Tracking and Improving Small Business Financial Performance

The importance of making informed decisions impacts your company’s financial performance.  Small business owners need access to accurate and current financial data to identify trends, track performance, and make informed decisions about where to invest their financial resources.  Data analytics are a critical factor.  

According to a study by the Small Business Administration (SBA), small businesses that use data analytics are more likely to be profitable and grow faster than those that don’t. In the study, 43% of small businesses that us34ed data analytics reported increased profits, compared to only 14% of small businesses that did not use data analytics. The study also found that small businesses that used data analytics were more likely to experience growth, with 52% reporting increased revenue, compared to only 22% of small businesses that did not use data analytics. 

The process of examining, cleaning, transforming, and modeling data to discover useful information, informing conclusions, and supporting decision-making is what data analytics is all about. Big data is on the rise and data analytics tools are more technologically advanced, so small businesses now have powerful and affordable tools to help them track and improve their financial performance. 

So, why is it important for small businesses to track their financial performance?

Improved Decision Making: As a small business owner, when you have access to your critical financial data, you can make informed decisions to allocate resources as well as cut costs in the best way based on your data analytics.  Utilizing data intentionally and with foresight and focus can help improve financial outcomes and profitability. 

Increased Visibility: Your data provides you with a clear picture of how your business is financially performing, which includes cash flow, revenue, expenses, and profit margins. The visibility of your financial data points allows you to identify areas of both strengths and weaknesses and allows you to make necessary adjustments.   

Increased Efficiency: Automation is an up-and-coming feature business today.  Data analytics can help small businesses automate many of their financial processes, such as invoicing, billing, and payments. Efficiency is enhanced and errors reduced, helping to free up more time for small business owners to focus on other critical areas like profitability and business growth. 

Improved Cash Flow Management: Tracking real-time cash flow allows small business owners to continue with strategic planning and informed decision-making about when to pay bills, when to invest in new projects, and when to take out loans. This can help improve their cash flow management and ensure their business stays on solid financial footing. 

How can small businesses use data analytics to improve their financial performance? 

Track Key Metrics: First small businesses must identify and track key financial metrics to gain a clear understanding of their financial performance.  These include areas such as revenue, expenses, profit margins, and cash flow. Having a clear handle on the financials allows small businesses to automate the tracking of these metrics and generate visualizations and reports in real time. This provides you with a clear picture of your financial performance. 

Identify Trends: Spikes in revenue or increases in expenses are red flags in your financial profile. By identifying these trends, small businesses can make informed decisions about how and where to invest resources and how to reallocate them when needed. 

Monitor Competitors: Having a good handle on your competitors is another way financial data analytics can be helpful. This information can be useful in identifying opportunities for growth and improvement and making informed decisions about your business strategy. 

Forecast Future Performance: Predictive data analytics can also be used to forecast future performance, helping your small businesses strategically plan for growth and make informed decisions about action steps and the resources needed to implement them. Access to accurate and up-to-date financial data informs small businesses about decisions about when to invest in new projects, when to take out loans, and when to increase staffing. 

What analytics metrics matter to small businesses?

Cash Flow Analysis: This type of analysis provides insights into cash inflows and outflows of a business. In turn, this helps SMBs understand their liquidity and ability to meet their financial obligations. 

Profit & Loss (P&L) Analysis: P&L analysis provides a comprehensive view of a business’s revenues and expenses, helping SMBs determine their net profit and understand their operating performance. 

Balance Sheet Analysis: Providing an overview of a business’s financial position, a balance sheet illuminates assets, liabilities, and equity. SMBs can use this information to assess their financial stability, identify trends in their financial data, and make informed decisions. 

Cost Analysis: A Cost analysis can be used to identify areas for cost reduction and improve profitability.  It can also help SMBs understand the costs associated with producing their products or services. 

Sales Analysis: This type of analysis helps SMBs understand their customers and markets and make informed decisions about their sales strategy. Sales analyses provide insights into a business’s sales performance, including revenue, sales growth, and market trends.  

Customer Profitability Analysis: A customer profitability analysis can be used to identify and highlight the most profitable and least profitable customers. This type of analysis helps SMBs understand the costs and revenues associated with serving each of their customers.  

Budgeting and Forecasting: SMBs can use budgeting and forecasting to create a financial plan, set financial goals, and track their progress toward these goals. 

Financial analytics provide your business with a wide range of valuable insights that can help you make informed decisions, improve your financial performance, and achieve your business goals.  Creating a data culture within your organization is a key step in ensuring that the use of data is effective, efficient, and useful.   

If you want to know more about how your data analytics can help move your business to the next level, contact your Solution Advisor at Klik Solutions to get started on your data journey with Klik Analytics.  Klik Analytics believes that your data can take you places.  What is your destination?