Avoiding the Small Business Cash Flow Roller Coaster

A solopreneur I know disappears from my radar screen for weeks on end when she's actively engaged on a project for a client. During this time she is heads down, totally focused, and immersed in delivering her service to her current client. She works long hours each week, sacrificing her personal life, relationships, and self-care to meet her commitments to her client.

Laudable, but a destructive way to run her business.

After working all hours of the day and night to complete her project, she'll hand in the final deliverables and suddenly find she doesn't have another client lined up. Then she panics. That's when she starts returning phone calls and getting in touch her network, her former clients, and any prospects she might have ignored during her "work period."

She rides the feast-or-famine revenue roller coaster continuously. During her "work periods" she has cash coming in; during her "marketing periods" she has cash flowing out. And she has no idea how long her "marketing periods" will last or how much of her revenue she'll need to live on before she gets her next client signed up.

Does this sound familiar?

Here are the 5 biggest ways to avoid the feast-or-famine roller coaster:

1. Make time to consistently promote your business. Don't be like the solopreneur above and only participate in marketing activities when you are between jobs.

2. Build effective strategic alliances that leverage your marketing resources and enhance your visibility in the marketplace.

3. Get referrals from your current clients. (And that doesn't mean that you ask your client "Do you know anyone else who's hiring right now?" as you pass each other in the hallway! It does mean that you systematically build a referral engine for your business.)

4. Create project-oriented teams to level the workload, leverage your marketing resources, and expand the types of jobs you can get.

5. Work for multiple clients at the same time. Running a business on the feast-or-famine roller coaster is hard on the cash flow aspect of your business and harder still on your nerves. With diligence and determination you can break this cycle.

Copyright 2004, Rose Hill, Inc

____________________________________________

Rose Hill, Founder and Owner,of Biz Whiz Expert (http://www.solobizville.com) and Team Member of Solo-E.Com (http://www.solobizville.com) has been self-employed since 1990 - first as a technical writer and publications project manager, and now as a business coach for solopreneurs.

Knowing how to run corporate departments and how to market corporate entities, products, and services did nothing to prepare her for successfully running and marketing a one-person business. That is why Rose created the SoloBizVille and SoloBizU community - to specifically to help solo entrepreneurs jumpstart their business success without all the trial-and-error learning.

____________________________________________

*********** Find more articles like this at http://www.solobizville.com ? Keeping Solo Entrepreneurs Juiced in Business and in Life. Our team of Solo Entrepreneurs are comprised of small business experts who support others in finding business success with the flexibility and freedom to have a life, too. Network with other freelancers, self-employed and Solo Entrepreneurs in our forums, enjoy our articles and newsletter, and find other online training opportunities. ***********

shuttle to Midway Beardstown .. Lockport Chicago limo O’Hare
In The News:

