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Why do small businesses fail?
Is it their product?
The market?
Or the low sales?
Well, 79% of businesses start out with too little money. This means cash flow can make all the difference between the success and struggle of a business. Just like the lifeblood of a living organism, cash flow keeps a business thriving, its heart beating, and its dreams alive.
Stats suggest that 82% – of business people have poor cash flow management skills.
In the realm of small businesses, where resources are often scarce and every penny counts, mastering the art of cash flow management is a superpower.
We’ll explore the strategies that transform entrepreneurs into financial wizards, capable of predicting, optimizing, and leveraging the ebb and flow of their financial resources.
So, whether you’re a seasoned business owner or just starting your entrepreneurial odyssey, it’s time to turn your business into a cash flow maestro.
Understanding the Importance of Cash Flow in Small Businesses
Stats suggest that among failed SMEs, 60% cited cash flow as a cause. As said by the great English television presenter and journalist Richard Whiteley,
“In business, cash is like oxygen. You can survive for a while without profits, but you can’t last a day without cash.”
More than cash flow, cash management is crucial for small businesses, where financial resources can be limited, and the margin for error is slim.
Source: Ibntech
In this section, we will define cash flow and explore its significance within the context of small businesses. We will also delve into the key components of cash flow, including income, expenses, and timing.
Defining Cash Flow
Cash flow refers to the movement of money in and out of a business over a specific period. It represents the cash a company generates from its operations, investments, and financing activities.
Let’s take the example of a startup, “Impossible Foods”. This brand specializes in making plant-based meat substitutes that aim to replicate the taste and texture of conventional meat.
How cash flow works here: They start with initial capital, then generate income through sales after subtracting operating expenses, pay off debts and loans, invest in growth and maintain a cash reserve for emergency and growth.
Source: Readytomanage
To keep your cash management intact, small businesses need to keep an eye on their liquidity. The more liquid the company is, the more flexible it is.
Importance of Cash for Small Businesses
As mentioned in the book “Profit First” by Mike Michalowicz, “Implementing a ‘profit first’ approach can transform small business cash flow by allocating a percentage of income to profit and ensuring operational expenses fit within available cash.”
Yes, that sounds like an equation but in other words, cash is the lifeblood that fuels and sustains the growth of businesses. Let’s discuss a few reasons why cash flow is important:
1. Sustainability:
In 2021, as per stats, the average small business loan amount was $52,158 in terms of interest type.
This shows that companies do need financial resources to ensure that they meet their day-to-day operational expenses, such as rent, salaries, utilities, and inventory purchases.
Even though this mindset works, there are new ways to provide financial backing for your business. For instance, new technologies like murf.ai (a technology that converts text to speech) save companies time and sustain resources.
Source: Lendingtree
2. Flexibility: Healthy cash flow provides small businesses with the flexibility to seize opportunities or weather unforeseen challenges. It empowers them to invest in growth, respond to market changes, or navigate economic downturns.
For instance, there’s a reason why brands like Eachnight pay $1500 to take naps. They have a healthy cash reserve that enables them to quickly restock in-demand products during a sales surge.
3. Credibility: As the great essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “Money often costs too much” but it’s worth an exchange.
Reliable cash flow management helps to build your credibility with lenders, suppliers, and investors. It instils confidence that the business and legal risks are well-managed and capable of fulfilling its financial obligations.
A company with consistent cash flow can pay suppliers on time, fostering trust and reliability.
4. Growth: Positive cash flow supports expansion and growth initiatives. It can fund marketing campaigns, hire additional staff, or scale up production.
Check out how Walmart’s positive cash flow in their fiscal year 2019 showed an increase of $742 million in revenue.
Source: Seekingalpha
7 Key Strategies for Effective Cash Flow Management in Small Businesses
You must have heard that well-funded crypto companies like FTX went into bankruptcy. Even those flashy Super Bowl ads couldn’t save their poor cash management choices.
Understanding where to spend money is the real deal. So now it’s time to dive into the cash flow management part.
Here are seven key strategies to help small businesses master their cash flow management:
1. Create a Cash Flow Forecast:
A cash flow forecast is a financial tool that predicts the inflow and outflow of cash in a business over a specific period. Start by creating a cash flow forecast that outlines your expected income and expenses for the coming months. This forecast serves as a roadmap for your financial decisions.
Update your forecast regularly, especially if you anticipate changes in your business processes, such as seasonal variations in sales or unexpected expenses.
Businesses like “Apple Inc.” plan for future expenses, identify potential cash shortages and make informed financial decisions to ensure they have the necessary funds to operate and grow.
