Blog

They say there's no such thing as a free lunch; but for now at least, that doesn't apply to forecasting software.

Ever since we launched Finanscapes it's been a paid-for tool to help young businesses...

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Our single most requested (and longest-awaited!) new piece of functionality has just been launched: The ability to model VAT in your cash flow, balance sheet and Profit and Loss with just two clicks!

Here's how. In true Finanscapes style...

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We're really happy to be announce a new, powerful feature that might even make it simpler to model your business cash flow.

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The number of company registrations at Companies House hit a record high in 2014 with 581,173 businesses registering.

With this growing number of startups and entrepreneurs, we have put together the top 5 questions all startups should be asking before they spend their first pound.

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Online forecasting can help you grow your business conveniently, risk-free and simply.

Here are a few key reasons why you should be using an online forecasting tool as part of your business routine...

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Every business is all too aware of the importance of cash flow so we have put together our top ten things you can do to improve your cash flow and ensure it stays healthy...

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A successful cash flow forecast relies on you inputting all the necessary information which means it is essential you understand all of the fixed and variable income and outgoings that affect your cash flow.

There are numerous variables that affect cash flow and each of these need...

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Every business, regardless of size, wants to make more money AND more profit but the common mistake made when looking at ways to do this is that people only focus on one or two of the elements which affect their bottom line. Imagine if you could improve all of them...

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Accounting software, especially aimed at startups and SMEs has moved forward in leaps and bounds in recent years but very few include specific forecasting functionality which allows you to manage things like...

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As many startups and entrepreneurs begin their ideas as sole traders, it is often easy to start a business with a standard personal bank account. However, we recommend, even if you are a sole trader, that you have...

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Looking for a simple cash flow forecast template? We can help, and it doesn’t involve a single Spreadsheet!

The first time you are required to do a cash flow forecast is normally for your business plan or for a potential...

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Financial forecasting is a widely acknowledged best practise for businesses who want to build a successful future but it is so easy to let it slip off the priority radar.

Here are 8 reasons why you need to make sure it doesn’t...

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This blog post gives a cash flow definition and looks at why you need to know how to manage and forecast your cash flow.

We also thought it would be useful to explain a few other significant financial terms so you are completely equipped to manage the financials of your business.

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It's no just startups that need a grip on their business's viability, it's established businesses too. And there's a yawning gap between startups that have done things right, taken advice and created their plan & forecast and the large, successful businesses that have a financial director.

Micros and SMEs fall into that gap. They're off the ground, the owner is working hard to generate revenue but there's often no-one looking ahead, around the next corner, making sure they're...

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There is lots of talk from experts and opinion forums about what is the key formula to start-up success and we believe it starts from and ties together into just one thing: a cash flow forecast.

Not just having one, but using it on a regular basis to navigate disasters, make better business decisions and reduce the risk of failure.

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These two questions are the most popular we are asked. The answers are many fold so we have put them all in one post for you.

We hope they are useful but if you have any other questions, drop them in the chat box in the bottom right of your screen.

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You've finally sat down to write your business plan, but where do you start? What needs to be included and in what order?

This article looks at the importance of including a cash flow forecast in your business plan and...

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Everyone tells you that having a cash flow forecast is really important, but why? How do you manage it and what does your cash flow forecast even tell you?

If any of these questions sound familiar, keep reading.

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Everyone in business knows that cash flow can make or break you. So how can you manage your cash flow to ensure you don't fall prey to the problems a negative cash flow can cause?

Here are 4 pointers to keep you on the right road to building a strong business.

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This year's election looks set to change the landscape of British political history with a hung parliament looking ever more likely and the coalition possibilities almost endless. So what will that mean for SMEs and start-ups post-election?

In a recent survey from insurance company Zurich, 59% of decision makers...

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Women across Erewash Valley in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire are to be given access to the Finanscapes business forecasting software thanks to an Erewash Partnership project funded by RBS.

Erewash Partnership Ltd have recently been announced as one of the winners of the latest round of Inspiring Women in Enterprise grant funding. This funding, provided by...

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Nearly half a million new businesses are started each year in the UK with 25% failing within the first year and only 50% making it pass the first 4 years.

These are shocking statistics but what if we told you we had a solution - and it didn't involve maths or masses of investment!

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As a start-up, micro business or SME, you will have been told that it is important to have a cash flow forecast. But why?

This blog post looks at all of the important issue around cash flow and why forecasting can really help you to grow your business, make more money and better decisions and avoid financial failure.

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This transcript is to accompany the video "What is a cash flow forecast?" and looks at each slide in turn to explain what a cash flow forecast is and how Finanscapes can help you manage yours better.

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The web is full of advice and information, some good, some bad and some simply incorrect, but how do you know the difference?

What can you trust and where do you go when you just need some support?

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Forecasting is one of those things that is required as part of your business plan and one of the many things you are advised to do by your accountant and/or advisor. But why?

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Start-ups and entrepreneurs all have one thing in common: they have a desire to make a success of their idea, product or business venture.

We have worked with many start-ups, enterprise agencies and incubation centres and found there...

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Cash flow forecasting tends to be something businesses, especially micro and SME's, do on an ad hoc basis.

This could be beacust there are so many other jobs which need to be done to get their business off the ground and running consistently and...

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Operating cash flow is one of those phrases that we know we should pay more attention to but there always seems to be something else to think about.

Surely cash flow will look after itself if we continue to bring in more money than we spend, right? Wrong!

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The advantages of cash flow management and forecasting are widely known, regardless of the size of your business - and the fact you're here reading this is a great sign!

But what many start-ups or entrepreneurs don’t know is how to calculate cash flow in the first instance. What should be included, and what figures do you need to hand?

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Cash is the lifeblood of any business, particularly for small enterprises and start-ups. It's easy to get hung up on profit but there's great danger of business owners not putting enough focus on cash flow.

Having an accurate cash flow forecast in place can help you foresee potential problems which may arise in the year ahead, and it can help businesses make important...

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Do you have what it takes to become a successful entrepreneur? Of course you do! You'll need a mix of characteristics and skills to make your business a flaming success. Check out the list and make sure you're every bit as successful as you can possibly be!

Sometimes chasing your dreams requires a little more than luck. Becoming successful will take more than being innovative, it's...

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With the new year come new year's resolutions! As you step forward with your business into 2015 it is essential your business has a cash flow forecast in place.

This will map out the incoming and outgoing cash in your business on a monthly basis over time, and a map like that can transform your success...

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On average there are 10% more new startups each year than the year before but 2015 is set to far outstrip that, possibly by 25% as much again. The future’s bright!

But how do you ensure your startup is one of the successful ones? Here are our top 14 tips to help you succeed...

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It is that time of year when companies big and small look to the New Year to see what it might hold. Hopefully it will involve growth, prosperity and progress for your business.

But what if there was a way of removing that element of chance? Cash flow forecasting can give you just that - a look into the future.

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Cash flow is the lifeblood of many small businesses but we all know there are leakage points. So how do we manage them and reduce the stress on our cash flow?

Here are our top 10 tips to help you manage your cash flow and operations to ensure your business grows at the pace you want.

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Put simply, a cash flow forecast is a forward-looking view of the cash coming into and going out of your business. It will show you, at a glance, the amount of cash available in the business at any point. Notice we keep saying "cash" - that's money immediately available, on-hand or in the bank (so money customers owe you but haven't yet handed over doesn't count!).

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There are a mountain of accounting and finance terms which baffle even the most business-savvy entrepreneurs. Understanding the terms and improving your business's performance on each can make a big difference to how your business operates and how successful it becomes.

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