5 Things Many Start-Ups Forget To Budget For

When you are starting a business, you need to make sure that you have the right budget. Many people make the mistake of not creating a complete budget and this can lead to financial problems further down the line.

Within your budget, you need to make sure that you are considering everything and not leaving any of the important things out.

Without wasting your time, here are the 5 things many start-ups forget to budget for during the planning stage that ends up affecting their working budget.

5 Things Many Start-Ups Forget To Budget For

Data Storage

The first thing that many start-ups forget to budget for is data storage. If you are going to be storing your data on the cloud then you will need to have a server somewhere to keep everything safe. There are plenty of data centres that you can use but these are going to cost money. Make sure to budget for your data storage and research all of your options.

Cleaning Services

If you are planning on having an office that runs every day then you are going to need to have some kind of cleaning service. This will reduce the stress on your team and ensure that your office doesn’t get messy when clients come along. Depending on your cleaning needs, you may be able to find a cost-effective service if, for instance, you don’t need daily cleaning. Find a service that offers different contract options and that cleans a range of premises. An example of a service that offers this is Ideal Cleaning who can come to your space and give you a quote. But you must include this in your budget to ensure you don’t overspend on anything else.

Your Salary

Another thing that many start-up business owners forget to budget for is their own salary. It can be easy to get distracted by the cost of your employee’s wages and the other business costs but what good is your business if it isn’t making you any money? Try to establish a good figure for your salary and consider your own personal finances. This should help you to make the right decision on what to pay yourself.

Returns

Have you thought about any products or items that might be returned to your business? This could be faulty products or even meals that haven’t been cooked properly if you run a restaurant business. This can also be known as losses but it is something which is very important and you need to make sure that you are budgeting for it. For your own good, it is also worth the while that you state your return policy clearly to your customers.

Licensing Costs

Finally, you should make sure that you do not forget to budget for any kind of licensing costs. Depending on the kind of business that you are running, you might need some kind of license that is going to cost you money. Some common licenses include gambling licenses and a license to sell alcohol. Consider which of these licenses that you might need and make sure that you add them to your budget.

Final Thoughts

If you are planning on starting a new business in the coming year then you should make sure to budget for everything that we have discussed in this article. Think about everything from the cleaning services that you’ll need in your office to the salary that you are going to pay yourself each month. If you can include everything in your budget, you can make the right decisions.

Francis Nwokike

Francis Nwokike is the Founder and Chief Editor of The Total Entrepreneurs. A Social Entrepreneur and experienced Disaster Manager. He loves researching and discussing business trends and providing startups with valuable insights into running a profitable business. He created TTE to share ideas and tips to help entrepreneurs run and grow their businesses.