Everyone preaches the virtues of planning and budgeting, but few people know how to do it. Even fewer know how to do it well. This course gives you sound, proven skills that are transferable between positions and employers and can be used as you plan a budget for your entire organization or just a department. You will learn how to develop a strategic plan for your business, create a budget that is congruent with that plan, and formalize your budget so that it wins the support of your superiors, peers, and subordinates.

ESTABLISH a Plan

• How to follow the basic equation for budgeting
• Ideas for developing a planning philosophy
• Suggestions for adapting the planning process to your organization
• Methods for coping with jungle fighting
• Steps for developing a strategic plan
• Guidelines for creating a fiscal calendar
• Ways to tune up your accounting system
  

CREATE a Budget

• How to budget both sales and cost-of-sales
• Factors to consider when planning labor and payroll
• Ideas for budgeting other expenses
• Ways to calculate depreciation
• Steps for generating a balance sheet
• Basics of developing cash-flow statements
  

FORMALIZE your Budget

• Suggestions for conducting budget reviews
• Steps for participating effectively in budget reviews
• Guidelines for adjusting your plan
• How to manage your adjusted plan
• Ideas for winning the support of others