Warning signs of trouble ahead
Running your business at a loss is normal if you’re starting out or growing fast. But if your business continues to lose money, it’s important to take steps to improve your finances. Here are warning signs to look out for and tips for getting back in the black.
Owed more than you earn
Unpaid debts impact your cash flow. It’s is one of the biggest risks your business can face. If you have little or no money coming in, you can’t pay your suppliers without going into debt or using up cash reserves.
Sometimes business can be booming and you still have no money in the bank. The answer is to focus on getting paid in full and on time.
One way to reduce the risk is to have a cash flow forecast for all your income and outgoings. You’ll see shortages coming and can plan to lessen the financial blow.
Relying on a single client is a potential risk for small businesses — especially if they don’t pay on time.
This is quite normal for start-ups, but could be a warning sign for more established businesses.
Tips for getting paid
Getting paid in full and on time is crucial for good cash flow. Here are some tips on how to do it:
- Keep up good relationships with customers. It makes it easier to talk about any unpaid bills.
- Chase debts promptly. The longer you leave it, the harder it is to get paid.
- Have a process for chasing debts. It could be an email follow-up once your invoice is overdue. If it’s still unpaid three days later, phone up the customer.
- Automate invoicing. If you haven’t automated your invoicing, check you actually sent one — you may be waiting on payments for an invoice your customer never received.
Not paying your debts
Do you routinely pay bills late?
The flip side of not getting paid on time is you don’t have enough in the bank to pay your own bills. It’s another sign you need an accurate and up-to-date cash flow forecast.
Tips for paying bills on time
If you don’t pay your suppliers on time and in full they may stop supplying you — a huge risk to your business. Here are some tips on how to do it:
- Update and monitor your cash flow forecast. This means you’ll know when to expect regular bills.
- Put money aside solely for paying bills. It’s a good idea to put it in a separate account, set up so you can’t easily dip into it day to day.
- Talk to the people you owe money to. If you explain why you’re short of cash, they may agree to delay or stagger your payments.
Costs outweigh income
The longer your income falls below your costs, the harder it’ll be to get into profit.
If your business slows down at the same time each year, factor this seasonal downturn into your cash flow forecast. Spotting a general dip in the economy or your sector is harder to do.
An accountant can help you improve your financial forecasting.
Too little time on your accounts
How much of what you make or sell do you need to sell to meet your costs — and how much to make a profit?
If you don’t know, it’s hard to tell when you might run out of money. Talk to an advisor or your accountant. Ask about simple ways to keep track of money owed by you and to you. It’s also a good idea to get help to review your prices. Do these cover all costs?
Cash flow forecasts also calculate your outgoings, so you know when you’ll have the money to pay your bills. Get your accountant to help you understand your long-term cash flow.
Other warning signs
Other signs to look out for in your day-to-day business:
- less or no pay for yourself
- no pay rises for your employees
- high staff turnover and/or no new staff
- low morale
- projects delayed or axed
- losing your passion for the business.
If any of these apply to you, talk to an advisor who specialises in turning businesses around.
