A 2017 report released by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation entitled “Entrepreneurial Growth Continues Rebound from Great Recession Slump” shows U.S. startups have grown for the third consecutive year. That’s great news for many self-employed and new business owners. Being your own boss can be exciting, motivating, and liberating. At times, it can also be terrifying and exhausting! Proper planning and research is key. An entrepreneurial spirit doesn’t hurt either.
Before any firm decisions are made, however, individuals not only need to examine their personal and potential business finances but also the considerable lifestyle changes entrepreneurship can bring. One of the first stops on that learning curve should be to financial and tax experts — a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional can give any individual an overview of their financial and personal capacity to make such a new enterprise work, as well as work with tax, estate and investment experts to make sure a new business career is on a sound footing.
Here are some basic strategic and financial steps to follow in starting a business:
Proper planning and research is key.
Write your business plan
There are some people who tell you that a business plan is necessary for a new company only if you want to borrow or seek investors for a startup. The truth is that sitting down and writing a formal business plan is an excellent way for anyone to examine the idea, structure and money sources for their business concept and most important, the potential for profit from the idea.
One of the best places to get the basics of the business planning process is the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Small Business Planner website
Seek financial guidance
You need not one, but two sets of financial advice when starting a business. The first involves the viability of your business concept. You should understand your business idea inside and out before you launch and what your new company’s immediate and long-term cash needs will be. The second set of advice involves your own finances and how prepared you are for what will surely be a major lifestyle transition. Because new business owners frequently underestimate their new business’s expenses starting out, they can find themselves funding those business needs out-of-pocket. That means less money for day-to-day living expenses as well as long-term planning for retirement. That’s why it’s critical to consult a tax advisor as well as a CFP® at the outset.
Eliminate debts
With the possible exception of mortgage debt, there’s very little “good debt” in the life of a businessperson. So while you’re researching your business concept and putting together your own financial plan, start cutting back and erasing as much credit card and adjustable-rate debt from your personal life as possible. The continuing credit crisis is making it tough for any business owner – even experienced ones – to borrow money at attractive rates. You’ll have the most flexibility when you owe as little as possible.
Establish an emergency fund
While it’s wise for everyone to have 3 to 6 months of cash set aside for basic living expenses in case they lose their job or face a medical emergency, emergency funds are particularly necessary for new business owners. Startups can be particularly expensive, and most businesses are not profitable from day one. Plan a more extensive emergency fund for yourself and for the business as well.
Plan your healthcare
Automatic benefits are the plus side of working for someone else. When you’re working for yourself, you become your own HR department and chances are you won’t be able to match your old employer’s buying power. If you support a family with these benefits or if you have particular health concerns, you need to price the out-of-pocket costs of such benefits before starting your own company – depending on the business and the cost of those benefits, you might want to rethink your plans.
Consider disability coverage
You might have short-term disability coverage as part of your current employee benefits, but that will likely end once you quit your job. You should price long-term disability coverage based on your present working salary so you can qualify for the highest possible benefit. Disability coverage is critical for self-employed people since they’re their own support system.