Planning a law firm budget is an essential part of running your own business. After all, a law firm is still a business, even if you got into it to have more control over practicing law. 

No matter where you are in your law firm’s growth or what practice you’re in, knowing how much money is going out and coming in helps you understand where your business stands and prepare for what’s coming around the corner.

Why a Law Firm Budget Is Important

Budgets are living documents that evolve as your legal practice evolves. Every business has a vision statement. Without an adequately crafted budget, ascertaining your vision will be difficult. Budgeting is a medium that enables you to reach a thriving financial position.

The Impact of Budgeting on Decision-Making and Profitability

The American Bar Association (ABA) defines a budget as “an educated guess based on prior data and other information.” Your ability to analyze collected financial data enables you to appropriate your resources strategically and efficiently. 

This increases your law firm’s decision-making capacity and spending management. You know where to allocate your funds to ensure profitability, and you can distinguish spending patterns and the best way to market your firm.

Benefits of Having a Budget for Financial Planning and Control

There are many benefits to creating a budget. Here are a few you can consider.

• Budgets provide insight into foreseeable financial pitfalls and aid in putting out financial fires before they begin.

• Having a budget stabilizes your firm’s financial communication and strengthens your ability to get everyone within your organization moving in the same direction.

• A budget sets the expectation for evaluating the performance of your legal practice.

• Budgets save time and prevent unnecessary expenditures.

What to Include in a Law firm Budget

Each industry in business is different, and what is required to bring success is equally unique. Asking the right questions during this process phase is essential to identify the key drivers in your legal practice management. Each category below carries its weight of importance within the budgeting process.  

Revenue Projections and Sources of Income

Any trends in cash flow will provide insight and focus for future forecasts. Keeping track of client payments, income from webinars, legal blogging, events, and even grants is vital to understanding areas of profitability.

Operating Expenses, Including Fixed and Variable Costs

Understand and know what your overhead costs are. Rent, utilities, malpractice insurance, and licensing renewal fees are all fixed expenses. Labor and supplies are examples of variable costs. The need for these variable costs increases and decreases based on the firm’s productivity.

Staffing and Compensation Expenses

No matter the size of your firm, an increase in staffing usually shows an increase in profitability. The opposite is also true, since you’ll have more expenses for a bigger staff. It is essential to consider staffing in proportion to your ability to pay salaries and benefits. If you offer bonuses, paid parking, or any other perks, you must include them in this category.

Marketing and Business Development Expenses

Consider the amount you spend advertising on social media, SEO, flyers, television commercials, and other mediums. Business development expenses are not limited to marketing. Expenses for researching trends in the legal industry, competitive offerings, and continuing legal education (CLE) are necessary to maximize profit.

Technology and Infrastructure Costs

Your budget should include expenses for equipment, such as legal software, computer hardware, and communication systems. Infrastructure costs include furniture, televisions, art pieces on the walls, and even flowers on the table in your reception area.

Contingency Funds and Reserves

Every legal practice should have money set aside in case of an unexpected situation. It is wise to keep your reserve filled with an amount equivalent to at least six months of business expenses.

How Do I Create a Budget for My Law Firm?

You can use many methods to create a budget for legal management. Here are a few general pointers to remember as you determine what budgeting method to implore.

• Assess historical financial data and trends. This helps you to uncover financial patterns that work for or against your firm.

• Set financial goals and targets. Specifying the direction you want your legal practice to go in is essential. Set a deadline. Create milestones for each goal you set. Be precise and realistic during the process.

• Allocate resources and estimate expenses. After you have identified what you need to include, prioritize funding. Use the historical data analysis to identify the sectors of most importance and assign resources to those sectors.

• Monitor and adjust the budget as needed. Keep track of your costs and expenses regularly. Things do not always go as expected, and that is okay. Be fluid. Adjust your budget when necessary.

• Involve key stakeholders in the budgeting process. Encourage feedback from your team. Each member of the legal practice experiences the organization differently. Harness their insight during your financial planning.

5 Tips to Track Your Law Firm Budget

How well you keep track of your progress while budgeting determines whether you will be profitable. Here are some steps to remain organized during the budgeting process.

1.    Regularly review and reconcile financial statements. Keep financial statements readily accessible for review.

2.    Use accounting software to track income and expenses. This saves time and streamlines the process.

3.    Implement expense tracking systems and policies. Utilizing policies sets the budgeting expectations for all the stakeholders, while expense tracking creates accountability.

4.    Conduct periodic budget performance analysis. Generate reports to capture and analyze historical data. Conduct reports monthly, quarterly, or semi-annually.

5.    Seek professional assistance or financial advisory services if needed. If you feel overwhelmed, it is okay. Find a professional that can help guide you in the areas you may feel you need help.

Best Tools to Track Your Law Firm Budget

You can keep track of your budget through a manual means, but that method is time-consuming. Time is money! Consider using software that will simplify the process and save you time. It is best to have:

• Accounting software;

• Budgeting and forecasting software;

• Expense tracking and management tools;

• Financial reporting and analytic platforms; and

• Cloud-based collaboration and document management systems.

Use one legal management platform that integrates all of these tools when possible. Create freedom to pursue what you value most.

Get Your Law Firm Finances in Order

Creating a law firm budget for your firm is important for growth planning and preparing for unexpected setbacks.