FINANCIAL PLAN Financial analysis constitutes another crucial piece of the business
plan; it is contained in the financial plan section of the business plan. Pro forma
statements, which are projections of the company's financial statements, are presented
for up to five years. The forecasts include balance sheets, income statements, and
statements of cash flows on an annual basis for three to five years, as well as cash
budgets on a monthly basis for the first year and on a quarterly basis for the second
and third years. It is vital that the financial projections be supported by well-substantiated assumptions and explanations of how the figures have been determined.
While all the financial statements are important. cratements of cash flows deserve special attention, because a business can be profitable but fail to produce positive cash flows. A statement of cash flows identifies the sources of cash—how much will be raised from investors and how much will be generated from operations. It also shows how much money will be devoted to investments in such areas as inventories and equipment. The statement of cash flows should clearly indicate how much cash is needed from prospective investors and for what purpose.
Since experience tells them that the eventual return on their investment will depend largely on their ability to cash out, most investors want to invest in a privately
held company for only a limited period and want to be told how ,and when they may
expect to cash out of the investment. Therefore, the plan should outline the mechanism available to investors for exiting the firm. (The preparation of pro forma statements and the process of raising the needed capital are discussed in Chapters 12 and
13. Chapter 14 presents the possible ways for an investor—and the entrepreneur— to cash out, or exit, the business investment.)