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9 Rules of Cash Flow

By Keith Mabe

There is an old saying: "When you're out of cash, you're out of business." However cash flow can be one of

the most difficult challenges when running a small business. Knowing some basic rules of cash flow can help to free you from money worries. These ten basic rules will help you take control of your cash so you can enable your business to succeed.

Cash Is King. It's important to recognize that cash is what keeps your business alive. Manage it with great care, because it is the lifeblood of your business.

Never Run Out of Cash. Make a commitment to do what it takes to maintain cash flow. If you don't, you're out of business.

Know Your Cash Balance. Do you know what your cash balance is right now? You should. It's absolutely critical that you always know your exact cash balance. Failure is inevitable if you are making business decisions based on incomplete or inaccurate information.

Daily on a Daily Basis. In other words, do today's work today. The key to knowing your cash balance is to have up-to-date information in your accounting system. Having the numbers you need, when you need them is critical.

Invoice Immediately. You can't have cash in the bank until you collect it. If there is a delay in sending out your invoices, there will be an equal delay in receiving cash. Invoice daily if you can.

Never Manage From your Bank Account Balance. Your bank balance is never a true measure of your cash. The cash in your bank account and your real cash balance are two different things. Don't make the mistake of confusing them. Attempting to mange cash flow from your bank account is a prescription for failure.

Forecast Your Cash Flow. What is your cash balance going to be like in six months? Knowing this can tell you if you are managing your business or if your business is managing you. Predicting your cash balance into the future will give you critical information you need to successfully manage your cash flow today. Be proactive in your approach to cash management.

Cash Flow Issues Don't Just Happen. It is amazing how many small businesses fail because the owner didn't recognize that they had a cash flow problem in time to do something about it. Just like any other problem, there are always signs well before cash flow issues appear. Reviewing your cash flow forecast on a regular basis will help you to prepare well in advance of having a real cash problem.

Get Expert Advice. Not all business owners are comfortable with calculating projections or conducting a trend analysis. Many times they just don't have the time. Bookkeepers, although capable, may not provide the insightful knowledge that a seasoned professional may. Wrong information can lead to wrong decisions. Have an expert (a CPA, or Financial Analyst) review your accounts to help you make the best decisions you can make for your business. It is well worth the investment.

Taking a focused and pragmatic approach to managing your cash will allow you to ultimately focus on what you want most... growing your business. That's a recipe for success.

About the Author:

Keith Mabe is Director of Operations for Charter Capital, recognized as one of the hardest working independent providers of invoice factoring for small to mid-sized businesses. Chaterc Capital offers a complete line of factoring and related financial services. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Charter Capital provides accounts receivable financing and asset-based lending for major industries including freight and transportation, consulting firms, service providers, staffing firms, distributors and manufacturers, medical service providers. Find out more at http://www.CharterCapitalUSA.com

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4 ageless sayings about money

"A penny saved is a penny earned."   

Benjamin Franklin

"Image courtesy of [Stuart Miles] / FreeDigitalPhotos.net".

     "If you would be wealthy, think of saving as well as getting."

       Ben Franklin

    "Money will come when you are doing the right thing." 

     Mike Phillips

    I'd like to live like a poor man - only with lots of money.
    Pablo Picasso - 

"Image courtesy of [anankkml

] / FreeDigitalPhotos.net".

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For richer or poorer: Don't let newlywed bliss turn into financial nightmare

(BPT) - For better or worse, richer or poorer - that's the promise most couples make when they face one-another at the altar. When it comes to finances and young love, it can be easy to fall into some common pitfalls that can haunt couples long after the wedding day.

"Communication is a key part of a strong marriage, and it's also the basis for a strong financial partnership," says Barrett Burns, president and CEO of VantageScore Solutions. "Being proactive before and planning ahead of the wedding while sticking to a financial plan will help guard against common financial mistakes that can occur early in a couple's life together."

To start your new life together with a strong financial foundation, check off a few important money to-dos before you say "I do!"

1. Have the debt talk

All couples must have the debt talk. It may not be romantic, but it is necessary in order to plan a bright future together. Be open and honest about debt, savings and spending habits, even if they are less than perfect.

Financial turmoil is one of the top reasons cited for divorce, so understanding each other's finances today and what goals you have for the future will help reduce stress on your partnership. With the average college student graduating with $26,600 in student loan debt, according to The Project on Student Debt, young couples need to create a plan for managing debt and saving for the future.

2. Control wedding spending

The "big day" is a defining moment in life, but it's important for couples to remember it's just one day of many that they will spend together. Weddings and related events cost a whopping $28,427 on average, according to theknot.com, and that doesn't even include the honeymoon.

"When it comes to young couples planning a dream wedding, the plastic tends to be relied upon," says Burns. "It's important to be realistic about how much you can spend. Becoming over extended on credit cards is a common mistake, and this type of high-interest debt is not the wisest way to begin your lives together."

The best course of action when it comes to wedding planning is to create a budget and stick to it. It's not necessarily bad to use credit, especially if you can take advantage of a credit card rewards program, but Burns advises only charging or borrowing what you know you can pay back in a reasonable amount of time as keeping high balances and missing payments can have significantly negative impacts on your credit score, which in turn leads to stress.

3. Work together to build a positive credit profile

Married couples do not have joint credit files or credit scores. Each individual has their credit files with the credit reporting companies and their own credit scores, but in some cases like when joint accounts and co-signed loans are created, the actions of one can impact the other.

"It's common for younger people who are just beginning their financial independence to not have much, if any, credit history. It's important to be proactive and take steps to build a positive credit profile and score so you can demonstrate to lenders that you are a good manager of credit," says Burns.

Get a copy of your credit report and resolve any issue you may have with the information presented in it. If you have a limited credit history, carefully consider the benefits of joint accounts, but keep in mind that the positive financial actions like paying bills on-time and keeping balances low, as well as actions that can have negative impacts like missing payments will influence the couples' individual credit scores.

"The importance of paying bills on time cannot be understated," says Burns. "A single missed payment can drop each person's credit score 80 to 100 points. This can affect a couple's ability to get the best interest rates and terms for a loan."

Another important step in building credit after a marriage is to make sure that all financial lenders are aware of name changes. "If you choose to change your name after you are married, make sure all your accounts have your current information, otherwise positive actions may not get reported correctly or in a timely manner," Burns says.

4. Shop around for rates

"Whether you're taking out a personal loan or selecting a credit card, you absolutely must shop around for rates," advises Burns. "Don't just take the easiest or first option. You want to get the best deal available with low interest rates and reasonable terms."

When shopping for rates, Burns notes to do so within a two week period of time. Credit inquiries from auto and mortgage lenders and credit cards issued from banks and credit unions are only counted once if done in a two week period causing just a slight decrease to credit scores.

Finally, couples soon to be married or those that recently were married can also test their knowledge about credit scores at www.CreditScoreQuiz.org, a website created by VantageScore Solutions and its partner, Consumer Federation of America, one of the largest consumer advocates in the country.
Source: Brand Content