Create a Robust Financial Plan: The Fundamentals

Making money is the very reason your business exists – but often, entrepreneurs don't pay enough attention to the financials that drive the bottom line. Sound financial planning documents can not only win over investors; they're valuable tools for monitoring the company's progress toward profitability. In this course we'll examine and counteract common mis-perceptions about financial planning, learn about different models for revenue and cost projections, and use worksheets to build the statements that matter most.

We have included a full financial model that you can use to build a complete financial model for your business. Please note this course does not walk you through how to use the model. This course is intended to create a solid foundation so you can move on to create a financial forecast for your business.

To learn more about creating a financial model for your business, watch the following:

1. Create a Robust Financial Plan - Revenue Model
2. Create a Robust Financial Plan - Staffing and Expense Models
3. Create a Robust Financial Plan - Financial Statements

Introduction

Entrepreneurs tend to avoid financial planning. Don't wait until you run out of cash or find yourself unable to pay employees — learn basic business financials today. This Microcast provides an overview of tools and considerations that will enable you to create a financially successful business.

Justifying Your Financials For Best Results

The single most important thing you can do is to substantiate your financial model, especially your revenue model. You can't just guess and hope it happens. You need to prove exactly how you are going to drive your revenue, and we will show you how to do that. 

Nothing is more important than having a control over your financials. Most companies that go out of business is not because of a bad product or service but they lose sight of their financial situation. Keeping your financial model updated and in control will help prevent this. Also no investor will invest in your company unless you have a financial model that makes sense. 

Let's walk through some of the most important keys to success when it comes to creating your financial plan. 

If you plan to get any investor to invest in your business, it is mandatory that you have a financial forecast. This video will walk you through exactly what is important for investors to see in your financial statements.

Your financials are not just for investors — they are the backbone of your business. Having a grasp on your business's financials helps you qualify for funding, yes, but also creates a benchmark for your business, helps you monitor cash flow, provides predictability, and guides business decisions. This video details basic financial building blocks: Three financial models (revenue, staffing and expense) and three financial statements (P&L, cash flow and balance sheet).

Overcome Roadblocks to Financial Planning

We will give you some handy tips and tricks to build up your financial resolve, which you will need for your business to become a success. 

Create Your Financial Plan

Estimating revenues and growth is not only the hardest thing for entrepreneurs to do, but also one of the most important.  We will explain the benefits of using the Top-Down and Bottom-Up approach to revenue forecasting. 

We will review the pros and cons of each revenue forecasting methodology so you can pick the best one for your business (or even use both if needed).  

Let's dive deep into the different revenue models. There are four primary models that we will analyze, and several variances of each. You will learn how to choose the right one (or ones) for your business.  

Let’s also take a walk through of the financial statements normally included in a financial plan.  

You would be amazed at how many entrepreneurs create a financial plan that is not based in reality and becomes unbelievable to investors as they look into year 3 and beyond. You must make certain your financials are believable and achievable. This will go a long way with investors, and we will show you how to do that in this video. 

Financial Model: Worksheets

This courses included a full blown financial model you can use to create a revenue forecast (and financial plan) for your business. In addition, we have included a collection of completed sample worksheets that are referenced in this course.

Please note: The password to unprotect the spreadsheets allowing you to change formulas and insert rows is: Success.

Course Guide

I recommend that you download this handy course guide to aid your journey through the course as well as great reference materials for the future.

1. Anyone who is running a small business.
2. Anyone who wants to start a business.

1. Very comprehensive - even without any financial knowledge. Very good examples ~ Mirjam
2. Very complete and useful course ~ Andrea A
3. It is so informative and easy to understand I am so glad I’m doing this now ~ Garry C
4. I'm not graduate from economic bachelor and English is not my mother tongue. But this course and how Mr. Ken explained the content is really easy to understand for beginner like me. Thanks to Mr. Ken for answered all of my question with a fast and easy understandable answer! ~ Diantini S
5. Such an amazing course. You'll be able to understand and create your own business plan and you'll get a lot of valuable advices. Strong recommendation! ~ Alen C
6. Very detailed explanation from the instructor. Using nice and simple examples. Plus he gives you free set-up excel sheets for all the financial models you need, so you cant mess anything up. Amazing job! ~ Stefan M
7. I have learned how to model the business finances after this course. To be honest, I had no idea how to do that before, but now, I feel confident to give it a first try! ~ Esteban G
8. Lots of info in this course. Ken really takes you from A to Z . Just what I needed for my business to take off. Thanks ~ Mendonca G

1. What numbers do investors care about, and why?
2. Which is better – a “top down” or “bottom up” planning approach?
3. What is COGS, anyway – and what’s so important about it?

1. Basic knowledge of Excel or Google Sheets. We provide the complete financial model so all you need to do is input your data.
2. A basic understanding of business accounting.