Key Takeaways

• • • • • Dedicate time and resources to build a strong financial foundation for your business.
        • Set SMART goals and work to achieve them.
        • Analyze your successes and failures when planning for the future.
        • Monitor your competition.
        • Watch your cash flow and adjust as needed.
        • Don’t be afraid to ask for advice.
        • Manage your debt and savings to strengthen your finances.

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    Your business—whether it’s a corner bakery, a garden center or an accounting practice—needs a firm financial foundation to survive. Setting and reaching financial goals means the business that started with your passion will thrive. Read on for financial goals that every small business should have.

    Learn from successes and failures

    Spend some time thinking about what has worked for your business and why. Do more of what works. Likewise, understand why certain ideas didn’t work so you can improve or try something new.

    Set goals and make them SMART

    When you set goals, make them SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound. For example, you may want to increase sales by five percent in six months. SMART goals like this help you narrow your focus and increase your potential for success.

    Keep track

    Even SMART goals need monitoring! Design a plan for how you’ll meet your goals, then monitor regularly to make sure you’re on track.

    Check out the competition

    Pay close attention to your competition. Study their product offerings, pricing, wins and losses, and reputation within the community. Visiting your competition as a customer to get first-hand insights and keeping an eye on their online presence are great first steps. You’ll be better able to differentiate your business, target unmet needs, and avoid their mistakes.

    Keep a close watch on dollars and cents

    Make sure you’re using tools to make the most of your assets. Create a budget and stick to it. Review your budget regularly to make sure it meets your needs. Manage your cash flow by monitoring your accounts payable and receivable and analyzing patterns. If needed, shorten payment terms to improve cash flow.

    Don’t forget savings and debt

    Reducing debt lowers interest costs and frees up money for other things. Just like at home, your business needs savings to take advantage of opportunities when they arise and to deal with emergencies.

    Ask for advice

    Don’t be afraid to consult with experts who can help you tackle unfamiliar topics. Accountants, financial advisors, tax planners and your community bank around the corner can help you refine your goals, plan for tax issues and navigate money management.

    No matter the business you’re in, setting and reaching financial goals will help your business thrive.