Home
>
Small Business
>
7 Tips To Improve Your Cash Flow

7 Tips To Improve Your Cash Flow

Cash is King?That is what everyone tells us and it is true! You cannot function successfully in any business without proper cash flow. So if this Cash Principle is so well known, then why is it that so many businesses struggle? Sometimes the obvious is not always so obvious when you are entrenched in running the day-to-day aspects of your business. Here are 7 Tips to Improve Your Cash Flow!

1. Cash and Carry. Operate a cash and carry type business versus worrying about receivables. The best business plan is one where customers pay at the time of purchase so you don't have to worry about invoicing or collection procedures. Invoicing and collections take up valuable time, so you want to come up with creative ways to incentivize payment immediately. Set the ground rules in the beginning so your clients know what you expect.

2. Receivables Collection. Collect your receivables in a prompt manner. Don't let them hang out there forever until your customers decide they want to pay you. Being a good steward of your business is "good business", so have a process in place for invoicing and collections. The longer your receivables are outstanding, the less likely you are to collect. You don't have to be mean and rough to collect promptly from your clients. A good rule of thumb is that you should always have a due date on the invoice and then send out a follow-up statement within 10 to 30 days from the due date. Each industry and business environment has different insights as to what is the "ideal" time. I would not send follow-up correspondence any sooner than 10 days past due. Payment may just be delayed by the mail; however, waiting longer than 30 days is too long. If you have not received payment within 45 to 60 days of the due date, then a phone call should be made to follow-up with your customer. Accounts that go past due 90 or more days should be taken to the next level of collections with an outside agency, internal collection "ninja" or any other mode you have established for collections. Find what works best for your business and stick to it. Each day that you are delayed in receiving payment is an additional cost of doing business. Time is money.

3. Receivables Funding. Implement an accounts receivable funding program. Factoring of accounts receivable has become very popular and it can be a great way of keeping the cash flowing. Businesses who deal with large businesses or government agencies lend themselves to utilizing factoring programs. If your clientele is made up of small businesses or individuals, you may find it more difficult to establish an accounts receivable funding program. Why? Funding companies are monitoring risk. There is less risk with larger companies or government agencies. Or so they think!

4. Vendors. Negotiate terms with your vendors to help delay the outflow of cash payments. Lots of vendors have payment terms where you can delay the payment until end of the month or maybe even up to 60 days. This allows you a little float time to use their money while you are working on your project. Then hopefully you'll receive payment from your customers prior to needing to pay for the products you purchased. Some companies also go the route of consignment. Then you are selling someone else's goods and don't have your money wrapped up in inventory. This option can help you increase your product offerings without having to invest large amounts of money in inventory.

5. Customer Deposits. Have your customers pay a deposit prior to the start of the job. This will help you cover your upfront costs as you start the projects. It's very common to have a deposit with the signing of your contract. It decreases the risk associated with nonpayment because you've received a portion up front. You can also implement periodic payments throughout the contract vs. a single payment upon completion of the project so that cash is flowing in consistently.

6. Revolving Credit Line. Establish a revolving line of credit through a lender to help you with potential cash flow crunches. Especially if the amount of savings from prompt pay discounts are greater than the financing charge from the lender or the lender's financing charge is less than what your vendors might charge for late payments. This helps give your business a safety net so that you can continue to operate during those times when you are offered great specials if you buy today but may not have extra cash available.

7. Savings Fund. Establish a savings fund to help you operate through slow times. Most businesses have swings in their business flow and managing cash effectively can be a challenge. Store away extra during the good times to help alleviate issues during the slow season. I know this sounds easier than it is, but if you take out a percentage each month and transfer it to a savings account then it will be "out of sight and out of mind."

You may find that each of these 7 tips is viable for your business, or maybe only 1 or 2. Anything that you can do to focus on better cash flow will provide benefits to your business. The worst thing you can do is sit back and "hope" that things go well. Look around! See those "CLOSED" signs on the surrounding shop windows? They played the "hope" game and lost. What are you going to do? Hope? No?implement a plan for cash flow management starting now.

Contact: Pam Newman is a Certified Management Accountant, Author, and Certified QuickBooks? ProAdvisor for Financial and Point-of-Sale software.

For more information, visit her website at http://www.quickbooksinformation.com or call 816.304.4398. QuickBooks? is a registered trademark of Intuit. RPPC, Inc. is a third party provider of training for QuickBooks?, and is not part of Intuit.

scheduled maid service Northbrook ..

In The News:

A third-party dental marketing agency's unsecured database exposed millions of patient profiles with personal information that could be exploited for identity theft and insurance fraud.

New York-based Aircela unveils refrigerator-size device that converts air and water into fossil-free gasoline, with initial deployments planned for 2025.

Your home address is easily accessible on people finder sites, putting you at risk for stalking and identity theft, but data removal services can help protect your personal information.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents

Robot combat evolves at Unitree's Iron Fist King event as G1 robots face off in China, featuring knockouts, precise strikes and agile machines that can perform side flips.

Take control of your digital privacy with actionable tips like Facebook privacy checkup, location tracking management and data removal services to protect your personal information.

Smart TVs and streaming devices manufactured in China are being compromised by BadBox 2.0 malware before users even power them on; infections have been detected in 222 countries.

The lightweight, 15-pound Tenniix tennis robot mimics pro playing styles like Nadal and Federer, using AI trained on 8,000 hours of professional tennis data.

Oak Ridge's uranium enrichment facility supports America's AI ambitions amid concerns that China's aggressive nuclear reactor construction could give it an edge in powering data centers.

Facebook scam ads now leverage AI and deepfakes to create convincing celebrity endorsements, targeting specific demographics with sophisticated schemes.

Apple unveils iOS 26, macOS 26 Tahoe and iPadOS 26 with translucent Liquid Glass design at WWDC 2025, featuring ChatGPT integration as competitors advance rapidly.

The Atom Touch prosthetic arm combines an AI neural interface with EMG sensors, allowing amputees to control individual fingers with precision at an affordable $25,000.

Aspen officials aim to have crews on the scene within five minutes — something they say would be nearly impossible without precise location data the AI technology gives.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says iPads are usually secure, but hackers can access them. Spot warning signs early to protect your data.

Tech expert Kurt Knutsson reveals how to easily move photos and videos off your iPhone or Android to securely protect your favorite moments.

The Social Security Administration is launching digital SSN access this summer. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson helps you learn how to use it and protect your identity.

Glide underwater with CudaJet and make the ocean your playground. Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson discusses the redesigned tech that might be your next big thrilling adventure.

Protect yourself from login alert scams with five security steps, including avoiding suspicious links, checking account activity and enabling two-factor authentication

Skip the usual Father's Day gifts with personalized ideas for tech enthusiasts, home brewers, pool owners, seniors, outdoor lovers and privacy-conscious dads.

DMV text scam alert: Fraudsters impersonating motor vehicle departments nationwide are sending threatening messages about unpaid tickets and tolls to steal your information.

Fox News' AI Newsletter brings you the latest on this rapidly evolving technology.

E-BAR, MIT's mobile robot, provides physical support for seniors with handlebars that follow from behind, helping prevent falls while maintaining dignity for aging adults.

AI is changing everything – now, we can even use it to generate video. I tried OpenAI's Sora and Google's Veo – here's how they measure up against each other.

Five simple phone setting tweaks that make your device work harder for you, from automatic text message deletion to scheduled focus modes.

Android users can save time with 10 simple automations, including automatic battery saver mode, location-based Wi-Fi settings and scheduled "Do Not Disturb" mode.

7 Tips To Improve Your Cash Flow

Small Business