Fundamentals of financial startup are the ones that startups must be aware of to ensure their financial stability and get the funding they require for growth. Nine out of ten startup failures result from insufficient knowledge of these vital elements. Cash flow is the reason. Without an understanding of how to monitor and forecast cash flow, startups will be unable to manage its budget startuphand.org/ or invest in growth.

Key startup accounting records like income statements (revenue and expenses) and financial projections are vital for demonstrating the viability of your business model to investors. These models have to be calculated carefully to accurately reflect your business’s economics. This includes easy-to-forget expenses such as shipping taxes and insurance, processing fees for payments and utility costs.

In the beginning startups may seek out financing from family and friends if more traditional lenders aren’t an option. In this instance, it’s important to put any loan conditions in writing so that there aren’t any conflicts regarding repayment obligations or expectations for future performance.

Startups may also seek venture capital from private investors or crowdfunding platforms such as Kickstarter. These types of funding typically require a written business plan, which includes a complete financial forecast. Making a model helps you to better understand the financials of your business, allowing you to make informed decisions about how much capital you require and what strategic goals you’d like to accomplish by the end of the year.