Business Management Session 1 Farm Business Performance Business

Business Management Session 1 Farm Business Performance

Business section – 4 weeks � Night 1 � Night 2 � Night 3 � Night 4 ◦ Farm Business Performance Management ◦ Record-keeping ◦ Costs and Receipts ◦ Management accounts ◦ Profit and Cashflow ◦ Benchmarking ◦ Banking and Finance

Night 1 – Agenda �Introduction �What is Farm Business Management? �Business Goals and Objectives �Record Keeping �VAT – Rules, Rates, Records �Accounts – Cash Flow, Profit and Loss, Balance Sheet �Tax Returns and Payments

Business Management Group Exercise � What is farm business management? � What has to be managed?

Farm Business Management What is it? The control of farm resources (inputs) to reach a goal (outputs) Resources include: Land, Labour, Capital (machinery, buildings, livestock, feed, medicines etc. ) Decision making

Farming - a Complex Business � Genetics � Fertility � Carcase Price � Concentrate Price � Weather � Regulations Farmer = Manager

Farm Management – what is it? Typical Organisational Chart Large businesses Farmer? M. D. Worker Mechanic Management Builder Plumber Vet Stockman Manager Workers Book keeper

Goals What do you want out of the business? A decent standard of living Education for children A healthy business to pass on to next generation Top-class herd, flock, crop Provision for retirement Enough free time to enjoy life

Goals �Goals are broad statements that show where you want to be after some period of time. �Objectives are the specific steps that must be taken in order to reach goals.

Goals Group Exercise � Short term – goals that you would like to accomplish within the next year � Intermediate term – goals to accomplish within one to 5 years � Long term – goals that require more than 10 years to accomplish What are your goals?

The Importance of Planning “If you don’t know where you are going, any road will take you there” - George Harrison 11

Tools for Management Farm Records �Why keep records? �What records do I need to keep? �What records are legally required? �How long must they be kept?

Farm Records, why keep them? � It’s the Law � For VAT and Tax forms (HMRC) � To � For measuring performance making decisions; ◦ Details for management decisions: feeding, breeding, culling, selection, purchases, expansion, etc. 13

Farm Records - Physical There is a crossover between the Legal requirements, FQAS, NAP, Cross Compliance and other schemes. � Herd - Records - Law Births, Deaths, Movements, Imports / Exports � Fertiliser � Livestock used – Law, NAP Regulations feed supplies – Law, FSA, FQAS � Veterinary � Chemical Medicine records - Law / Pesticide records - Law

Farm Records - Financial Documents used to complete a tax return, Bank statements and cash transactions Loan agreements Credit card receipts Sales and purchase invoices Investments Private expenses taken from account – Personal Drawings VAT accounts, import or export documents

Farm Records - Other Personnel File � Wages & National Insurance contributions etc. � Retention Period for Financial Records – 6 years after the current year � Contract & employee records � Retention Period – 7 years after employment ends Health & Safety � Risk Assessment reports, Accident Books � Retention Period – 12 years Insurance Employers liability insurance certificates � Retention Period – 40 years

Performance Records Group Exercise What information needs to be recorded before you can assess the performance of your own farm?

Performance records/stock records Information to record: • • • Meal purchased/fed Service dates/ Calving dates Liveweights Carcase weights Medicine purchase/usage Field and crop records Used for Benchmarking

Performance indicators � Calves/cow/year � Fertility/calving interval � Lambs sold/ewe Kg liveweight sold/ha Average slaughter weights / carcase grades Daily liveweight gains (DLWG) Average meal fed/animal sold or per cow/ewe Stocking rate cows/ewes per ha � Etc…… � � � All this information will help to create benchmarking reports for the enterprise

What is VAT? � VAT is a tax added to the value of certain goods (fertiliser) and services (auction fees). � When certain goods and services are sold, VAT is collected by those selling. This money is then sent to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) � www. hmrc. gov. uk/vat/ 20

VAT return � Must submit online � You usually submit a VAT Return to HMRC every 3 months. � The VAT Return records things for the accounting period like: ◦ ◦ your total sales and purchases the amount of VAT you owe the amount of VAT you can reclaim what your VAT refund from HMRC is � You must submit a VAT Return even if you have no VAT to pay or reclaim. 21

VAT Rates Goods and services can be classified into five VAT groups: 1. Standard rate - currently 20% 2. Reduced rate - currently 5% 3. Zero rate - this is not the same as exempt or outside the scope of VAT (0%) 4. Exempt – no VAT but within the VAT system 5. Outside the scope of VAT

Vat Categories Summarised 20 23

Financial Accounts � Financial Statements ◦ Profit & Loss Account ◦ Balance Sheet � Almost all farmers are either Sole Traders or in a Partnership and therefore are not required by law to keep the above accounts, but it is normal practice � Your accountant will advise � Adequate records are needed for completion of Self Assessment tax return and VAT returns

Profit and Loss Account � The Profit and Loss Account summarises the financial transactions during the accounting period (a year). �A measure of how well the business is performing � Used to calculate the profit generated and the tax due

Profit and Loss Account TOTAL INCOME Sales + Subsidies (including SFP) + Sundry income - Opening valuation (livestock, crops, fodder, feedstuffs and goods in store) COST OF + SALES Purchases – Closing valuation = GROSS PROFIT - OVERHEADS OR FIXED COSTS = NET PROFIT

Balance Sheet � Shows the financial position of the farm business. � Only valid on the day it is completed. � Shows what the farmer owns and what he owes. The balance sheet lists: � The ASSETS of the business – fixed and current. � The LIABILITIES of the business – current and long-term. � How the business is FINANCED – its capital.

Balance Sheet Value of Assets Value of Liabilities = NET WORTH

Balance Sheet example LIABILITIES ASSETS Long/medium term liabilities Mortgage Hire purchase Fixed assets £ 55, 000 60 ha land @ £ 10, 000 £ 8, 000 Machinery equipment and Breeding livestock Current liabilities Overdraft Merchant creditors £ 600, 000 £ 40, 000 £ 30, 000 Current assets £ 15, 000 Store cattle £ 4, 000 Feed in store NET WORTH £ 610, 500 TOTAL LIABILITIES £ 692, 500 TOTAL ASSETS £ 20, 000 £ 2, 500 £ 692, 500

Income Tax � Tax must be paid on earnings and other incomes � You must file a tax return by 31 st January each year � Your accountant can file the return for you can do it yourself � You must pay tax on profits � HMRC will not wait for payment!

Income Tax � The current official HMRC tax year is from 6 th April 2014 to 5 th April 2015, although businesses can have different tax years. � Tax rates: ◦ Everyone can earn £ 10, 000 per year (Personal Allowance) before tax is applied ◦ Pay 20% on remaining income up to a total of £ 41, 865 ◦ Higher rate of 40% from £ 41, 866 to £ 150, 000 ◦ Additional rate 45% Over £ 150, 000 � If the business is a Partnership, each partner has a Personal Allowance

Summary �Managing success. your business is crucial to �Good financial and physical records are needed to manage and plan properly. �Failing to plan is planning to fail!