There are two key elements to running a successful and profitable business.
- Knowing where and when your cash goes
- Knowing how to generate cash when you need it
Understanding your business cashflow ensures that you always have money available for paying business expenses as they arise. Unexpected expenses can also come when you least expect them and so it’s really important to plan for the unexpected.
Most businesses will require funding at some stage whether it is to fund the day to day running of the business or to ease cashflow.
Yet many profitable businesses have failed as a result of poorly managed cashflow as it is cashflow and not profit that pays the bills!
Read our top tips below to help you manage your business cashflow
Top Tips for Managing Cashflow
- Sit down regularly and review your actual turnover and expenditure versus what you set out in your projections at the start of the business or the year.
- Identify any potential adverse cashflow issues early - these can usually be resolved quickly and easily with some minor corrective steps.
- Manage stock levels closely – large amounts of stock /raw materials can be very costly while they sit on the shelves of your business.
- Find the rhythm between sales and payment which suits your business (known as its “Operating Cycle”) and keep to it. Selling your stock to turn a profit is no good if you are not able to keep up with the credit terms which you are offering your customers.
- Ensure you have a system in place where invoices are sent out immediately after work is completed – while many small businesses are so busy doing other things, this important task often gets overlooked.
- Might sound obvious but make it easy for your customers to make payments to you preferably transferring the money directly to your business bank account.
- Familiarise yourself with your clients payment terms and don’t ignore irregularities or missed payments. Make contact with overdue accounts quickly – a non-paying customer can very quickly become a bad debt.
- Monitor your Business Bank account for receipts and payments on a regular basis. It can often be a good idea to open a separate Bank Account for your fixed outgoings (e.g. VAT, Rent, Rates, Loan repayments etc.) so you know exactly how much needs to be put aside to cover these payments.
- It is important to remember that VAT collected is not part of sales and has to be paid to the Revenue every two months.
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Also good to know
- Consider all of your options when it comes to financing for plant, machinery and equipment for your business. Sometimes leasing or hire-purchase can result in lower repayments and you don’t have to worry about depreciation of the asset in the longer term.
- If you do find yourself in difficulty with cash flow, talk to your suppliers – they often can give you some flexibility in payment terms, especially if you have built up a good track record with them.
- If you are having major difficulties in meeting your financial commitments, flag the situation early –Revenue, Banks, and finance providers will want to work with you to agree the best way forward and help you get your business back on track.
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