Be Your Own FD
During 2010, with timing still undetermined, I intend (this is me being intentional!) to launch two new products.
The first is a book, entitled ‘Be Your Own Finance Director’. I’m already part way through writing it. I hope it won’t take me too many months to finish it, although since this will be my first book I can’t make any promises.
The aim of the book is to help small business owners with a comprehensive guide to managing the performance of their business. If your business is not ready for an FD yet, and you want to continue with a DIY approach, the book will give you some guidance on how you can do that.
The second is a membership website, entitled ‘Be Your Own Finance Director’. I’m not going to give a web address here, because it’s not even partly there yet. I’ve registered the domain names, but the website has not yet been developed. The content will be very similar to the book, but hopefully with more of a new media interactive flavour.
I’ve surveyed a group of business owners, and spoken to a number of business owners personally, asking them what they would want from such a site. The ideas are still coming together, but here are a few that are being considered:
- Audio, video and text-based courses, taking you through all areas you need to understand in managing your business finances and performance - take them at your own pace, and pick and choose what you feel you need;
- Downloadable standard procedure documents for things like expenditure authorisation, credit control, customer and supplier approval;
- Downloadable standard customisable checklists for things like monthly accounts, budgeting and planning, risk management and strategic planning;
- Downloadable customisable spreadsheet templates for things like employee expense claims, cashflow forecasts, etc.
- An online forum dedicated to sharing ideas, solving problems and answering questions relating to your business financial and performance management.
Watch this space!