Starting your own F&B or retail business in the Philippines is exciting—but managing your finances effectively is what keeps it running.

As a new business owner, it’s easy to get caught up in daily operations and forget about budgeting. But without a clear financial plan, you risk overspending, cash flow issues, or running out of funds too soon.

Here are Some Practical Budgeting Strategies to Help you Stay on Top of Your Business Expenses

1. Set A Realistic Monthly Budget

The first step to managing your finances is knowing how much you can actually spend.

Break down your estimated monthly costs, including:

• Inventory and supplies
• Staff wages
• Rent and utilities
• Marketing
• Tech or software subscriptions (like your POS system)

💡 With Orderna’s real-time sales reports, you can track your actual income and compare it to your budget—helping you adjust your spending as needed.

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2. Separate Business and Personal Finances

Many new entrepreneurs mix business and personal expenses—this makes it hard to track profitability and prepare for tax season.

Open a separate bank account for your business, and use it exclusively for:

• Inventory purchases
• Supplier payments
• Employee salaries
• Sales deposits

💡 Orderna gives you clean, exportable reports so you can easily track where your money is going and keep financial records organized.

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3. Identify Fixed vs. Variable Costs

Not all expenses are created equal. Understanding the difference between fixed and variable costs will help you plan better.

• Fixed costs: Rent, POS subscriptions, internet
• Variable costs: Ingredients, packaging, marketing campaigns

💡 Use Orderna to analyze your cost of goods sold (COGS) and track how sales fluctuate with marketing spend or seasonal trends.

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4. Monitor Cash Flow Regularly

Your business might be profitable on paper, but poor cash flow management can still lead to problems. Make it a habit to check your inflows and outflows weekly.

Ask yourself:

• Are you earning enough daily to cover your upcoming bills?
• Are expenses increasing faster than sales?

💡 With Orderna’s daily sales tracking, you’ll get a clearer view of your cash flow and spot any red flags before they turn into bigger issues.

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5. Use Data To Plan Smarter

Guesswork has no place in budgeting. Leverage your POS data to make informed decisions about inventory, staffing, and promotions.

For example:

• Which items generate the most profit?
• Which products aren’t moving?
• When do you need more staff on shift?

💡 Orderna provides detailed insights on all of the above—so you can budget based on actual performance, not just projections.

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6. Prepare For Unexpected Costs

No matter how careful you are, unexpected expenses will happen—equipment repairs, bulk supply shortages, or emergency promotions.

Set aside a small portion of your monthly income as an emergency buffer to cover these costs.

💡 With Orderna, you can review seasonal trends and build a buffer based on lower-performing months, ensuring you're always prepared.

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Final Thoughts

Effective budgeting isabout more than cutting costs—it’s about understanding your business, making informed decisions, and setting yourself up for sustainable growth.

With Orderna’s all-in-one POS solution, you’ll have the tools to monitor your performance, track expenses, and make confident budgeting choices right from your dashboard.

Just starting your business? Start strong with Orderna—your partner in smarter, data-driven financial management.