We need to have done some exploration work on all of the major projects for inclusion in our prospectus, but of our $4m we need at least $1m in the bank to pay for all the listing expenses and to ensure we have a reasonable amount of cash in case anything goes wrong. This means that $3m can be spent on all activities in the lead up to the listing. We therefore need a cash budget to ensure we spend appropriately what we have.
Revenue
Our only source of revenue will be the interest on the money in the bank, so please make sure this is well invested - and safely. We will, of course, need this included in the budget.
Costs
Maintaining our Perth office, including paying the accounts clerk, costs about $15,000 per month. Directors' fees total $30,000 per year. Directors normally fly business class to and from Mali and Niger so some flights to and from should be included, as should reasonable hotel, vehicle and meal costs while there. We believe that at least 10 visits, each of at least a week, will be needed between all the directors to adequately oversee operations there.
Conditions in Wiluna will be much better, so our geologist will need to visit three times and one other director only once, also for a week each, over the period. Please include a reasonable estimate of these costs in the budget, and let us know which airline we should be using for each of these. These trips will be spaced out evenly over the next 24 months. The remainder of the money will form our exploration budget, which you do not need to divide up by purpose (that is for our geologist to do), but will start to be spent from October onwards. Keep in mind that working in the Sahara might be seasonal, so the costs are likely to be much lower when we cannot work.