Ready to turn last year's performance into your roadmap for success? In this expert-led webinar, our CEO, Rita Parsons, and CFO, Trevor Benson, break down the essential steps for conducting a thorough annual review. They share practical advice on how to analyze your financials, identify key growth opportunities, and build a strategic forecast that empowers your team. Watch now to learn how to make informed decisions and set your business up for its best year yet.
What You'll Learn
This webinar is packed with actionable strategies and answers to the most common questions from business owners. Here’s a look at what we cover:
The Annual Review Process
When to Review: Learn why your annual review doesn't have to align with the calendar year and how to choose the right timeline for your business cycle. From Past to Future: Discover how to use historical data not just as a report card, but as a tool to identify anomalies, understand what didn't work, and inform your future strategy. Beyond the Numbers: Understand the importance of reviewing operations, marketing, and personnel strategies to identify waste and opportunities for efficiency.
Understanding Your Numbers
Essential KPIs: Identify the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) all businesses should track, including sales, expenses, net profit, and crucial cash flow metrics. The Power of Gross Margin: Learn how to calculate and analyze your gross margin to ensure your pricing is correct and your cost of sales is optimized. Industry-Specific Metrics: Uncover the KPIs that are unique to your industry—from table turns in a restaurant to churn and customer acquisition cost (CAC) in a SaaS business. Benchmarking for Success: Find out how to use industry benchmarks to see how your business stacks up against the competition and identify areas for improvement.
Strategic Planning for the Future
Get Team Buy-In: Learn strategies for fostering collaboration and transparency to get your entire team invested in your business goals. Set Measurable Goals: Move beyond vague objectives by using the OKR (Objectives and Key Results) framework to set specific, measurable, and achievable targets. Forecast with Confidence: Get practical tips for building a year-long forecast that accounts for seasonality, market changes, and your strategic growth plans. Pitching for Funding: Discover what investors and lenders are really looking for and how to confidently present your financials and business plan to secure funding.
Building a Strong Foundation
Starting from Scratch: If you're a new business with no historical data, learn how to conduct market research to build a solid foundational plan. Leverage Free Resources: Find out how to connect with your local Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for free expert guidance on planning and funding. Know When to Hire Help: Understand the critical importance of bringing in a bookkeeper or CPA from day one to set up your financial systems for long-term success.