Source: Fourweekmba
2. Monitor and Analyze Your Cash Flow
Regularly reviewing your financial statements, including the cash flow statement is one of the most common ways for cash management.
Identify patterns and trends in your cash flow to anticipate potential challenges or opportunities. For example, are there months when cash flow is consistently tight?
You can utilise digital tools like QuickBooks or Xero that provide real-time insights into your financial transactions, helping you track income, expenses, and trends.
Additionally, employing a cash flow forecasting tool like Float can assist in predicting future cash flows, enabling proactive decision-making.
Brands like Coca-Cola consistently assess market trends to maintain their market dominance. They monitor and analyze their cash flow to adapt and thrive in dynamic economic landscapes.
Source: Investors.coca
3. Accelerate Accounts Receivable:
It’s important to improve your invoicing and collection processes and ensure that you receive payments from customers promptly. Offer incentives for early payment, and regularly follow up on overdue invoices to expedite payments. Accelerating accounts receivable is essential for maintaining a healthy cash flow.
For example, Walmart establishes internal guidelines for acceptable payment discounts, which are not publicly disclosed. Suppliers can access the platform to review approved invoices and propose the discount terms they’re willing to accept in exchange for quicker payment. This program sees active participation from nearly 1,500 vendors.
Source: Marketwatch
4. Manage Accounts Payable:
Negotiate favourable payment terms with your suppliers, but be sure to honour your commitments. Delaying payments can harm your supplier relationships. Balance the timing of your accounts payable with your accounts receivable to avoid cash flow gaps.
Here are the ways to manage accounts payable:
1. Negotiate with suppliers for extended payment terms, ensuring a balance between fulfilling obligations and optimizing cash flow.
2. Use automated payment systems to schedule and make payments promptly, avoiding late fees.
3. Maintain strong relationships with suppliers through open communication and collaborative solutions.
For example, brands like McDonald’s efficiently manage accounts payable by working closely with their suppliers to maintain a reliable supply chain and meet payment commitments promptly. This collaborative approach has contributed to McDonald’s continued success and global presence.
Source: Financial falconet
5. Reduce Unnecessary Expenses:
To reduce unnecessary expenses, start by reviewing your cost structure and identifying areas to cut back. Renegotiate vendor contracts and explore cost-effective alternatives. For instance, consider adopting a paperless approach and promoting digital documentation to cut down on expenses related to printing supplies, maintenance, and the environmental impact of using too much paper. Another cost-saving move is transitioning from traditional marketing to programmatic advertising, which helps target a more specific customer segment and boosts conversion rates. Additionally, utilizing cloud-based collaboration tools can reduce the necessity for physical office space, resulting in lowered costs.
See how FedEx adopted a sustainability program, investing in fuel-efficient vehicles and optimizing routes, saving millions in operational costs while reducing its carbon footprint. Review your expenses to identify and eliminate unnecessary or redundant costs. Cut back on discretionary spending that doesn’t directly contribute to your business growth.
Source: FedEx newsroom
6. Build a Cash Reserve:
With a safe valuation cap, you can establish an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses or revenue gaps in your business. This cash reserve provides a financial safety net during challenging times.
You can start by setting up automated transfers from your business account to a separate savings or reserve account after each revenue influx, ensuring a consistent contribution.
Building a cash reserve is essential for small businesses. Start by consistently setting aside a percentage of profits into a dedicated savings account. This reserve serves as a financial safety net for unforeseen expenses or cash flow gaps.
7. Explore Financing Options:
Small businesses can explore various financing options to address cash flow gaps. These options may include business loans, lines of credit, or investor funding.
Exploring financing options is crucial for small businesses. This can include seeking traditional bank loans, lines of credit, or alternative options like venture capital or crowdfunding. For instance, the brand ‘Warby Parker’ secured venture capital funding to support its expansion, demonstrating how diverse financing options can fuel business growth.
Be cautious when using financing; ensure that the cost of borrowing doesn’t outweigh the benefits it provides to your cash flow.
Conclusion
Cash flow management is like a rhythm that keeps the business moving forward, the pulse that sustains growth, and the shield that guards against financial storms.
The strategies we’ve explored in this journey are not just tactics; they are the keys to unlocking the full potential of your small business.
Mastering cash flow management isn’t an option; it’s a necessity. It’s the bridge between financial stability and uncertainty, between seizing opportunities and falling behind.
Always remember that understanding and implementing these strategies is the wind in your sails, propelling your small business to new horizons.
Author’s Bio: Irov is a content marketing specialist, demand generation enthusiast, and team player who is currently working with 2xSaS. He helps B2B SaaS companies spread the word about their products through engaging content. When he is not working he likes playing video games on his PS4.
