You're a small business owner. You're busy. You don't have time to read this blog post, let alone manage your cashflow. But trust me, if you want your business to succeed, you need to make time for both.  

As a business owner, you know that managing your cash flow is key to keeping your business afloat. With everything else on your plate though, it can be difficult to find the time to properly analyse your cash flow, to figure out what’s working and what’s not. In this blog, we'll share some tips on how to improve your cash flow management so that you can keep your business running smoothly - even when unexpected expenses pop up.  

What is cashflow and why is it important? 

On a basic level, cashflow is the cash coming into (inflows) and going out of (outflows) a business over time. Cash flow management refers to successfully managing cash reserves, controlling expenses, and increasing profits - it’s an essential part of running a successful business. Knowing how cash is moving in and out helps you plan ahead and ensures you can make the best financial decisions. So, if you’re looking to grow your business, cash flow should be top-of-mind if you want to keep your ambitions afloat. 

What are the main sources of cash flow for a business? 

A steady stream of cash should not be taken for granted, as it is the lifeblood of small businesses. To successfully manage incoming funds, it’s important to understand and analyse your main sources of cash flow. For most businesses, this consists of revenue generated from sales and services; financing activities like loans or savings; or even selling an asset that was typically fixed in nature. But there are many other creative ways for a business to generate cash flow too, such as bartering works or services with suppliers or customers, converting debt into equity and using retention measures to keep customers around longer. The bottom line is that managing a healthy cash flow is essential – so take some time to get wise on how to make the most of each euro coming into your business. 

5 tips on how to manage cash flow effectively 

Follow these simple tips to set yourself on the path to financial health: 

1. Make sure you have a good budgeting system in place to accurately track and monitor how much money is coming in and going out each month.  
2. Create realistic goals for yourself - What steps will help you reach them sooner rather than later?  
3. Review any loan agreements you might have - could reducing repayment amounts by refinancing to an extended period of time free up extra capital?  
4. Stay on top of accounts receivable so overdue payments don't pile up – send your invoices out straight away to get paid quickly and take swift action when neccessary. 
5. Be mindful of expenses and look for areas where there may be potential to save or invest wisely – consider evaluating your stock management processes. 

The importance of forecasting cash flow and how to do it effectively 

Forecasting your cash flow might not be the most exciting part of running a business, but it can save you some major headaches in the long run. By tracking your income and expenses, you can anticipate when money is coming in and when it needs to go out. This way, you won't ever have to worry about having enough money to cover expenses or late fees down the road.  

To get the best results with forecasting cash flow, it's important to gather as much data as possible that reflects past and present finances. Having all this information makes it easier to paint an accurate picture of what kind of revenue might be generated for different situations and allow for quick future adjustments. So don't forget — a little forecasting goes a long way. 

The Dos and Don'ts of managing cashflow 

Ultimately, managing cash flow isn't always an easy feat, but it's something that is essential to keeping your finances strong and in check. It may take a bit of trial and error before you find the system that works best for you. To start out, try to keep things as simple as possible. First and foremost, create a budget and use it regularly to track your income and expenses. Take advantage of digital tools such as bookkeeping software to help make budgeting as stress-free as possible. On the flip side, don't be tempted by purchases that aren't within your means - trust us, you'll be glad later when you're able to save more. Also, don't forget to build an emergency fund just in case there are any unexpected costs down the line. With those fundamental dos and don'ts under control, handling cashflow can be a breeze.