20+ Tips to Improve Cash Flow

Filed: @ 1:05am on January 31, 2012 No comments yet! :(

Managing cash flow can be a challenge for many startups, small businesses and personally. Cash flow problems have many different causes and can have a significant impact on the health of a business or personal finances. The following are 20+ tips to help improve cash flow (mostly for businesses):

Receivables/Customers

  • Send invoice as quickly as posssible.
  • Suspend services for clients who haven’t or appear that they won’t pay.
  • Require up-front partial payment when starting a new contract.
  • Follow up with delinquent customers frequently.
  • Charge interest on late payments.
  • Accept credit cards for payment, when necessary.
  • Give discounts in order to persuade customers to pay in cash. This will help move your cash flow in the positive direction.
  • Establish payment expectations of new customers in your welcome letter.

Suppliers/Expenses

  • Make use of discounts offered for early payment.
  • Unless discounts are offered, pay suppliers only when invoice is due.
  • Find out from suppliers whether payment terms can be extended.
  • Where possible, make payments by credit card.
  • Avoid interest and penalties by making sure that credit card and loan payments are made on time.
  • Look for possible deductions in current expenses.
  • Whenever possible, do some comparison shopping for new suppliers.

Other

  • Sell excess inventory to generate cash.
  • Identifying the 20% of your inventory that takes the longest to sell and discontinue it.
  • Reduce or suspend salary for owners until cash flow problems are resolved.
  • Setup a line of credit with your bank. There are many institutions you can go to for personal credit that have great interest rates and can give you an instant loan.
  • Prepare a budget to determine your short and long term cash needs.
  • Taking out short-term loans: Loans from various financial institutions are often necessary for covering short-term cash-flow problems. Revolving credit lines and equity loans are other types of credit used in this situation.
  • Automate the mundane and use your human assets to innovate and add value.
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