FINANCE Flashcards
What is the finance department responsible for?
- budgets
- cash flow forecasting
- credit control
- paying suppliers
- production and analysis of year end accounts
Define budget
A financial plan for the future that sets out
- targets for sales revenue
- targets for expenditure (covers costs)
What are the types of budgets?
Income
Expenditure (money out)
Profit
What is an income budget?
- target set for the amount of revenue to be achieved in a specific time period
- can be split by products, services or department
- informs predicted cash inflows in the cash flow forecast
What are expenditure budgets?
- a limit placed on the amount to be spent in a given time period
- can be split by products, service or department
- informs predicted cash outflow in cash flow forecast
What are profit budgets?
- a target set for surpluses between income and expenditures in a given period of time
- calculated upon the income and expenditure budget
How are budgets set?
- set clear objectives
- carry out market research
- produce a sales forecast
- set income budget
- set expenditure budget
- set profit budget
- set divisional targets
- review against objectives
REPEATS
What are problems of setting budgets?
- costs are likely to change
- actions of competitors are unknown
- dependent upon predictions and forecasts
What is the purpose of budget setting?
Control costs- provides a quantifiable target against which actual targets can be measured
Coordination- encourages a more holistic view point of the department as part of a bigger entity
What are limitations of budgets?
- over ambitious targets can be demotivating
- budgets can be restrictive as opportunities can’t be acted upon
- planned figures can be inaccurate due to unexpected changes (e.g. increased raw material costs)
How does owners capital work?
Savings from owner that is transferred into business
What are advantages and disadvantages of owners capital?
A: -do not have to repay so no interest -no debt -owner maintains control D: -likely to bee restricted amount -once used, less money left for emergencies
What type of businesses are owners capital suitable for?
Sole traders
Partnerships
-start up
How does retained profit work?
Profit saved over time and invested into business
What are advantages and disadvantages of retained profit?
A: -instantly available for use -avoid interest and debt D: -restricted amount -only sufficient if they have enough profit
What type of businesses are retained profits suitable for?
All expect new businesses
How do sale of assets work?
Items of value are sold and the cash generates income
What are advantages and disadvantages of sale of assets?
A: -avoid interest debt repayment D: -likely to be restricted amount -takes time to translate cash
What type of businesses are sale of assets suitable for?
All types
How do overdrafts work?
Spend more money than they have in their current bank account
What are advantages and disadvantages of overdraft?
A: -continue over spending and paying bills -quick and easy to arrange -borrow when needed D: -high interest rates -limit on how much can be borrowed
What type of businesses are overdrafts suitable for?
All as able to access larger overdrafts and arrange lower interest chargers as lower risk
How do bank loans work?
Make regular payments
-long term
What are advantages and disadvantages of bank loans?
A:
-repaid over time, more manageable
D:
-interest charged increases business costs
-business assets have to be put up as security
What type of businesses are bank loans suitable for?
All types
How does share capital work?
Limited companies can sell shares to raise finance
What are advantages and disadvantages of share capital?
A:
-large amount of finance can be raised
D:
-selling shares dilutes control of business in a PLC there is risk of a takeover
What types of businesses are share capital suitable for?
Limited companies
-PLCs and LTDs
How does venture capital work?
Cash rich investors provides a business with finance for an agreed share in business
What are advantages and disadvantages of venture capital?
A:
-good source of finance if banks have turned down loan applications, venture capitalism often provide advice as well as finances
D:
-some venture capitalists may demand a high share of ownership reducing ownership share for the entrepreneur, leading to conflict between two parties
What types of businesses are venture capitals suitable for?
New entrepreneurs, SMEs that are expanding
How does leasing work?
Businesses pay monthly fee in return for the use of an asset