Of course, any business that wants to grow will always have to carefully weigh up any pros and cons when making a crucial business decision, whether it’s spending their profits or seeking finance. Capital Budgeting is the perfect way to forecast how financially viable a potential new investment is. Implementing processes to evaluate an investment/ project before its commencement will ultimately improve your company's cash flows. This is why any small business owner must understand the concept of the capital budgeting process.

What Is Capital Budgeting?

Capital budgeting refers to the process of evaluating potential major projects or investments. Whether it is the construction of major equipment required in your business, a new product you are designing, or investments, capital budgeting is a crucial step before approving or rejecting any large project. On a basic level, it is a way of forecasting whether it is worth investing in something for your business. Given that every business naturally has limits to the capital it has available for projects and investment activity, capital budgeting is an important technique to decide on the projects or investments that will yield the most profit for the company.

There are three main techniques for capital budgeting. They all give you a good indication of whether the new project is financially sensible and when you could expect to start seeing the return on investment.

How does Capital Budgeting work?

You can use one or all three of the main capital budgeting methods most commonly used in an investment appraisal. Each of the techniques provides you with different risk assessments, however, used in combination, they provide the best forecast.

Net Present Value (NPV)

NPV is calculated by taking the difference between the present value of cash inflows and the present value of cash outflows over a period of time.

This identifies the net change in cash flow likely to be caused by the fixed purchase in question against current output. As long as the NPV calculated is positive, the project or investment is likely to yield an increase in cash flow and can be considered to be taken further. Of course, if the NPV is negative, the project or investment is likely to cause a decrease in overall cash inflows. This method is good for data analysis because it accounts for future value.

Internal Rate of Return (IRR)

The IRR is similar to the concept of 'return on investment (ROI)' - it is based on the idea that the more money the investment could make, the more it offsets the initial cost.

The principle for IRR is as follows: IRR > Cost of Capital = Accept Project. If the Internal Rate of Return is bigger than the initial cost of capital, the investment or project is worth considering. Conversely, if the Internal Rate of Return is smaller than the initial cost of capital, you might have to reconsider the investment or project.

Payback Period

The formula for the payback method is as follows: Payback Period = Initial Cash Investment/ Annual Cash Flow generated by the investment.

This method looks at how long it will take to pay the money back before the investment becomes profitable. On a basic level, this is a measure of the risk associated with an investment or project. It is advisable to use this method to complement the two other methods above, as it is a great tool to help you understand the period of time that the investment is at risk of not being returned to your company. Waiting for a return for a long time can cause a considerable strain on your business's cash flow. Of course, the shorter this time period, the more attractive the investment.

Why is Capital Budgeting important?

Capital budgeting can provide you with clarity on the risks and returns of a potential investment or project you or your company are considering. If you are the decision-maker in a business, considering all factors thoroughly to determine whether an initial investment is 'worth it' before making a decision is crucial. Shareholders and potential investors will look at this diligent behavior favorably. Being aware of the financial consequences of investment or other decisions ensures your business a chance in the competitive marketplace. Capital budgeting decisions have a significant impact on your business's future cash flows - hence capital budgeting is one of the most crucial steps before giving the go-ahead for capital investment.

Capital Budgeting FAQs?

• What is the capital budgeting formula?

NPV is calculated by taking the difference between the present value of cash inflows and the present value of cash outflows over a period of time. The principle for IRR is IRR > Cost of Capital = Accept Project. The formula for the Payback Period is NPV = Initial Cash Investment/ Annual Cash Flow generated by the investment.

• How do you create a capital budget in Excel?

It is possible to create a capital budget in Excel, using formulas, etc. There are several resources and guides online, showing small business owners and others how to create a capital budget using Microsoft Excel.