Before you start up your own business it’s important to manage your personal business finance properly. Managing your personal business finance correctly, the first time around, will save you lots of stress, money and confusion later on down the road and help you focus on what’s really important; running your business! In this article we will cover some basic steps to help guide you along the way to successful personal business finance management no matter what type of business you run or how big or small it is.
Learn From your Mistakes
Sometimes, it’s easy to spend too much money. If you can make a budget and stick with it, that’s great. But, more often than not, we make mistakes in our financial life—especially when it comes to small purchases we don’t plan for ahead of time (hello office coffee). Learn from your mistakes by tracking your spending each month; as you see where you tend to waste money, adjust accordingly. For example, if you keep going over on eating out at lunchtime, try taking packed lunches or set aside a designated amount of cash for lunch each week. The more intentional you are about your finances—and about planning for any possible errors—the better off you’ll be in achieving greater financial stability.
Spend Less Than You Earn
It sounds too simple, but it’s still one of the best ways to manage your money effectively. Start by setting a budget, then work hard to stick to it. Ideally, you want your monthly income before taxes and other deductions (such as social security) coming in at least a little bit more than your total expenses after taxes and housing costs. That way, you have some breathing room—and can put aside an emergency fund or treat yourself once in a while without going into debt. If you have credit card debt, be sure that your monthly payments are going toward that first before even thinking about covering rent or groceries. If it’s not, find out what changed so you can get back on track ASAP.
Don’t Use Credit Cards Unless…
Unless you’re a pro at money management, it’s smart to steer clear of credit cards. That’s because credit cards come with higher-than-average interest rates, which can make them risky for consumers who don’t pay off their balances each month. You’ll also be hit with an annual fee (which can add up), and some cards have other costs as well. These include foreign transaction fees, which hit those who spend overseas, and dormancy fees, which occur when a card isn’t used for an extended period of time. If you’re serious about maintaining your bottom line—and your credit score—credit cards are probably best avoided until you know what you’re doing.
Build an Emergency Fund
So you’ve gotten your budget in place and started working on your debt snowball. All great first steps—but one of your best financial goals is still waiting: an emergency fund. An emergency fund is exactly what it sounds like: a pile of cash that can be used in an unexpected, but unavoidable situation (like a job loss, car accident, or illness). An emergency fund won’t earn you money, but it will protect you from money being lost. Stash at least six months worth of expenses in a savings account for those times when life throws us for a loop.
Don’t Invest Without Learning About It First
Whether you’re investing your own money or using someone else’s, it’s important to learn about what you are investing in. The stock market is complicated, and if you don’t have at least a basic understanding of how it works, you could wind up losing even more money than you initially invested. A crash course in investor education can help fill in any gaps in your knowledge and help protect your investment portfolio. If nothing else, a little bit of research will keep you from making any major mistakes that would cost a lot more than time. So if investing is something that interests you, take some time to learn about it before putting anything on the line.
Plan Ahead And Budget For Big Purchases
When it comes to managing your money, it’s a good idea to start by budgeting and planning for all major purchases. Planning out how you’ll manage these big expenses ahead of time can help ensure you save up and that your purchase will be affordable. For example, if you know you want a car or home in two years, it may make sense to start saving now so that you can pay off any debt and build up an emergency fund before taking on a new expense. In addition, while some credit cards offer rewards that may help subsidize big purchases (such as cash back or travel miles), building your credit history early on can be helpful when making larger purchases down the road.