As a small business owner, it’s quite likely you play both the role of salesperson and debt chaser. On one hand you want to keep the relationship positive so you can continue selling to that customer, but on the other hand you need your bills paid for your business to survive. Maintaining customer loyalty and satisfaction while keeping a credit control policy that’s abided by can (at times) put you in an awkward position.
You may have had a nice holiday, but scammers never take a break. In fact, in the last few months there has been a significant rise in the number of reported scam incidents.
Cash flow is the single most important aspect of financial management for any small — or large — business. Running out of cash is the major reason businesses fail.
As a business owner, making sure you have cash available (or at least the potential to generate cash) to meet your obligations is not only essential for survival, but is in many cases a legal obligation.
One of the biggest troubles small business owners face is access to capital. So activities like theft or fraud can cripple a small business in a heartbeat.
We all know that cash flow is king. But just how much sway does it have? Well, you might want to ask the nine out of 10 small businesses that have failed because of cash flow problems. That’s, right, according to D&B, 90% of small businesses close their doors because of poor cash flow management.
Have you noticed that your cash till is looking a bit different? It could be that you’ve already received some of New Zealand’s new banknotes.
New $5 and $10 notes started to be released by the Reserve Bank in mid-October, with $20, $50 and $100 notes coming in April next year.
Having well structured and timed invoices is essential to getting your invoices paid (and paid on time).
Running a business is a high stakes game, afterall it’s your livelihood… it’s you that has to pay the mortgage / rent and put food on the table. Getting invoices paid on time (or at all) is an ongoing challenge for many small businesses, especially in services where you’re often doing the work prior to getting paid.
Fortunately there’s a bunch of measures you can put in place to defend yourself from sharks, flakey customers and downright back luck. So we’ve put together a handy infographic that you can print out and keep nearby to remind you to stack the odds in your favour when it comes to getting paid. Enjoy!
The recent slump in dairy prices once again reminds us how vulnerable the New Zealand economy is to price fluctuations for commodity products. Of course animal protein is particularly susceptible because it is a renewable commodity that any farmer anywhere in the world can produce.
No matter how innovative, sought after or profitable your small business may be, without cash in the bank, you’re going to face some serious struggles.