4 Rules for Managing Small Business Cash Flow

Julie Starr • January 18, 2021



For any small business, cash flow really is the thing that can mean sinking or surviving. If you can’t pay your bills because clients or customers haven’t paid, then it is going to massively impact how well the business can run. Getting into more and more debt is not something that you want. So how can you manage your cash flow better? Here are some things to think about as you plan out
your small business .

Keep your books up to date

Your cash flow is only going to work well if you have some good accounting and reporting. If you forget to do it or it gets a little out of hand, then it will hinder how well your money works for you and impact how much you have. Make sure that all of your accounting is up-to-date, and also updated regularly. By doing this, being proactive, and taking charge of the business finances , you will know what you have in and when, and that will mean that you will be able to easily tell what you can or can’t afford. 

Rent rather than buy

In the early days of a small business, there will be a host of software or equipment that you will need. In order to help your cash flow, though, it can be a much better idea to rent equipment, rather than buy. When you buy, you are putting a lot of money upfront, before the business has even launched. Not only that, but renting helps you to know what your monthly costs are, as they are likely to be the same each month. For example, if you need some trucks for a construction business, you could rent from somewhere like Flex Fleet Rentals , rather than getting your own fleet. Some months you may need to use less, so if you owned them, you’d be paying for something that wouldn’t be used. Renting is also a more sustainable business option. 

Don’t be too lenient with your customers

When it comes to invoicing, there may be times where you have to cut a client a little slack. But in many cases, you need to be polite but firm, when it comes to invoicing. It is important to have a non-payment strategy in place too. When this is the case, you should always follow-up with it. You might let them off the first time, but after that, make sure that you include late payment fees if payment isn’t made by the right due date. Invoicing and getting paid is key, what is the point of a business without it? So set up a fair system, and monitor it regularly so that you know exactly what has come in, and from whom.

Build a cash reserve

Having some access to cash is what can mean success in business or not. Managing cash flow well is going to help you to build up a cash reserve. When you do this, you can have the confidence to buy new things for the business and make business decisions for growth that will cost money. Having a cash reserve puts you in a really strong position as a business.

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