Recently one of my customers told me the chaos swirling through his company was the result of poor cash flow. If only he had more money, his company would run better.
I must respectfully disagree.
Poor business processes produce chaos. Chaos leads to poor cash flow. Fix the poor business processes and the cash flow problems disappear.
What business processes am I talking about?
1. Having a clear picture of who your customer is.
Here's what my customer looks like: My customer is a small business owner looking for ways to make his or her business run better. He or she is often overwhelmed by all the tasks that must be completed and often does not have time for the really important business functions of strategic planning and forecasting and may not have a great deal of experience in those areas.
What does your customer look like? What challenges are they facing? What do they struggle with everyday?
2. Using that picture to develop services and products that provide value to your customer.
Based on my picture of my customer I can provide my customer with time saving services and products that teach them skills or provide knowledge they can use to solve the challenges they face everyday.
How can you help your customer? What products or services can you offer that will save them money or time? What problems can you help them solve?
3. Developing a plan of delivery.
What works best for your customer and how can you deliver that in a way that makes you money? My customers need both general knowledge for running a business and specific knowledge for running their particular business. And they're short on time. Therefore, I can combine a product like a manual of general information with one-on-one consulting services for their specific situation. If I deliver it over the phone or the internet, they can access my knowledge at a time that is convenient for them.
What ways can you think of to make your delivery more valuable and useful to your customers. The easier it is, the more your customers will love it.
4. Ensuring that you will be able to collect what is owed to you by establishing good credit policies.
Do you need to extend credit? Can you get paid at the time of delivery?
Can you get your customers to pay you by credit card? Can you ask for a deposit up front? Who will you extend credit to--what criteria will you use? I am happy to say that in all my time in business, I have had only one customer who did not pay me and I learned very valuable lessons from that experience. It caused me to change my process and I haven't had any problems since then.
Think through your business processes to see where the holes are. Booting the chaos out of your business by developing good business processes is the best way in the world to improve cash flow.
Are you a solo professional feeling Stressed, Disorganized? Tired of Working Long Hours for Less Than You're Worth? Struggling for Focus?: Learn how one Solo Professional used the Chaos Tamer to Survive and Thrive in the Midst of Total Rampaging Chaos. http://www.thejordanresult.com .
c 2001-2005 The Jordan Result LLC & Caroline Grimm Jordan All Rights Reserved.
shuttle to Midway Beardstown .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareStarting your own e-commerce business can be quite the adventure.... Read More
Why give freebies?We have all seen freebies at trade shows... Read More
It behooves every professional mobile auto detailer to stay up... Read More
One of the critical success factors for service-related businesses is... Read More
If you don't know what a Virtual Assistant (or VA)... Read More
Some of the very qualities that attract people to the... Read More
Large corporations use employee manuals to both educate employees about... Read More
You've been meaning to tend to the administration part of... Read More
People will always stress that having a well researched business... Read More
$elling $elling $ellingWhat makes a great sales person? Well, the... Read More
What image do you and your people portray to your... Read More
One of the major complaints in the QSR Quick Service-Fast... Read More
Over the years I heard the best way to learn... Read More
At one point or another, almost every business runs short... Read More
Most small business owners are faced with so many responsibilities... Read More
Auto detailers are often asked to clean boats and detail... Read More
Last week we discussed the importance of performing an autopsy... Read More
When you go into business for yourself, there are many... Read More
You make the decision to go into business and for... Read More
While driving through Pennsylvania farmland, you have probably noticed an... Read More
Your grandfather probably told you to "learn something new everyday".... Read More
Forget everything you've ever heard about the U.S. Small Business... Read More
With the massive explosion of start-ups and home businesses developing,... Read More
If small business had no important outside audiences, it wouldn't... Read More
Part of the power plan is making sure you have... Read More
Green Bay Hummer H2 SUV rentals ..E-mail and Internet use are integral parts of the typical... Read More
When should you leverage the relationship?Leveraging sometimes brings a negative... Read More
Last week we discussed the importance of performing an autopsy... Read More
Why are we over regulation the franchising industry, what purpose... Read More
To wash an airplane there are many items you will... Read More
Q: I have outgrown my home office and need to... Read More
The following are six essential skills to business success. You... Read More
CONSIDERATIONS FOR YOUR INTERN: Specify the number of hours the... Read More
Every company has a value proposition. That is a statement... Read More
How do we keep track of our business deals?If you... Read More
Many smaller businesses choose niche markets for various reasons and... Read More
Just as you are about to say "good-bye" to your... Read More
If you don't know what a Virtual Assistant (or VA)... Read More
Tammy, a skilled and gifted horticulturist, called me to discuss... Read More
So you think you're not justified in taking time away... Read More
Imagine that you have operated a successful franchise business for... Read More
THE PSYCHOLOGY OF PRICINGIn case you hadn't noticed, people can... Read More
Over the years I heard the best way to learn... Read More
What types of companies do you want to align yourself... Read More
Washing the exterior of a truck. Sounds easy right? Well,... Read More
It is estimated that 78% of all small business start-ups... Read More
When small businesses fail, the wreckage is often assigned to... Read More
There are both fixed and mobile detailers. Consumers often will... Read More
Early in my career, I wrote an article for a... Read More
Microfiber cleaning towels have been around for about ten years... Read More
Small Business |