Google’s scam detection features, powered by artificial intelligence, are a significant step forward in safeguarding Android users from fraud.
The FBI has issued a warning that scammers are impersonating doctors, police and banks using spoofed numbers as "smishing" texts surge nationwide.
Communities with unreliable internet service stand to gain after Amazon's Project Kuiper launched its first full batch of satellites into orbit April 28.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says unsubscribing from spam might actually backfire. Learn when to avoid it and stop junk effectively.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson talks about how the first nonstop beating heart transplant, called zero ischemic time, at Taiwan hospital changes surgery.
Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson: FBI warns of "time-traveling" hackers.
Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson talks about a soft, vine-like robot called SPROUT that aids safe survivor rescues in collapsed buildings.
Health insurance giant Blue Shield of California confirmed it had been sharing private health data of 4.7 million users with Google for three years without even realizing it.
Delta and JetZero’s blended wing body aircraft marks a meaningful step toward a cleaner, quieter and more efficient future for air travel.
Recent reports show many common passwords can be cracked in literally seconds. Kurt the CyberGuy explains how to strengthen your passwords.
Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
Iron, a robot that stands 5 feet, 8 inches tall and weighs 154 pounds, combines advanced artificial intelligence with human-like movement and exceptional vision.
Hertz, the rental car giant, recently confirmed that customer information was exposed through a cyberattack on one of its software vendors.
There are a number of features with AirPods you may or may not know about to take your listening experience to the next level. Kurt the CyberGuy explains.
These 35 Chrome extensions have privacy and security concerns. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says to delete them now.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says 329,000 mph fusion rocket promises to be fast, disruptive and enable deep-space missions.
Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says a new autonomous AI is a game changer that also raises privacy risks. Is your data safe?
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says robots and drones are revolutionizing fruit farming with faster picking and smarter handling.
Landmark Admin revises May 2024 cyberattack scope to show twice as many people were affected. Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson gives tips to help stay safe from an insurance data breach.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson talks about how Yamaha’s hydrogen outboard motor could revolutionize boating with zero emissions.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson reveals how to memorialize or remove a deceased loved one’s Facebook account and protect their digital legacy from misuse or scams.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says an Apple Watch saved psychiatrist Amanda Faulkner by detecting deadly leukemia early.
Scammers and fraudsters are increasingly targeting the most vulnerable, especially nursing homes and the personal data of their residents. Kurt the CyberGuy has safety tips.
Infected USB flash drives can spread malware among multiple organizations in ways that can easily bypass traditional security systems.

Keeping your Business Alive

As long as you eat and breathe you will stay... Read More

Franchising Companies Relationship Strategies

Franchising Corporations need to maintain an iron fist when it... Read More

Multiple Clients Create Your Independent Business

Would you rather have one good client paying you five... Read More

How to Create an Employee Manual

Large corporations use employee manuals to both educate employees about... Read More

Community Relations Strategy for Small Business

Does your company have a community relation strategy? Have you... Read More

Two Types Of Business Plan Cover Pages ? Which One Are You Using?

This is the tale of two business plans with very... Read More

Five Break-through Ideas to Immediately Increase Profits and Improve Cash Flow

Too often in business we get trapped into reviewing our... Read More

Survival Tips For Small Businesses

You may be in Mail Order, Direct Mail, or you... Read More

Tell Me The Reasons Why I Should Believe You?

Have you ever heard the phrase, 'PREPONDERANCE OF PROOF'?I recently... Read More

Five Simple Software Tips for Small Business Owners

The start of a new year is a time for... Read More

Learning and Growing

As you reflect on this year and prepare for next... Read More

Winning in Business - Lessons from Lance Armstrong

Lance Armstrong this week won an unprecedented 7th Tour de... Read More

A Great Logo Is A Marketing Must-Have. But Is It Affordable For Small Business Owners?

And is having a logo really that important?My answer to... Read More

Patient Records - Your Responsibilities

As a practise gets larger & larger the associated problems... Read More

Small Business Operators - 7 Reasons You Should Change Your Accountant

A recent survey showed that only 28.7% of small business... Read More

Buy a Flower Shop: Serious Considerations

You've always liked flowers and you think the idea of... Read More

Round Pegs In Round Holes: The Amazing Secret of Succeeding in Any Business Every Time!

Success is the desire of everyman on the face of... Read More

A Look at Small Business Incorporating in Florida

The choice to incorporate a small business in Florida has... Read More

Are You a Small Business Casualty?

When a person knows and knows not that he knows.... Read More

Small Business Support Equals Survival

Support is critical for your small business survival. You may... Read More

Expanding your business.

Are you a small business owner who wants to expand... Read More

Starting a Small Business: Balancing Risk and Reward

In a perfect world, starting a small business would be... Read More

How to Handle Rejection When You Start an Office Cleaning Business

"If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't... Read More

Where Can People Find Information About Starting A Business?

Approximately 200,000 new businesses are started each year. More people... Read More

Increase Profits With a Small Investment of Time and No Money

The less a business pays for goods and services the... Read More

Green Bay Hummer H2 SUV rentals ..