This is the  sixth part of a Ten part series on business planning which you can join at any time. To start from the beginning  sign up for the Free Weekly Business Planning Series and receive a blank business outline too!

As you drive along, your car’s gauges give you up to the minute feedback on your progress. The gas gauge tells you when it is time to stop and re-fuel. The same is true for the financial statements in your business.

Bankers expect entrepreneurs to be optimistic and overestimate sales projections. Be sure to substantiate how your projections were developed.

The financial plan should contain only summary data. Include:

• Forecast – Do you have firm orders for your products or are you already
  selling your product?
• Financial Statements – At a minimum, you must include the income statement,
  cash flow, and balance sheet. A three-year forecast and some discussion of
  best and worst-case scenarios also should be included. For an existing
  business, at least two years’ history should be included as well. Ratios
  make relationships in your business more understandable, giving you a focal
  point for your analysis.
• Financial Requirements – How much money do you need for startup?

To help you organize your financial statements, download our 5-Year Forecast and Cash Flow statements