Financial Planning and Analysis Services to Plan Your Next Move
Your accounts tell you what already happened. Financial planning and analysis (FP&A) helps you decide what to do next, with numbers behind every choice.
What FP&A means for an owner
FP&A is the practice of planning and testing decisions with numbers. It answers questions like: Can we afford to hire two salespeople? What if our biggest customer leaves? How much cash will we have in six months? Large companies have whole FP&A departments. Growing companies can get the same thinking through FP&A services or consulting.
What FP&A services deliver
- An annual budget broken down by department
- Rolling forecasts updated monthly as actual results come in
- Scenario models to compare options before you commit
- Variance analysis explaining why results differ from plan
- Dashboards with the key numbers on one page
DNA Growth's FP&A services cover all of these, with deeper pages on financial modeling and financial forecasting.
FP&A consulting versus ongoing FP&A
Some owners need a one-off project: a budget for next year, a model for a fundraise. Others want a partner who updates the forecast every month and flags issues early. Consulting suits a single decision; ongoing FP&A suits a business that is changing quickly. Both work best when the monthly financial reporting is reliable, because forecasts depend on accurate actuals.
Linking plans to what drives your business
Useful forecasts are built on drivers you recognize, such as customer numbers, pricing, hiring and churn, not just last year plus ten percent. That way you can change one assumption and see the effect on profit and cash. For cash-specific planning, see DNA Growth's cash flow management service. When you need a senior leader to own these decisions, consider virtual CFO services. Accounting firms offering FP&A to clients should see white-label FP&A.
A simple first FP&A project
If you have never had formal financial planning, start with a twelve-month budget and cash forecast. It forces the key questions: expected sales, planned hires, major purchases and when cash comes in. Then compare actual results each month and update the forecast. After a quarter you will know far more about your business than any annual review can tell you, and you will have the foundation for scenario planning and fundraising.
Same service, different angle
This page is written for business owners. Read the other versions if they fit you better:
Frequently asked questions
What is financial planning and analysis?
FP&A is budgeting, forecasting and analysis that helps a business plan ahead and understand performance against its goals.
Is FP&A only for large companies?
No. Growing companies use FP&A services to plan hiring, fundraising and cash without employing a full finance team.
How often should forecasts be updated?
Monthly is common for growing businesses, using the latest closed actuals.