Sales are up, and profits are good… why can’t my business pay our obligations?
The answer to this question is cash flow, one that has haunted small business owners. A company can look good on paper, bring in consistent revenue and new clients, and still come up short at the end of the month. This phenomenon ties back to cash flow, or put more simply, the flow of money coming into and going out of the business. When you have more money going out of your business than coming in, your business has a negative cash flow.
Keep reading to learn about ways to help your business manage its cash flow and turn your business into a cash-generating machine!
Typically, when someone mentions increasing cash flow, the first thing that comes up is increasing sales. Adding more customers, picking up additional contracts, and providing add-on services are all ways to increase the income your business generates. Having said that, remember that only the net profit from those additional sales translates into additional cash in your bank account.
There are a lot of hidden costs associated with increased sales that can result in less cash than you were hoping for. Remember, increasing sales by $100 may only increase your net profit by $30 after you deduct the additional costs that generated the additional $100 in sales. Operating Costs such as labor costs, material costs, gas, equipment maintenance costs, etc., all reduce the cash that ends up in your bank account.
A more powerful, direct way to manage cash flow in your bank account is to reduce your operating costs. When you reduce your operating costs by $100, 100% of the benefit drops to the bottom line, and your bank account grows by $100! With a little thought and creativity, you will be amazed at what you can accomplish. As less money goes out, more money stays in, and the cash flow into the bank account goes up!
The term “Accounts Receivable” can be a dirty word for some businesses. Reducing your level of Accounts Receivable by $100 increases your cash flow by… you guessed it, $100. On the flip side, if you allow your Accounts Receivable to grow without receiving the money you are owed you could find yourself in a cash flow “death trap”.
Let me illustrate this: suppose that you increase sales by $100 and you have to spend $70 to earn this amount. You calculate your profit on the sale to be $30. But what is your cash flow? The answer is negative $70! What?… how can that be? You must remember that not only will you not collect the $100 sales price for 120 days, but you will have to immediately pay the $70 worth of expenses that it took to generate the sale.
Certainly, you will ultimately have a positive cash flow of $30. But here is the problem: cash flow determines how much cash is in your bank account today, and if you aren’t actively managing your cash flow well in the short run you may not get to enjoy it in the long run.
Ah… here is an idea for you to use the principles of cash flow to your advantage. If growing your Accounts Receivable takes cash out of your pocket, then growing your Accounts Payable puts cash into your pocket. Essentially, this entails getting a cash loan from your suppliers. So, to the extent you can, take advantage of establishing and extending your credit account with your suppliers.
It's helpful to consider this a 0% loan that offsets the negative effects of your Accounts Receivable and provides a welcomed addition to your working capital.
Selling a piece of equipment is a way to free up cash. Because buying and selling assets does not show up on your P&L (Profit and Loss Statement), it is often forgotten as a major source or use of cash. Similar to growing your Accounts Receivable, buying equipment or vehicles creates a major drain on cash flow and can offset the cash that you bring into the business through the profit shown on your P&L.
While buying assets uses up precious cash flow, it is imperative that your business acquires the equipment and vehicles it needs to grow. You can have your cake and eat it too when you finance income-producing assets. A recent survey showed that nearly 80% of corporate businesses plan on financing new equipment in 2018.
Financing equipment spreads the cost of purchasing your equipment across the time that the equipment will be used to produce income. This idea of matching the cash “outflow” of purchasing the equipment with the cash “in-flow” of operating the equipment to produce income is an important strategy for businesses that want to grow.
When talking about improving the cash flow health of their business, most owners use a combination of the techniques discussed above. Understanding and effectively using these tools can be as much of a competitive advantage as having a great marketing strategy.
Actively test what works for your business and what doesn’t to develop the most efficient strategy for managing your cash flow. Consult your financial advisor to get a cash flow checkup and discover ways you can make a difference in the health and flexibility of your business.
Consider using Aztec Financial to help finance the tools you need to grow your business. We offer flexible financing that can help you and your business take advantage of utilizing income-producing assets. Whether you’re looking for additional equipment to service more clients, or are just starting out, Aztec can help you reach your goals quickly and affordably. Speak with one of our expert consultants to discuss the best options for your business!
This post originally appeared on Aztec Finacial's blog.