Title, lease or PTO?
When you apply for a bank loan, your type of landownership is important, says financial consultant Susan Pletts.
Why a co-op needs to be ‘open’
A cooperative must be transparent to all its members, so everyone understands and accepts its constitution, writes Susan Pletts.
How co-op shares work
Money is usually the main source of conflict in a business, and shares are all about money, so understanding how they work will save you a lot of hassle, writes...
How to set up a co-op
Cooperatives are popular with government and group projects. We look at the requirements for registration and why you need professional help.
How to protect your assets
Beware, foolish or "lazy" business decisions can part you from your assets! And running a business in your own name can be especially dangerous.
How do I apply for a loan?
Knowing how to prepare your loan application shows that you understand business and will increase your chances of getting approval from a bank, writes Susan Pletts.
Do I need a loan?
Many new farmers lack the money to start up their business. But before applying for a loan, make sure it's really necessary, writes Susan Pletts.
Overheads can make or break your business
Overhead costs are like a beard. They're always there, just as the hair you shave grows back. If you want your business to succeed, keep your overheads manageable, writes Susan...
Interest fixed or linked?
You pay interest when you borrow money, so you must know how to negotiate and have a good credit rating, writes Susan Pletts.
How to calculate cash flow
An accurate record of your cash flow is important for your business to succeed. A basic knowledge of addition and subtraction is all you need to draw one up, writes...
Keeping track of your earnings
In the past people traded with whatever goods they had. But these days we can't conduct business without money - our income, writes Susan Pletts.
Understanding cash flow
Budgeting is knowing how much money goes in and out of your business, and cash flow shows when this will occur, writes Susan Pletts.
Budgets – why do we need them?
Working without a budget is like swimming in a rough sea with no life saver – you’re sure to drown, writes Susan Pletts.
Why measuring your land is essential!
Measuring your land will tell you how much of a crop you can plant and how much livestock you can keep, writes Susan Pletts.
Maths vital for profitable farming
We can't escape maths, so learn to love it, because it's something you can't do without when it comes to running your business successfully, writes Susan Pletts.
Finance terms you need to know
Bankers and people involved in finance use many fancy words, and knowing what they mean is necessary if you want to make money, writes Susan Pletts.
How to make a profit
Many emerging farmers struggle when working out how much to charge for their produce to cover costs and make some money too. Susan Plett's lends a hand.
How to draft a business plan – part 3
An important part of your business plan is describing where and how the product produced on the farm is to be sold and the prices that will be achieved.
How to draft a business plan – Part 2
A farmer's production plan, describing the farm’s resource potential, the type of enterprise, planned production output, and the existing output is an important part of a business plan.
Cane growers: get help keeping your books up to date
There are many complicated financial topics that concern all farmers, from pay as you earn (PAYE), value added tax (VAT), provisional taxes, income tax, management accounts and financial statements.
