Cash Flow Management Is The Key Strategy

Good day!

Welcome to this update on ESS BIZTOOLS ADVISORY SERVICES NEWS.

CASH FLOW MANAGEMENT IS THE KEY STRATEGY

In these uncertain times, for SMEs a key necessity is for their business to have a “Cash Flow Strategy” which should encompass Budgets for each business activity, Key Drivers for important subaccounts including Debtors – Creditors – Capital Expenditure – Inventory – Work In Progress – Research and Development, Cash Flow Forecast And Projected Balance Sheets.

These documents should be prepared and then monitored on a monthly basis with “tweaking” being undertaken as required so that the business has current realistic forecasts at all times.

Cash flow management includes monitoring of:

• Financial performance of the business
• Debtors
• Work in Progress
• Inventory
• Capital expenditure

The overall message from a review of the economy is that, cash is “King”.  All businesses need to implement strong cash flow strategies, which primarily require close examination of amounts owed by debtors, investment in stock and work in progress and capital expenditure.

A key figure to know on an ongoing basis is “Debtors’ Days Outstanding”.

The article in the “Financial Review” in February 2024 by Paul Robson, CEO of MYOB highlighted that many businesses did not have an effective Debtors’ Management System in place.  This is an important component of the business operations to be reviewed by accountants.

A key matter to bring to your clients’ attention is that the average Debtors’ Days Outstanding in Australia is one of the highest in the world – in fact three years ago Australia won the dubious title of having the “Longest Debtors’ Days Outstanding in the World” at that time!  If the business operator is assuming that everyone that he/she gives credit to is going to pay within 30 days they are probably running into cash flow difficulties.

The “Cash Flow Strategy” requires regular monitoring of all aspects of cash control within a business.  Our suggestion is that this monitoring should take place at least on a monthly basis by reviewing each aspect of the components of cash flow.

Undertaking an analysis of actual performance as compared to budget will highlight any emerging problems with the business’ performance which ultimately will affect cash flow.

Another significant area is relating to the management of creditors.  Paul Robson identified that many people commencing a business did not understand the payment terms that might be required by some key suppliers to a business.  It is very unwise for your client to assume that every supplier will automatically grant them a 30 days payment terms.  For many new businesses payment terms of cash in advance or cash on delivery are being imposed by suppliers.  If the business had assumed that they would automatically receive 30 days credit from their suppliers they could quickly encounter cash flow problems.

The analysis of cash flow might indicate that even though the client has a sound business that they do not have enough cash readily available to fund their business operations taking into account:

• Level of debtors
• Inventory required
• Necessary capital expenditure
• Payment terms demanded by suppliers

This might mean that your clients require additional funding for the business which could be generated by negotiating borrowings from a bank or financial institution or raising capital from the public by the utilisation of:

• Section 708 of the Corporations Act
• Early Stage Innovation Company Capital Raising (if the company is under 6 years of Age and has relatively low income and low expenditure and has been involved in innovative activities)
• Crowd Sourced Funding Equity Raising (turnover under $25 million – company could raise up to $5 million in 12 months – subject to support from the market)

The management of cash within the business requires ongoing analysis not just once a year but at least monthly to ensure that deviations from budget are identified, investigated and a strategy is then implemented to generate or introduce the funding that is required.

ESS BIZTOOLS has developed product packages relating to these issues including Debtors’ Management System that our subscribers utilise to guide SMEs on the “Management of the Cash Flow” within their business.

You can find more information by visiting www.essbiztools.com.au.  An attractive subscription discount is currently available until 17 September 2024 – details are available at www.essbiztools.com.au click on Packages and Pricing.

If you would like a one-on-one complimentary review Zoom meeting with our Founder and Managing Director, Peter Towers please send us an email: