Funding-ready toolkit

The steps

1. 1

   Write the business plan

2. 2

   Build a 12-month cash flow forecast

3. 3

   Get tax compliance and CIPC up to date

4. 4

   Gather the documents funders ask for

5. 5

   Choose funders whose mandate fits

Templates

• Business planA complete plan structure, with what to write in each section — for yourself, a bank or a funder.
• 12-month cash flow forecastExcelMoney in, money out, month by month — the sheet every lender and funder asks for. Opens in Excel or Google Sheets.
• Monthly budgetExcelPlan income and costs for the year and compare with what actually happened.
• Start-up costsExcelEverything you must spend before the first sale — and how much cash to keep in reserve.

Checklists and calculators

• Get ready to apply for funding10 steps · What to have ready before you approach any lender, funder or investor.
• Tax registrations6 steps · Which taxes a small business registers for, and when.
• Loan repaymentsCalculator
• Cash runwayCalculator
• Break-evenCalculator

Learn more and get help

• Guides: Funding and credit
• Guides: Grants and incentives
• Find: Business plans
• Find: Business loans
• Funding: Government funding
• Ask the pros