Having two sets of finances to manage can become complicated. Good money management and organisation can help to keep your financial matters in order. This can be done while increasing business profits and maintaining your budget. Finances are a crucial part of any business. However, linking them too close to your finances can create problems or confusion further down the road. Whether starting or looking to review your financial matters, here are some top tips for managing your business and personal finances separately.
Keep Separate Records
No matter which method you choose for keeping financial records, they must be separated for your business and personal income and expenditure. Rather than recording everything on one spreadsheet or table, create two versions and dedicate one to your finances and the other to business.
There are many ways to keep good records for your business and its finances. Depending on the size of your business, you need to hire someone specifically responsible for bookkeeping and finance.
Hire an Accountant
Enlisting the help of an accountant can make it much easier to manage your finances when running a business. Businesses in South Wales can find reputable Cardiff accountants like Hodge Bakshi to provide some assistance with bookkeeping. They can also help with annual accounts and business advice. Working with these accountants in Cardiff can help to keep business and personal expenses separate and better organised.
You can recruit an accountant to work for your company. However, many small businesses find that the most cost-effective option is to contract an accountant when needed. Many companies use a firm of accountants to manage their monthly finances and distribute payments accordingly to staff members.
Pay Yourself a Salary
This can help you see your business and personal finances separately. It may be difficult to pay yourself a decent salary in the early stages of starting a business, but once the company is more established and profits have increased, it is usually easier to take a portion for yourself.
Unless you have enough funds to cover your expenses while setting up the business for a few months, consider taking out a loan to help cover costs while you get your new venture off the ground.
Initially, you should determine the minimum amount you can take to pay your expenses. As the business profits increase, you can increase the salary you pay yourself. Getting into this habit as early as possible can help you to keep your business finances separate.
Set Up a Business account. Don’t spend money from your personal bank account on behalf of your business. Set up a business account for your business’s income and expenditures.
Doing this will enable you to keep your finances separate from the business. It also means that when you’re taking time away from work, you won’t be tempted to get involved with money management when checking your personal bank account.
A business account will also offer different benefits and features to a personal account. There is often more flexibility tailored to your business, so you can more easily overcome common financial issues.
Use Tools to Help Keep Track
Use tools and platforms to help manage your money. Suppose you are using accountants in Cardiff to assist with the business. In that case, they may be able to provide systems and tools that will streamline your financial matters and provide key insights and data on your income and outgoings.
There are apps you can download that help you manage your money, too. You could choose to use this to manage only your expenses or create two versions to help manage your business finances.
Establishing robust credit control management practices is essential for effectively managing business and personal finances. This will significantly enhance your financial stability and business
Separate Your Receipts
Staying organised wiorganisednisedts can help you balance personal and business finances. Keep the business receipts separate from your personal receipts. Don’t be tempted to put everything in one pocket or bag and sort them out later, as this can be confusing and result in discrepancies.
If you work with an accountant, it will also be easier for them to see which expenses were for your business and which were personal payments. Sometimes, you may be asked to provide hard copies of receipts for tax purposes, so staying organised can help you be an organised person in the future.
Take Out Business Loans
If you need to borrow money to run your business, try to take out a business loan rather than a personal loan. Opting for personal loans means that the terms and conditions are catered towards an individual rather than a business. Loans borrowed on behalf of the business may also mean you are not liable to repay the loan under certain circumstances, which can make a huge difference if your business falls on hard times.
Paying off the business’s debts should be a priority, as this can increase profits in the long run and keep the cost of running the company lower.
Create Budgets
Setting budgets can help you manage your money better. It can also help you separate your business expenses from your costs. Review your budget regularly to ensure you are not overspending.
When creating a budget for your business, begin with the most essential costs, such as office rent, business taxes, and staffing costs. It can be challenging to predict monthly income in the early stages of your business, but over time, you will find it easier to track trends.
Managing the finances of a business alongside your own can become complicated without good organisation and management. Following some key steps, you can effectively separate your business and personal income and expenditures. Working with an accountant, reviewing your budgets, and keeping separate accounts and records will all help you split your finances.
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