. Manage your inventory. While it is comforting to have a stockpile when your supply chain is still experiencing holdups, the cost of carrying too much inventory is high. Not only does it mean cash out of your business, but there is also the cost of warehousing and managing the inventory. You also run the risk of obsolescence.
  5. Review your pricing strategies. Raising prices must be carefully evaluated in terms of competitors’ pricing, strength of your customer base, and perceived value. Look for ways to increase the perceived value of your products/services to offset the effect of the increased prices.
  6. Update your marketing and advertising strategies. Look at advertising methods you have not used in the past and evaluate if they might be worth a try.

Break-Even Analysis – What and Why?

Break-even is the point when income matches expenses. Knowing your break-even point shows how much revenue you need to equal and surpass expenses. To determine your break-even point, you need to understand a few terms.

Fixed costs are the costs that do not change no matter how much revenue you earn. Items like rent, utilities, management and administrative wages, and insurances are considered fixed costs.

Variable costs are those that are directly related to the products or services you sell. They include raw materials, direct labor (manufacturing labor or service labor), and the cost of items purchased for resale.

Contribution Margin is calculated by subtracting variable costs from revenues.

Break-even = Fixed Costs/Contribution Margin

Below are three examples of break-even analysis for different types of business.

Manufacturing company:

Fixed costs                = $60,000 per month

Variable costs            = 30%

Sale price per item    = $50

Contribution margin = $50 – 30% = $50 – $15 = $35

Break-even                = 60,000/35

                                  = 1,715 items or $85,714.50 in sales

This company needs to sell 1,715 items per month at $50 each to break even.

Restaurant:

Fixed costs                    = $9,000 per month

Variable costs (food)     = 40%

Average bill per person = $50

Contribution margin     = $50 – 40% = $50 – $20 = $30

Break-even                    = $9,000/30

Break-even                    = 300

The restaurant must serve 300 people in a month to break even. That equals about 10 people per day.

Service provider:

Fixed costs                 = $4,000 per month

Variable costs (labor) = 50%

Sale price per hour    = $100

Contribution margin  = $100 – 50% = $50

Break-even                 = 4000/50

Break-even                 = 80 hours of services sold or $8,000

This service provider needs to sell 80 hours of services each month to break even.

Why is break-even analysis so important?

1. Knowing your break-even helps you determine if a business can be profitable. If you need to charge $100 per unit to cover your fixed and variable costs but competitors are charging an average of $60 per unit for similar items, you know you are not going to be successful with this set of circumstances. But if your products are better quality and justify the higher price, then it could work.

2. Determining your break-even forces you to consider all your variable and fixed costs. A manufacturer might be able to negotiate better prices for raw materials; a restaurant might consider other sources for food, you might need to reduce the number of employees, or you might need to shop around for lower insurance premiums.

3. Knowing your break-even point can help you discover the items/services that bring the highest profits. Doing a break-even analysis for the individual items you sell will show you where you make the most money. Sometimes it will tell you if you need to eliminate certain items or services.

4. Similarly, a break-even analysis will help you decide if a new product or service will be profitable.

5. Break-even analysis is necessary if you want to attract investors. This shows investors that you understand your business numbers and will help you substantiate any claims you make about profitability.

A break-even analysis should be done for every business at least once per year, along with a market analysis. Cost increases in materials, labor, rent, insurances are a given. Any needed sales price changes can be determined by looking at the break-even, along with considering competitors’ pricing.

A good accountant should be able to work with you on your break-even analysis. If your accountant does not provide one, ask for it!

The Business Plan

A Business Plan is a thorough description of your business, your business goals, and your plans to achieve those goals. A Business Plan is the most important, yet most overlooked, document you can prepare for your business.  Potential lenders or investors almost always request a Business Plan.  But if you are self-funded, you might be tempted to skip it.  Don’t!

Writing a good business plan will force you to think hard about all aspects of your business and identify the various factors that can make your business a success or a failure.

The elements of a good business plan should include the following:

Executive Summary

This is a one-page summary of the business plan. It should briefly describe the purpose of your business and the contents of the plan. The best way to write the Executive Summary is to do it last, after you have thought out and written the rest of the plan.

Business Description

Begin with the purpose of your business and your short-term and long-term goals. This should include a short description of your industry including the present outlook and future possibilities. Also provide information on the various markets in the industry as well as any new products or developments that will benefit or adversely affect your business.

