The health of any business is a mixture of three factors, cash flow, revenue and costs. Many businesses are great at looking after turnover and profit, but take their eye off the ball and forget about cash flow. Many a company with a healthy order book and business model has gone bankrupt as a result of poor cash flow. Here are twelve ways of maximising your business’s cash flow.
1. Shorten your payment terms
Easy to say, less easy to apply in practice! If you change your payment terms to 14 days instead of the more normal 30 days, then you are likely to get paid in 30 days rather than 60 days. If you can negotiate it with your customers or clients, what about payment before dispatch of the goods, or payment on receipt of the goods?
2. Have rigorous systems and processes for credit control
Good credit control is not a mystery science. Good credit control requires discipline and someone systematically talking to late paying debtors. In addition, before you engage a new client or major customer, it is worth performing credit checks. I know of one small training company that went into liquidation after an outstanding debt of £50k was not paid. If there is a hint of poor credit worthiness ask for payment up front — or a large percentage of payment up front
3. Phone when sending an invoice
When you are sending an invoice to a client (or customer) give them a call to tell them they are expecting it. This gives you an excuse to speak to your clients, and may circumvent any problems with the invoice. It prompts your client to get your invoice sent to the accounts department, rather than letting it languish in their in-tray.
4. Send your invoice via e-mail (with a return receipt)
An invoice is less likely to get lost in the post if it is sent via e-mail. Make sure you put a read receipt on the invoice so you can track that it has been delivered and opened.
5. Offer a discount for prompt payment
Incentivising (or penalising for late payment) your customers for prompt payment, may help your customers/clients pay you quicker.
6. Put Bank details on your invoice
Ask your customers and clients to pay you via BACS — and encourage your clients to do this by putting your Bank account details on the invoice, and specifically stating you want payment via BACS.
7. Invoices paid via BACS are paid quicker than cheque.
BACS payments do not involve The Royal Mail or the three to five working days for a cheque to clear. You will probably get paid at least one week quicker if you get paid via BACS.
8. Issue invoices promptly
The quicker you ask for payment, the quicker you are likely to get paid. Not rocket science… Late invoices are more likely to be forgotten about — the sooner they are issued, the more likely they will get paid.
9. Do cash flow forecasts
Many businesses have gone bust by not managing their spending versus the amount of money they are receiving. A cash flow forecast, completed monthly, will give you a good guide to what you can afford to spend
10. Monitor credit worthiness of major debtors
Do keep an eye on your major debtors. If you sense that they are having problems or struggling, be pro-active and ask them how (and when) they intend paying your bill.
11. Maintain a dialogue with major clients
The more that you are talking generally with your clients/customers, the less likely they are to sit on one of your invoices. You will also get a sense of if they are running into problems…
12. Don’t have all your eggs in one basket
Even if you follow all of the advice in this article, there will be times when you are unlucky and one of your clients will go bust. By making sure that no one client is more than 25% of your turnover, you will minimise the risk to your own cash flow.
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