Cash flow problems plaguing small businesses

               (Karolina Grabowska / pexels)

According to an Intuit QuickBooks study, one of the many things keeping small business owners awake at night is cash flow problems. Entrepreneurs of small and mid-sized businesses worry about not making ends meet, especially over collecting customer payments.

Cash flow suffers when customers don’t pay their bills on time or in full. Cash flow troubles create a domino effect on a business’s entire operation and reputation.

Entrepreneurs will, in turn, encounter difficulties paying their own bills, which ruins their relationships with vendors, customers and employees. They lose out on good credit terms with vendors and lenders. They can’t meet customer demands and begin to lose out to competitors. To top it off, they’ll lose employees who can’t trust the boss to pay on time.

Accounting and finance professionals help business owners take control of their cash flow to produce a healthier economy. Once you know the red flags to look for in your client’s business, you can help them correct course and teach them how to avoid the slippery slope in the future.

Postponed payments

A study by Xero says as many as half of all payments made to small businesses are late. Some won’t receive compensation for more than 30 days, which creates financial problems down the line.

Small businesses can’t meet their own obligations, like paying employees or rent on time when accounts are in arrears. Nor can they invest in themselves to grow and stay competitive.

Reducing late payments by any percentage positively impacts negative cash flow. Entrepreneurs typically don’t have time to chase down payments on outstanding accounts. They need help from accountants and tech.

Elevated expenses

The current inflationary economic climate is a massive disruption to cash flow. Commodities (like oil) are more expensive, which trickles down to almost everything else you can think of and increases prices everywhere.

Additionally, supply chain kinks and lack of supplies drive prices up. Combine inflation with a tight labor market that’s forcing payroll expenses to increase, and it’s no wonder small business owners have severe setbacks maintaining optimal cash flow.

Things cost more, but not all small businesses can pass those increases on to the customer, so they eat it. Those with a better handle on money coming in can afford to compete better in a challenging market.

Cyclic slack

Slowdowns happen at certain times of the year for all businesses. Even those not closely tied to specific times or seasons typically experience less revenue in January and February than during the rest of the year.

Small businesses that receive adequate, on-time payments have better hope of riding out dry spells due to seasonal cycles. Cash flow is even more problematic for those whose expenses and receivables are out of control or unmonitored.

Solutions

Accountants can help clients attack their cash flow problems from four different angles. First, help clients better understand their expenses and find ways to reduce them. Review expenses regularly. Ask current suppliers about better pricing, such as discounts on larger orders or better credit terms. Sometimes, an entrepreneur needs to find a new supplier to lower costs. Review recurring fees, like subscriptions or advertising expenses, and help clients determine which are worth keeping and which aren’t.

Secondly, accountants can recommend faster billing and payment solutions to speed up the process of invoicing and collecting money from customers. For example, software solutions that invoice and collect payments electronically can reduce the time it takes for a business owner to get paid while saving an employee (or entrepreneur) the time it takes to track and request reimbursement from customers. Overdue accounts automatically receive reminders. Offering discounts on early payments, tighter credit terms, and different payment methods can also boost payment rates.

Not all entrepreneurs can budget effectively, and business finances are sometimes tricky to fully comprehend. Accounting and finance professionals can help owners make and stick to a budget. A sensible budget requires excellent bookkeeping, and accountants can help owners with the tech and knowledge to maintain quality records. With careful planning and budgeting, accountants can help business owners with the following stepping stones: cash flow optimization, future predictions and forecasting to enhance a client’s business decisions.

Once accountants have helped clients secure internal cash flow, they can assist them with securing external funding to get through slumps, if and when necessary. Accountants can back clients with the lending process, helping them look good financially and receive the best terms possible.

Accounting membership organizations

Accounting professionals must remain knowledgeable on factors affecting their clients, such as the current economy’s potential effects on cash flow for small businesses. Healthy small businesses create healthy economies, and their poor health has the opposite impact.

There’s no better or more fun way to keep abreast of the most critical accounting information than to join a professional organization committed to bringing you the most up-to-date news and education. And when you can get that information at your convenience, it’s even better! Continuing education for accountants online keeps you on the cutting edge of information and technology to better assist clients and boost your career. Check out your state’s accounting society or The Ohio Society of CPAs to learn more.