Market Analysis

This is where you define your Target Market – who do you think will need/buy your products/services? Describe the current market trends for both your industry and your potential customers – where is the market expected to go and how will your company fit? Also include details about your potential customers – their ages, education, income levels, etc.

Competitive Analysis

Compare your company to the direct and indirect competitors in your market along with their strengths and weaknesses. Detail your strategies to differentiate your company from the them. List any barriers to entry that could deter potential future competitors.

Design and Development

Describe the products or services your business will provide. Detail the product’s design, show its development and where you are within the development stage, and your plans to bring the product to production. Indicate if you have or plan to acquire any copyrights, trademarks or patents.

Products and Services

Detail exactly what you are planning to create and sell, how long your products will last, and how they meet an existing need. If you are a manufacturer, describe your products and your manufacturing process. Include information about suppliers and availability of materials. If you are a wholesale distributor, describe your products and the supply chain. If you are a retailer, describe your sources of inventory and your inventory management plan. If you are a service provider, describe your services and what makes you qualified to provide them.

Marketing Plan

How do you plan to sell your products or services? Will you sell online, in stores, or via catalogs? Describe your pricing strategy and how it compares to your competition. Indicate how buyers will learn about your company and your products. Explain any advertising and networking plans as well as sales incentives or promotions you will offer.

Management and Administration

Describe the legal structure of your business – sole proprietor, limited liability company, or corporation – and why that structure is best for your company. List all the owners and/or officers and describe their strengths. Also list the managers and describe their responsibilities and abilities.

Funding Requirements

Provide a summary of your financial needs. How much funding do you need? Give a detailed list of how the funds will be used and your plans to repay those funds.

Financial

Insert financial projections here:

  1. Pro Forma Cash Flow Statement – this should show your expected cash inflows and outflows for at least the first year – three years would be better.
  2. Income Projection – a Pro Forma Income Statement should show your projected revenues and expenses for the next three years. Base future years on expected economic and industry trends.
  3. Projected Balance Sheet – what will your assets, liabilities, and net worth look like at the end of the next fiscal year.
  4. Break-Even Analysis – this will show how much revenue you need to generate to cover both your cost of goods sold and administrative expenses.

A good business plan is essential if you need outside funding, but it is invaluable in helping you crystalize your plans for making your company a success.

What are Financial Statements and Why Do I Need Them? The Balance Sheet

Many business owners think the terms Income Statement and Financial Statement are interchangeable. The Income Statement is indeed one part of a Financial Statement package, but owners should know there are usually three other statements and why they are important.

There are four basic financial statements are:

  • Income Statement
  • Balance Sheet
  • Statement of Cash Flows
  • Statement of Changes in Equity

Let’s start with the Balance Sheet.

The balance sheet is made up of three sections: Assets, Liabilities, and Equity. The basic accounting equation is Assets = Liabilities + Equity. The balance sheet shows a company’s financial position on a specific date.

Assets

Assets are the resources of the company that have been acquired through past transactions and have future economic value. Examples of assets are:

  • Cash in Bank
  • Accounts Receivable (amounts due from customers)
  • Inventory (merchandise for re-sale or materials to be used in production)
  • Prepaid Expenses (items paid in advance like insurance and property taxes)
  • Land
  • Buildings
  • Machinery (used in manufacturing production)
  • Computer Equipment
  • Software
  • Trademarks, Patents, or Copyrights

Assets are classified into distinct groupings.

  • Current Assets are assets that will generally be used within an accounting cycle. They include cash, accounts receivable, inventory, and prepaid expenses.
  • Fixed Assets are items that provide long-term use for the company. Things like land, buildings, machinery, and computer equipment will benefit a company for longer than one accounting cycle.
  • Intangible Assets are those items that are not physical and will last longer than one account cycle, like computer software or trademarks.

