Fiscal Physical

How am I doing compared to others in my industry? What’s going to happen to my company if sales decline? Can I afford to expand my business, and is now the right time? If I’m making profit, why don’t I have any cash? Will I run out of cash at any time during the next year? What happens to profits if certain costs suddenly increase? How much will I need to increase sales to pay for that new piece of equipment?

These and other questions confront and confuse small business owners on a regular basis. Business finance is much like a foreign language, requiring a method of translation to understand its meaning.

Bank of Illinois and the Illinois Small Business Development Center at ISU are offering a series of workshops to business owners that will “translate” the language of business finance into plain English, so you can understand what the numbers are trying to tell you. This series is designed for companies who know they are experiencing financial challenges, as well as those who think they are doing well. Even a healthy person goes to the doctor for a physical exam once a year – just in case.

Through a detailed analysis of company financial statements, learn how to:

• Compute financial ratios and show how your company compares to others in the same industry.
• Determine your “breakeven point”, and explain how breakeven will be affected in scenarios where you anticipate future changes in costs, price, or sales volume.
• Convert your projected Income Statement into a Cash Budget, so you can manage cash flow without unexpected surprises.
• Calculate the amount of future financing needed when sales growth is projected.
• Diagnose financial problem areas and identify the likely causes, utilizing a tool called “The Financial Roadmap.”

January 17, 2008, 8:30 AM – 12:00 Noon
Using Financial Statements as Management Tools
Financial Statements: Practical Case Study

January 24, 2008, 8:30 AM – 12:00 Noon
Profit Planning/ Cash Budgeting Case Study
Cash Flow Management: Case Discussion
Pricing and Sales: Break-Even Case Study

January 31, 2008, 8:30 AM – 12:00 Noon
Managing Growth: “Financial Gap” Case Study
Working with Banks – Loan Proposal Checklist

Date: Thursdays - January 17, 24, and 31, 2008
Time: 8:30 am to 12:00 noon
Location: College of Business Building, Room 430 - Executive Classroom
Cost: $50 per workshop or $125 for the complete series of three. Fees include a 192-page work-book binder.

Register now online or contact the Illinois SBDC at Illinois State at (309) 438-3610.