Figured: Our #1 Planning and Progress Tracking Tool
Planning, budgeting, and tracking progress are essential for any business — but for farmers, those tasks can feel like a moving target. Between unpredictable weather, shifting markets, and changing government policies, no two seasons look the same.
That’s why forecasting in agriculture isn’t a one-and-done annual exercise. It has to evolve throughout the year as new information rolls in.
We use Figured as our go-to tool for connecting the financial side of the operation to what’s actually happening in the field. Figured helps our clients, especially those in the Elite Mastermind program, plan ahead, monitor progress, and make better financial decisions in real time.
Why We Use Figured
Figured integrates directly with cloud-based accounting platforms like QuickBooks Online, Xero, and MYOB. That means you’re not rebuilding your data from scratch, your actual numbers automatically flow into Figured to give you a live snapshot of your business performance.
Whether you’re looking at margins, production costs, or cash flow, Figured helps you forecast dynamically throughout the year rather than relying on static, outdated budgets.
It bridges the gap between your day-to-day operations and long-term goals.
The Planning Grid: Where It All Starts
Most clients begin their Figured journey in the Planning Grid.
This grid is built from your existing accounting setup and becomes the foundation of your financial forecast. We can base your plan on last year’s numbers, new projections, or a mix of both. And since agriculture is never static, your forecast doesn’t have to be either, you can edit it anytime as prices, yields, or costs change.
As actual transactions flow in from your accounting software each month, Figured automatically updates your reports. You’ll be able to see how your operation is tracking against your forecast and identify what’s working, or what needs to change.
Trackers and Allocations: Understanding True Profitability
The next level of Figured allows you to dive deeper into profitability by crop or livestock type.
In Figured, your crops or livestock are set up as Trackers. For example, wheat, corn, and soybeans each have their own tracker. As expenses and income come through your accounting software, they appear in Figured as Allocations that can be tied to specific trackers.
This allows us to pinpoint exactly where your money is being made or lost. If you have a seed cleaning expense that only applies to wheat, it stays in the wheat tracker and doesn’t affect your corn or soybean profitability.
For clients who want to go even deeper, we can break it down to field-level data, helping you identify which acres or pastures are producing the best return.
Reports Built for Decision-Making
Traditional bookkeeping reports are designed for taxes. Figured’s reports are designed for running a business.
These reports help you communicate clearly with lenders, investors, or partners by showing real-time performance, not just year-end results. From KPIs to balance sheets and cash flow statements, Figured gives you clean, lender-ready financials that reflect your true position.
With the new Figured Reporting Studio, launching November 4, users will have even more flexibility and customization, including:
Custom key performance indicators (KPIs) built through the Formula Studio
Combined report packages (Balance Sheet, Profit & Loss, and Cash Flow in one view)
Visual charts and graphs that highlight top expenses, revenue trends, and cash position
The ability to add notes, text boxes, or photos for context and presentation
This update makes it easier than ever to show a complete, professional picture of your operation.
Scenario Planning: Building Confidence in Big Decisions
Farming is full of decisions that carry long-term consequences, like buying equipment, expanding acres, or adding employees. Figured’s Scenario Planning tools help take the guesswork out of those choices.
You can model potential outcomes based on what-if scenarios, like adding more livestock or taking on a new lease, and instantly see how those changes could impact cash flow and profitability.
Whether you’re planning for the next season or five years out, this tool gives you confidence to make decisions with your numbers in front of you.
Figured Beyond the Farm
While Figured was built for agriculture, it’s evolving to serve all kinds of businesses through its Commercial Manager platform.
This version offers the same planning grid and new reporting studio but isn’t tied to farm-specific categories. It’s ideal for clients who run non-ag businesses alongside their farming operations, such as trucking, custom work, or retail.
It gives those businesses the same forecasting and tracking power that farmers have come to rely on through Figured.
Consolidated Reporting: Seeing the Whole Picture
For clients who manage multiple entities, like a farm and a related business, consolidated financial reporting can be a game-changer.
With Figured’s new reporting capabilities, we can combine data from multiple operations into one clean report. This helps with tax preparation, financial analysis, and lender communications.
Instead of juggling separate balance sheets, you’ll have a single, accurate snapshot of your overall financial position.
Why It Matters
We believe clarity creates confidence. Tools like Figured empower producers to see where they stand and where they’re headed, making it easier to plan, pivot, and grow.
As Figured continues to innovate, especially with its new Reporting Studio, we’re excited to see even more producers use it to manage their numbers like the true business owners they are.
If you’d like to learn more about Figured or explore how Empire Financial Services integrates it into our accounting and consulting services, reach out to our team anytime. We’d love to walk you through what it could look like for your operation.
