Cash is King

Failure to understand your cash position and current and future cash needs can ruin a business, even a profitable one. The sad truth is that cash-flow surprises kill many startups.
 
Managing cash is one of the most important functions you must perform. But cash flow management is not waiting until there is a problem and then panicking by paying just the smallest bills and let the rest slide or stretching out all payments until vendors complain; cash flow management is proactively taking actions that can improve your cash position. Here are a few suggestions to help you manage your cash position.

“Always remember that cash is king.” 

Managing Cash Flow

Good cash flow management means understanding every inflow and outflow of cash. In principle, you must delay every outlay of cash as long as possible, while incentivizing everyone who owes you money to pay it as rapidly as possible. Also, it’s about being vigilant about limiting any surprises such as unanticipated payment lags and unplanned-cash outlays. So how do you be proactive in managing cash? Here are some basic disciplines that every entrepreneur must understand and practice to optimize their cash:

  • Analyze Cash Every Week: Each week, check your cash balances and how your expected inflows and outflows of cash compare to your projection in your cash flow projection.
  • Check Accounts Receivable versus Accounts Payable: Your main inflow of cash is from customers for payments, called Accounts Receivable. Your main outflow is payments for services and vendors, called Accounts Payable. Your goal is to decrease the days it takes to collection your Accounts Receivable and to increase the days it takes to pay your Accounts Payable. Your accounting system should allow you to easily run these reports.
  • Monitor your Customer Balances: It is easy to fall short in the management of your Accounts Receivable (money owed to you from customers). Always use a software system to track who owes you money so that you can follow up with customers and send invoices and statements.

Managing cash can feel like a full time job – but one well worth the effort.

Follow Us on Social Media

Join The Learning Community

Intelligence – knowing what to do and what not to do under the pressure of being an entrepreneur – is the key to your success. Our Learning Community is the one stop shop for the intelligence you need. Instead of countless hours searching for answers, we’ve organized what you need to know across all of the business and personal issues you face. You’ll get answers from 100s of learning modules, tools and templates, vendor reviews and a vibrant community of your fellow entrepreneurs. Try it for free!