Cashflow Management

I rely on accounting software every day to keep tabs on cashflow, and one thing I see time and again is that the earlier you spot slow payers, the easier (and cheaper) it is to fix the problem. QuickBooks is a common choice, but the principles below apply to Xero, Sage and other cloud packages. I’ll show you which reports to use, how to configure them, what indicators to watch for and simple processes you can put in place so late payments are...

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Running a small business means living with a certain amount of uncertainty — seasonal demand, late-paying customers, sudden repairs, or an unexpected tax bill can all knock your cashflow off balance. I always recommend building an emergency cash reserve: a dedicated pot of money that keeps you trading when things don’t go to plan. Below I explain how I approach reserves with clients, the practical steps to create one, simple calculations to...

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Running a café means cash moves fast — cups of coffee, sandwiches, stock deliveries and wages all need to be tracked closely. I often recommend a simple, free spreadsheet as the first line of defence for weekly cashflow management. It’s flexible, quick to set up and gives immediate visibility of whether you’ll have enough cash to cover your next supplier bill or payday.Why a spreadsheet (and not a fancy app) is a great starting...

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Summer can be a double-edged sword for small businesses. While tourists swell footfall for some, others — particularly B2B service providers and seasonal retailers — see revenue thin out. Over the years I’ve helped clients survive (and sometimes thrive) through slow months by building cashflow forecasts that are realistic, flexible and actually used. Here’s the practical, no-nonsense approach I use and teach so you can build a forecast...

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