Because the costs of starting a business are often underestimated, new entrepreneurs should consider completing, at a minimum, a few basic pro forma financial statements even before they attempt to estimate how much money they will need. In addition to a personal financial statement such as the one illustrated above, try preparing the following estimates for initial setup and projected monthly costs.
Use the following worksheet to prepare an itemized estimate of how much it will cost to get your business set up. These will all be pre-opening expenses.
Schedule A: Initial Setup Costs
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Advertising |
$ |
Promotion for opening the business |
|
Beginning inventory |
$ |
The amount of inventory needed to open |
|
Building construction |
$ |
The amount per contractor bid and other |
|
Cash |
$ |
Requirements for the cash register |
|
Decorating |
$ |
Estimate based on bid if appropriate |
|
Deposits |
$ |
Check with the utility companies |
|
Fixtures and equipment |
$ |
Use actual bid on all F and E |
|
Installing fixtures and equipment |
$ |
Use actual bids |
|
Insurance |
$ |
Bid from insurance agent |
|
Lease payment |
$ |
Bid from real estate agent |
|
Licenses and permits |
$ |
Check with city or state offices |
|
Miscellaneous |
$ |
All other |
|
Professional fees |
$ |
Include CPA, attorney, engineer, etc. |
|
Remodeling |
$ |
The amount per contractor bid |
|
Rent, equipment |
$ |
Amount to be paid before opening |
|
Services |
$ |
Cleaning, accounting, etc. |
|
Signs |
$ |
The amount per contractor bid |
|
Supplies |
$ |
Office, cleaning, etc. supplies |
|
Unanticipated expenses |
$ |
Amount for unexpected costs (10 percent of
total) |
|
Other |
$ |
|
|
Other |
$ |
|
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Other |
$ |
|
|
Total Setup Dollars Needed |
$ |
Total Schedule A (Pre-Opening Costs) |
The First 90 Days Projected Monthly Costs
Prepare an itemized statement identifying both (1) your personal living costs and (2) the anticipated monthly costs of operating the business for the first three months. Include the following items plus any other expenses that you deem appropriate for your individual situation.
Make a family budget. Look at your family’s fixed and variable living expenses. It’s important to know the amount of personal costs that you’ll have to cover during the startup phase of your business.
Schedule B: Personal
Living Expenses
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Family Income |
Month
1 |
Month 2 |
Month 3 |
Total |
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|
Wages (take-home) |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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|
Wages (take-home)—Spouse |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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|
Interest and dividends |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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|
Miscellaneous |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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|
Total Income |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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|
Family Expense Budget |
Month 1 |
Month 2 |
Month 3 |
Total |
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Auto expenses (gas, maintenance, etc.) |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|||||
|
Auto insurance |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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|
Auto payment |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|||||
|
Beauty shop & barber |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|||||
|
Cable TV |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|||||
|
Charity |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|||||
|
Child care |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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|
Clothing |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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|
Credit card payments |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|||||
|
Dues and subscriptions |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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|
Electricity |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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|
Entertainment |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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|
Gas company |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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|
Gifts |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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|
Groceries & outside meals |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|||||
|
Health insurance |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|||||
|
Home repairs |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|||||
|
Homeowner’s insurance |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|||||
|
Household |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|||||
|
Income tax (additional) |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|||||
|
Laundry and dry cleaning |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|||||
|
Life insurance |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|||||
|
Medical and dental |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|||||
|
|
Miscellaneous |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
||||
|
|
Mortgage payments |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
||||
|
|
Other debt payments |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
||||
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|
Rent |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
||||
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|
School expenses |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
||||
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|
Telephone bill |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
||||
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|
Tuition |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
||||
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|
Vacations |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Water, sewer, trash collection |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Other |
$ |
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