Explanation
The capital budgeting process consists of five steps:
1. Identify and evaluate potential opportunitiesThe process begins by exploring available opportunities. For any given initiative, a company will probably have multiple options to consider. For example, if a company is seeking to expand its warehousing facilities, it might choose between adding on to its current building or purchasing a larger space in a new location. As such, each option must be evaluated to see what makes the most financial and logistical sense. Once the most feasible opportunity is identified, a company should determine the right time to pursue it, keeping in mind factors such as business need and upfront costs.
2. Estimate operating and implementation costsThe next step involves estimating how much it will cost to bring the project to fruition. This process may require both internal and external research. If a company is looking to upgrade its computer equipment, for instance, it might ask its IT department how much it would cost to buy new memory for its existing machines while simultaneously pricing out the cost of new computers from an outside source. The company should then attempt to further narrow down the cost of implementing whichever option it chooses.
3. Estimate cash flow or benefitNow we determine how much cash flow the project in question is expected to generate. One way to arrive at this figure is to review data on similar projects that have proved successful in the past. If the project won't directly generate cash flow, such as the upgrading of computer equipment for more efficient operations, the company must do its best to assign an estimated cost savings or benefit to see if the initiative makes sense financially.
4. Assess risk
This step involves estimating the risk associated with the project, including the amount of money the company stands to lose if the project fails or can't produce its previously anticipated results. Once a degree of risk is determined, the company can evaluate it against its estimated cash flow or benefit to see if it makes sense to pursue implementation.
5. ImplementIf a company chooses to move forward with a project, it will need an implementation plan. The plan should include a means of paying for the project at hand, a method for tracking costs, and a process for recording cash flows or benefits the project generates. The implementation plan should also include a timeline with key project milestone.
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