Cash flow or what is commonly referred to as Working Capital is the heart of any business. Along with debt management, strong cash flow provides a business with opportunities to invest in growth. Getting to, and maintaining a position of excess cash flow helps a business operate in a strategic, proactive way, rather than a reactive, defensive way.
New or smaller businesses in particular can run the risk of losing employees, suppliers and facing interest and penalties as a result of poor cash management, so staying current on cash is critical to good business management.
According to a recent survey by research firm East & Partners for lender Scottish Pacific, nearly 80 per cent of owners of small and medium enterprises said cash flow issues caused them the most sleepless nights.[1]
So what might you do to improve your cash flow and sleep better at night? Here are five tips.
1. Build a cash reserve
Cash flow is the lifeblood of any business. To ensure that it makes, not breaks, your business, it’s important to build a robust cash reserve. This may help you meet your financial obligations in difficult times and allow you to take on opportunities to grow your business.
2. Separate business and personal money
By keeping business and personal expenses separate, you may better understand your business’s cash position. It may also ensure that you don’t use money meant for your business on personal expenses; for example, a holiday or your mortgage.
3. Get paid on time
If your business hasn’t been actively pursuing unpaid invoices, you may want to make it a practice – and have a strategy – to regularly chase up payment. Finding ways to encourage prompt payment, such as offering a discount to early payers, may help.
4. Control business costs
Controlling costs might help you to maintain a healthy cash flow. Experts suggest taking stock of your business expenses regularly to identify where you can cut costs without sacrificing growth. This may include reviewing your suppliers and negotiating better rates with them.
5. Protect your business
By taking out business expenses insurance and key person insurance, you may help ensure your business can meet its running costs if you or a key employee is too ill to work. Both insurance plans provide a monthly benefit if you or a key person in your business become incapacitated.
Work with a professional
Your professional financial adviser could tailor your insurance plans to your business’s cash flow protection needs, safeguarding what you’ve worked so hard to build. Further, they can help you explore additional ways to make the most of every area of your finances. If you would like to know more, feel that you or anyone you know requires advice, or would simply like a review of your financial situation, please visit our contact page call our office today to arrange an appointment on (07) 5574 0667.
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[1] Scottish Pacific and East & Partners, October 2018, ‘SMEs flag higher revenue growth, but prospects could be dampened by declining property market and cash flow issues,’ accessible at: https://www.scottishpacific.com/media-releases/smes-flag-higher-revenue-growth-but-prospects-could-be-dampened-by-declining-property-market-and-cash-flow-issues
