Between conversations regarding a potential recession, student loan repayments, and rising interest rates, many business owners are focused on closely monitoring expenses, increasing revenue, and maintaining a healthy cash flow. When there’s economic uncertainty, it’s always best to make the most of the cash you have on hand.
Access to cash can allow you to make necessary updates to your business, offer customers excellent care, and provide a cushion when demand is less predictable.
Here are five tips for maximizing cash flow for your business:
1. Evaluate your operating expenses.
Review all purchases and expense reports associated with your business each month. Taking an hour or so at the end of each month to do this will provide you with insight into where there are opportunities for your business to become leaner. Cutting out unnecessary expenses will help increase your cash flow. Consulting your industry-specific CPA is a great place to start!
2. Consistently assess your fees.
Overhead costs continue to increase. As costs change, it’s important to critically review your fees and adjust accordingly. Determining what your fees should be can be a difficult task. Some consultants specialize in fee schedule reviews. They can help you evaluate your fees and identify potential opportunities for your business.
3. Use a credit card to maximize cash-back rewards.
As your business grows, so do your expenses. Using a credit card can allow you to make money back on all purchases for your business and serve as a great tool to “get more as you spend more.” You’ll want to look for a credit card that offers the spending power you need to run your business and lets you earn rewards on all purchases. This will allow you to maximize cash-back rewards, which you can reinvest back into your business (or your personal life — take that dream vacation you’ve been putting off!).
4. Remember that higher interest rates can provide opportunities.
Higher interest rates affect cash flow both ways. Now can be a good time to evaluate institutions that can provide higher rates of return on your savings balances to help offset higher rates on your debt.
5. Secure financing for pivotal moments.
There may be times when you need cash to help expand your business, purchase new equipment, or invest in technology, which is why financing should still be an option. If you have the opportunity to grow or expand your business, securing a loan can help you meet those goals.
Bonus tip: Consult a trusted professional.
No matter where you are on your ownership journey — from opening the doors to your brand new business to expanding or remodeling an established one — it’s important to surround yourself with experienced professionals you can trust. By building a support network made up of an industry-specific CPA, attorney, insurance agent, lender, etc., you can focus on doing what you do best: caring for your customers and delivering excellent service.
Editor’s note: While we hope this information is helpful, you shouldn’t consider it financial advice – consult an appropriate professional related to your individual circumstances.