“Cash” – A Vital Ingredient!

Accountants can play a very important role in assisting clients to source one of the key components of the life-cycle of a business – “cash”!

In “Scaling Up” Verne Harnish identified that “having plenty of cash to weather the storms” was one of the four lifecycles of a business.

As businesses grow, they normally require more money.

As your clients’ businesses grow it is desirable that some forward planning is undertaken to get an appreciation of the amount of cash that is going to be required over the next 2 - 3 years to fund the growth in the client’s business.

This will require the development of Budgets and Cash Flow Forecasts for the next 3 years taking into account the likely trends within the business that have been identified as part of a Differentiated Strategy Review. (Accountants Minute 207)

Businesses require cash to fund extra expenditure that is normally required in working capital components of a business – inventory, debtors, work in progress.  In some businesses there will be an offset for the increase in amounts owing to creditors but unfortunately in most businesses the amount owing by debtors will exceed the amount that is owing to creditors.

There can be other significant cash outlays required as a business grows relative to:

• research and development expenditure
• registration of patent applications
• capital expenditure on plant and equipment or new business premises

In the forward planning consideration needs to be given to:

• How much surplus cash can be generated internally that can be reserved to fund the business expansion?
• How much extra funding can the businesses owners/shareholders contribute, and will they agree to do this?
• How much funding can be obtained from the business’ bank and what security will be required for that extra loan?
• Will the business have adequate security available to meet the bank’s requirements?
• Should consideration be given to attempting to raise capital from the public?
• Capital could be raised under Section 708 of the Corporations Act ((up to $2 million could be raised from a maximum of 20 investors in a 12 month period subject to the company not having any more than 50 shareholders).
• Capital could be raised as a Crowd Sourced Funding Equity Raising Company under the Corporations Act (up to $5 million could be raised in a 12 month period if the company meets the eligibility requirements to be a Crowd Sourced Funding Equity Raising Company – annual group turnover under $25 million, gross value of assets under $25 million, not listed on a stock exchange anywhere in the world).

Proactive accountants/advisers can assist business operators in this very important financing consideration for their businesses and in assisting those businesses to become “investment ready”.

ESS BIZTOOLS is presenting a Complimentary Webinar – “Cash” a Vital Ingredient! on Tuesday, 15 October 2019  at 11:30 AM AEST/12:30 PM AEDT. To register click here.

You can find more information on capital raising for companies by linking to www.essbiztools.com.au click on Crowd Sourced Funding Learn More.

If you require any additional information on the services provided by ESS BIZTOOLS to assist your Accounting/Business Advisory Firm to deliver a range of  Business Improvement Services which will contribute to your clients’ business success, please do not hesitate to contact us:

• Telephone 1800 232 088

Have a great day!