Liabilities

Liabilities represent obligations for past transactions that must be paid by a company. Liabilities can be thought of as a source of the company’s assets and claims against those assets. They include:

  • Accounts Payable (amounts due to suppliers)
  • Short-Term Notes Payable (the portion of any loans due within one year)
  • Wages Payable (amounts due to employees but not paid as of the date of the statement)
  • Interest Payable
  • Customer Deposits (advance payments received for work or goods not yet provided)
  • Accrued Expenses (obligations that have been incurred but not yet recorded in Accts Payable)
  • Notes Payable

Liabilities are also classified into groupings:

  • Current Liabilities are obligations that are due within an accounting cycle. Accounts payable, wages payable, customer deposits, and accrued expenses are examples of Current Liabilities.
  • Long-Term Liabilities are obligations that are due over more than one accounting cycle. Notes payable (less the current portion shown in Current Liabilities) are listed here.

Equity

The items listed in the Equity section vary, depending on the legal form of the business. Owner’s Equity is used when a company is a Sole Proprietorship; Members’ Equity is used for a Limited Liability Company; Stockholders’ Equity is used for a corporation.

The Equity accounts for a Sole Proprietorship will include:

  • John Smith, Capital
  • John Smith, Draws
  • Net Income (cumulative for the current year)

Equity accounts for an LLC are:

  • Members’ Equity
  • Members’ Draws
  • Net Income

Equity accounts for a corporation include:

  • Common Stock (shows the original cost of the company shares sold to stockholders)
  • Preferred Stock (not every corporation has this)
  • Retained Earnings (the cumulation of net profits/losses from prior years)
  • Net Income

An accountant who understands how to properly classify items on the balance sheet is crucial to having useful financial statements. Staying on top of accounts receivable is essential for good cash flow; knowing how often inventory turns over can help you determine if you are carrying obsolete items; recognizing when an item should be recorded as a fixed asset and when it should be expensed will keep you out of trouble with the IRS.

 

Starting a New Business

Starting a business can be one of the most exciting things you do in your life. You have a great idea and you have figured out a way to make money with it. So let’s get things going!

Fire! Aim! Ready!

Slow down. Some careful thought, foresight, and planning will go a long way to increase your chances of success. A methodical plan of action will help you to fulfill your dream of being your own boss and running a successful business. The steps below are the start to a basic action plan for the beginning stages of your business.

  1. Prepare a Business Plan to clarify your marketing, management, and financial plans. While this task may seem unnecessary and even daunting, especially if you have never seen a Business Plan, this one thing alone will do more to help your business succeed than anything else you can do. A well-thought out Business Plan will help you to crystalize your motives for starting this business, who your competitors are and how you will compete with them, and how much money you will need until the business becomes profitable. (The elements of a solid Business Plan will be detailed in my next blog post.)
  2. Determine how much capital you need to take you through the first two years of business. Following the steps of a sold Business Plan will help you consider all the different factors in projecting cash needs. Identify your sources of capital, whether they include your own savings, partner investments, or loans.
  3. Select a business location. Some businesses can be run from your home or a small office, others might need industrial space, and still others will need a retail-type site. If your business is in the third category, selecting a location is the second most important thing you do. Your location will affect not only the quantity and quality of traffic that passes each day, but different cities have very different taxes, regulations and licensing requirements that should be considered.
  4. Select a business structure that best fits your needs by evaluating tax advantages, legal exposure, and ease of compliance. Whether you operate as a Sole Proprietor, a Limited Liability Company, or a Corporation is entirely your choice, but each structure has different filing and tax aspects that need to be considered. You can consult with a general business attorney, a CPA, or a seasoned accountant to help you with this decision.
  5. Register your business name or trade name. If you are going to operate as a Sole Proprietor, you should register a DBA (doing business as) with your state. If you plan to operate as an LLC or a corporation, you need to verify that your chosen name is not already taken and then it must be registered with the state. When choosing a name, think about whether you plan to have a website and check to see if the matching domain name is available. You might also need to consider trademark possibilities, in which case you need to check with the U.S. Patent and Trademark website.
  6. Register with the IRS to obtain an EIN (employer identification number).
  7. If you expect to collect sales tax from customers, you will need to apply for a sales tax permit from your state.
  8. If you will have employees, you need to register with your state for income tax withholding.
  9. Find out if the city or township in which your business resides requires any kind of business licensing.
  10. Open your business bank account. You will need your EIN and a copy of your Articles to do this. When selecting a bank, consider the convenience of branch locations as well as fees and charges assessed to your account.

These steps may seem daunting, but a seasoned business professional can help walk you through these tasks to make sure you start your business the right way.

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