Budgets

Small business owners often start their venture without a budget and sales forecast -- a guide to help them move forward. But a budget allows you to use your resources where they're needed and to control your cash flow. Do your research on the cost of doing business so that you make realistic assumptions. Ask yourself how much it will cost to operate the business each year. How much can you realistically sell in a year? How much will you charge for your products or services? Use the numbers you've come up with to project how you want to grow in the years ahead.