Plotting Success with an Annual Planning Presentation

Creating a thorough annual plan is imperative, as is setting the timeline for doing so.

Why Does My Company Need an Annual Plan?

Your annual financial presentation is your chance to craft your company's story. It's not just about throwing numbers at people; it's about painting a picture of where your company is headed and how you plan to get there. By creating a compelling narrative, you ensure everyone is on the same page and moving in the right direction. Your company benefits from presenting a cohesive annual planning presentation in several ways.

You Control the Narrative

An annual planning presentation is a strategic tool, designed to help you control the narrative and ensure that stakeholders are not only informed but also aligned with your vision, fostering a uniform understanding of the company's goals and strategies.

You Maximize Value

A well-structured presentation of around five slides maximizes value from your board interactions by fostering targeted discussions that utilize the board members’ expertise and focus on the elements that require their attention and input. This approach taps into the wealth of knowledge and experience of your board and ensures their contributions shape the company's trajectory.

When Should My Company Create our Annual Plan?

Unveiling the annual financial plans to external stakeholders should happen before an official board meeting—a board meeting should never be where board members first see the plan.

Instead, prior, proactive engagement through one-on-one sessions with board members will allow for fruitful discussions and ensure their feedback is incorporated into the presentation.

This systematic approach ensures timely preparation, fosters a sense of inclusivity and transparency, and lays the groundwork for a productive board meeting where decisions are informed and consensus is forged. Let's take a look at the timeline:

Q4

Kick off the budgeting process: plan and allocate financial resources that align with the company’s objectives.

December

Hold one-on-one meetings with board members prior to the board meeting to get their feedback and insights. Use that feedback to make any edits or additional refinements. Then, present your finalized plan during the board meeting.

January

Ensure the finalized budget accurately reflects points discussed during the board meeting. 

What Should My Company Include in Our Annual Planning Presentation?

A compelling annual financial presentation is about storytelling, of course, as well as strategy and foresight. Here are the key components that you should include in the presentation deck:

1. Executive Summary

The executive summary clearly and confidently highlights the coming year's strategic vision and operational framework. This should essentially outline the major takeaway for each of the slides in the presentation. It’s a compass that guides stakeholders through the business plan, establishing a roadmap for the following detailed discussions. 

2. Industry Metrics

Before diving directly into your projections, you’ll want to showcase the industry standards. This provides the context for a grounded conversation and allows external parties to interpret the slides that follow. 

Carefully selected benchmarks should be diligently interpreted to ensure they are meaningful and appropriately aligned with your business’ stage and goals.

3. Growth Forecast

Now that you have showcased the industry standards, the next step is to present your financial plan against the benchmarks. Whatever metric or benchmark you selected, ensure that you have a strong narrative that explains why you think you can exceed industry standards, or why you might not meet them. 

4. Go-to-Market Strategy

The next step is to bolster confidence further by detailing your Go-to-Market strategy. This slide outlines the tactical approaches you intend to employ in the growth forecast you put forth on the previous slide. 

5. Cash Impact

Showcasing the cash impact, and revealing the financial approach for growth and associated costs, ties the presentation together. 

Final Thoughts

Crafting an annual financial presentation isn't just a task to check off the list; it's a strategic endeavor that shapes perceptions and aligns stakeholders. Leaders can communicate the company's vision, strategies, and financial plans to external stakeholders by controlling the narrative, adhering to a structured timeline, and incorporating key components. In doing so, they foster trust, inspire confidence, and pave the way for a prosperous future. 

If you have questions about creating an annual financial planning presentation, please reach out.