How can I estimate the self-financing capacity (SFC) of my project?

You will find a tool to estimate the self-financing capacity tailored to your project in our list of 200+ financial plans

All our financial plans do include a tool to estimate the self-financing capacity.

How can you estimate your self-financing capacity without any hassle?

In this article, we provide a free tool to do so. If you're looking for something more tailored to your specific project, feel free to browse our list of financial plans, customized for over 200 different project types here.

We'll also address the following questions:


How can you calculate your initial self-financing capacity?
What percentage of your revenue should be reinvested to ensure sustainable growth?
What financial tools can simplify the estimation of your self-financing capacity?
What is the ideal liquidity ratio for a startup?
How can you assess the impact of fixed costs on your self-financing capacity?
What amount of working capital is necessary for a startup?
How can cash flow forecasts improve your self-financing capacity?

The document available for download is a sample financial forecast. Inside, you'll find the calculations, formulas, and data needed to get an exact estimate of the self-financing capacity as well as a full financial analysis.

This document, offered free of charge, is tailored specifically to the realities of running a restaurant. If you need a tool for your own project, feel free to browse through our list of financial forecasts.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact us.

Here Are the Steps to Estimate Your Self-Financing Capacity

To skip all these steps, you can simply download a financial forecast tailored to your industry.

  • 1. Estimate Your Initial Capital:

    Calculate the total amount of money you have available to invest in your business. This includes your savings, personal investments, and any contributions from friends or family.

  • 2. Project Your Monthly Expenses:

    Identify all the recurring costs you will incur each month. This typically includes rent, utilities, salaries, marketing, and miscellaneous costs. Sum these expenses to get your total monthly expenditure.

  • 3. Estimate Your Expected Revenue:

    Determine how many units of your product or service you plan to sell each month and at what price. Multiply the number of units by the price per unit to calculate your monthly revenue.

  • 4. Calculate Your Net Monthly Income:

    Subtract your total monthly expenses from your expected monthly revenue. This will give you your net monthly income.

  • 5. Determine Your Self-Financing Capacity:

    Divide your initial capital by your net monthly income. This will give you the number of months you can self-finance your business without needing additional funding.

An Illustrated Example You Can Adapt

This example is simplified. For a more accurate estimate without manual calculations, use one of our financial forecasts tailored to 200 business projects.

To help you better understand, let's use a made-up example of a startup planning to launch a new line of eco-friendly kitchenware.

First, estimate your initial capital by summing up your savings, personal investments, and any contributions from friends or family. Let's say you have $20,000 in savings, $10,000 from personal investments, and $5,000 from family, totaling $35,000.

Next, project your monthly expenses, including rent ($1,500), utilities ($200), salaries for two employees ($4,000), marketing ($1,000), and miscellaneous costs ($300), which sum up to $7,000 per month.

Now, calculate your expected revenue by estimating the number of units you plan to sell and the price per unit. If you plan to sell 500 units per month at $30 each, your monthly revenue would be $15,000.

Subtract your monthly expenses from your monthly revenue to find your net monthly income: $15,000 - $7,000 = $8,000.

To determine your self-financing capacity, divide your initial capital by your net monthly income: $35,000 / $8,000 ≈ 4.375 months. This means you can self-finance your startup for approximately 4.4 months without additional funding.

Our financial forecasts are comprehensive and will help you secure financing from the bank or investors.

Common Questions You May Have

Reading these articles might also interest you:
- How to calculate the contribution margin for my products?
- How to analyze the financial health of a new business?
- How to determine my business’s financial break-even point?

How do you calculate your Debt-to-Income (DTI) ratio?

To calculate your Debt-to-Income (DTI) ratio, divide your total monthly debt payments by your gross monthly income.

A DTI ratio of less than 36% is generally considered favorable for securing loans.

This ratio helps lenders assess your ability to manage monthly payments and repay debts.

What is the significance of your credit score in estimating self-financing capacity?

Your credit score is a critical factor in determining your eligibility for loans and the interest rates you will be offered.

A higher credit score, typically above 700, can significantly improve your chances of securing favorable loan terms.

Maintaining a good credit score involves timely payments, low credit utilization, and a long credit history.

How can you estimate your monthly cash flow?

To estimate your monthly cash flow, subtract your total monthly expenses from your total monthly income.

A positive cash flow indicates that you have surplus funds available for savings or investments.

Monitoring your cash flow helps in making informed financial decisions and planning for future expenses.

What role does your savings rate play in self-financing capacity?

Your savings rate, calculated as the percentage of income saved each month, directly impacts your ability to self-finance projects.

A higher savings rate, ideally above 20%, indicates a strong capacity to accumulate funds for future investments.

Consistently saving a portion of your income can build a substantial financial cushion over time.

How do you determine your net worth?

To determine your net worth, subtract your total liabilities from your total assets.

A positive net worth indicates financial health and the ability to leverage assets for self-financing.

Regularly tracking your net worth helps in assessing financial progress and setting realistic financial goals.

What is the importance of an emergency fund in self-financing?

An emergency fund acts as a financial safety net, covering unexpected expenses without derailing your financial plans.

Experts recommend having an emergency fund that covers 3 to 6 months of living expenses.

This fund ensures that you can handle emergencies without resorting to high-interest debt.

How can you use financial ratios to assess your self-financing capacity?

Financial ratios like the Current Ratio and Quick Ratio help in evaluating your liquidity and short-term financial health.

A Current Ratio above 1.5 indicates that you have sufficient assets to cover your short-term liabilities.

These ratios provide insights into your ability to meet financial obligations and invest in new opportunities.

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