The CFO'S Perspective

How to Fund Business Growth

These days business owners looking to get an injection of cash into their companies have an almost endless list of possible funding options. However, that does not mean that all business funding options are created equal. They will vary by approval requirements, rates, conditions, payback terms, and other criteria. As a result, knowing the difference between funding types is meaningless without understanding what you hope to gain from securing financing.

Topics: Funding Growth

Funding your Manufacturing Business - CAMPS Event

To grow in the new market environment, manufacturing companies require funding. To help you better understand the options, CAMPS hosted a panel to cover multiple funding options:

CFO Selections is a proud member of CAMPS and our own Kevin Briscoe recently participated in a panel discussion at a CAMPS event: "Funding your Manufacturing Business."

If your manufacturing company is growing, listen to the insights and options shared by the panel of financial specialists.

Topics: Funding Events Financing

Financial Projections for Startups – A How-To Guide

Financial projections are a critical component of a sound business plan. These projections (or “financial forecasts”) are used externally to obtain funding as well as internally to create a strategic growth roadmap with key milestones.

At the core of these projections are logical assumptions for revenue, COGS (cost of goods sold), SG&A (sales, general, and administrative) expenses, capital investments, and cash flow that serve as building blocks for the final figures that result. Because your financial projections rely on these pillars, it is crucial to find a balance with these inputs. Being too conservative or too aggressive with your assumptions will skew the resulting projections, damaging their overall credibility. The goal is to inspire confidence externally as well as internally while maintaining high ethical standards, which requires a balanced approach toward creating assumptions for financial projections.

Use existing financial information, even if it is limited by the newness of your business, to justify these assumptions and inform your financial forecasting process. Your resulting financial projections should include a P&L statement, cash flow statement, balance sheet, capitalization table, and strategic investment plan.

Topics: Funding Planning Financial Projections Financial Reports Forecasting Financing

Which Financial Statements are Required to Get Funding?

Lenders and investors will always ask for financial statements as part of the application process. When applying for funding, you will be required to provide both historical financial data and projected financial figures. Banks and investors will then analyze where the company has been and where it appears to be going to determine if its trajectory fits within acceptable risk parameters.

Topics: Funding Financial Reports Financing