New Year, New Financial Objectives: Your Business Development Road Map

Financial goal-setting is the foundation of any successful business strategy, not just a planning exercise. Setting financial objectives that can revolutionise your company is ideal as we begin a new year. Financial objectives serve as a kind of road map that leads you to achievement and success.

Financial data is observable, quantifiable, measurable and indicative of the state of your company. Above all, Financial data is crucial. Let's explore the importance of these objectives and how you can achieve them and most importantly gain financial clarity.

1. Why Numbers Are Important for Your Goals

Consider a soccer match in which there is no scoreboard. You could still play, of course, but you wouldn't be able to tell who was winning or losing. Financial objectives serve as your company's scorecard. They provide you with a clear indicator of success, help you stay focused, and display your progress.
Consider Apple. They established specific revenue targets for its services division in 2023, hoping to make more than $100 billion a year. "We want more revenue," was not all they said. They assigned it a number, one they could monitor and strive for.
Your financial objectives become tangible when you give them numerical values. Numbers provide your organisation focus and clarity, whether your goal is to reduce operating expenses by 10% or exceed $1 million in revenue annually. Financial figures should therefore be a part of your objectives. They are observable and quantifiable, which aids in progress monitoring and decision-making. Your company's financial performance is more than simply a figure; it's its lifeblood.

2. Establish a Variety of Financial Objectives

Don't settle for just one objective. Your financial goals should be as complex as your business. Avoid taking on too much at once. Instead of focusing on just one financial goal, aim for a mix.

Here are some important objectives to think about:

Revenue Objective: This year, how much do you hope to earn? Growth in revenue powers your goal and keeps the lights on.
For instance, a neighbourhood café might decide to provide catering in order to boost yearly sales from $200,000 to $300,000.

Profit Objective: Profit is what you take home, even when revenue is fantastic. Decide how much you want to keep after paying your bills.
For instance, a software business would want to make $1 million and turn a $200,000 profit.

Valuation Goal: If you want to draw in investors, this is crucial. How much is your company worth? Try to increase that figure.
Example: By enhancing its brand and expanding markets, a small e-commerce company might target increasing its valuation from $2 million to $4 million.

Profit Margin Objective: What proportion of sales is turned into profit? A leaner, more effective operation is frequently the result of aiming for larger margins.
Example: By renegotiating supplier contracts, a manufacturing company could try to increase its profit margin from 15% to 20%.

Return on Assets (ROA) Objective: How well are you making use of your resources to turn a profit? This aids in gauging operational effectiveness.
Example: A real estate firm might aim to increase its ROA from 8% to 10% by optimising rental income.
Setting several objectives helps you create a well-rounded financial foundation rather than just a business.

3. Keep Your Goals in Sight—Literally

Out of sight, out of mind. That’s why your financial goals should be visible every single day. Use dashboards to track key metrics and put them front and centre. Tools like QuickBooks, Xero, or Klipfolio make it easy to visualise your numbers. For instance, a digital marketing agency might display its monthly revenue, profit margin, and client acquisition costs on a dashboard that the whole team can see. When everyone knows the numbers, it keeps the entire team aligned and motivated. Think of your financial goals as your North Star. Check them daily on your dashboards to keep them top of mind. This habit helps you stay focused and motivated, ensuring you're always moving in the right direction.

4. Trace the Activities That Impact Your Goals

Financial goals don’t move up or down on their own. They’re influenced by specific activities and decisions. Your job is to identify those levers and learn how to pull them effectively. If your revenue is dropping, is it because your leads are drying up? Focus on marketing. If your profit margin is shrinking, are costs creeping up? Audit your expenses. If your ROA is falling, are assets sitting idle? Find ways to make them productive. For example, when Netflix noticed that subscriber growth was slowing, they doubled down on creating original content like Stranger Things. That activity directly impacted their revenue and valuation goals.

Understanding these cause-and-effect relationships makes you proactive instead of reactive. Every business activity impacts your financial goals. It's like a game of chess—each move matters. Trace these activities to see what's pushing your numbers up or down. By understanding your levers, you can make smarter decisions to boost your performance.

5. Think Scaling, Think Multiplying

Scaling your business isn’t about doing more of the same; it’s about multiplying your current numbers. If you’ve hit $500,000 in revenue, think about how to scale to $1 million. If your profit margin is 15%, think about how to reach 20%. INTENT can help you set realistic yet ambitious financial targets and create strategies to achieve them. Scaling doesn’t have to feel overwhelming.

It’s about breaking the big goals into small, actionable steps.

For example:

• Automate repetitive tasks to reduce costs.

• Focus on upselling to existing customers.

• Invest in high-impact marketing campaigns.

INTENT has guided businesses like yours to take those steps. With the right strategy, you’ll be multiplying your numbers before you know it. INTENT can be your guide, helping you set realistic and achievable financial targets, helping you achieve your goals faster. Real-Life Example: Look at Amazon. They started with a simple goal: sell books online. By setting clear financial goals and scaling their operations, they became a global giant.

Your Financial Success Starts Today
This year, make your financial goals the heroes of your business story. They’ll guide your decisions, fuel your growth, and keep you on track. And remember, INTENT is here to be your guide—helping you turn those numbers into reality. So, what are your financial goals for this year? Whether it’s hitting a revenue milestone, boosting profitability, or scaling to new heights, let’s make 2025 the year your business thrives.

Ready to get started? Let INTENT help you achieve the financial success you’re aiming for.