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cashflow-management

Cash flow: what is it and how to improve it?

What exactly is cash flow? And how do you ensure that you keep a grip on it in your business? Would you like to know everything about cash flow management and improving your cash flow? Read this article or download our free e-book with tips and examples.

What is cash flow?

Cash flow means the inflows and outflows of your business. It is the difference between actual revenue (e.g. through sales) and expenses (bills, salaries, etc.). In other words, cash flow represents your available funds.

This is not the same as profit. Profit is the amount remaining after all costs for developing and delivering a product or service have been settled. Your cash flow is a good KPI for determining your financial position. Banks and other financiers will also study the development of your cash flow when you apply for financing or other services. So it's important to keep a close eye on your cash flow.

Why is cash flow important?

Cash flow is important because it enables you to meet your existing financial obligations By balancing your inflows and outflows of cash, you can ensure the smooth day-to-day running of your business and building sufficient reserves to weather peaks and troughs in sales, late invoice payments or unexpected expenses.

It is crucial for companies of all sizes, but especially for small businesses. The lack of cash flow is the most important cause of bankruptcy of small businesses.

How do you calculate your cash flow?

To calculate your cash flow, put two amounts next to each other: the money coming into your business and the money you spend. As long as the first amount is higher than the second, you have a positive cash flow.

Draw up a regular liquidity or cash flow forecast. By bringing all available information together into a cash flow statement and separately making a forecast of future cash flow, you will be able to perform a good cash flow analysis. This gives you a much greater awareness of opportunities and potential threats. It means ensuring that you keep adequate records. Take the time to keep track of your business's income and expenses and make sure the information is always up to date. Having a clear picture of your business's liquidity position will help you identify problems and decide how to avoid cash flow issues.

Do you want to calculate your liquidity?
Then use our simple online liquidity calculator.

How to improve your cash flow?

Even a profitable business can become insolvent if cash flow is disrupted. This could happen when customers fail to pay bills on time, for example. There are three common strategies you can use to improve your cash flow
  1. Improving your sales margins and profitability is one possible strategy to improve your cash flow. Higher margins mean increased liquidity, provided that customers continue to pay under the current terms. Price increases can be a problem in competitive markets, so it's better to look at the sales mix first: can sales of higher-margin products be increased? Alternatively, you can add value that will justify a higher price.
  2. Increasing the inventory turnover is a method widely used to cut costs and free up money for investment. Inventory build-up can be an appealing option as orders increase, but it does require capital and is therefore a risk. It is preferable to implement more efficient, just-in-time processes and inventory reduction.
  3. Tight management of outstanding invoices is another method of freeing up money. For some businesses, this is the simplest. Make sure you have professional buyer management and build a relationship with the most important contact person within your customer's organisation.  Instead of waiting for an outstanding invoice to be paid, you can enter into a transparent dialogue and make agreements. You will find more tips in our article on how to deal with unpaid invoices.

    When it comes to protecting cash flow, choosing the right customers is also important. Before doing business with a new customer, check the customer's creditworthiness, payment performance and financial status. Also check whether your contact person is an authorised signatory.
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Do you want more tips & tricks about cash flow?

Do you want to know more about how to improve your cash flow management? Discover our whitepaper about how to protect your cash flow full of useful advice and practical tips.
Even if you have good cash flow management and think you've picked the right customers to do business with, you can't avoid cash flow problems. It's just the way it happens sometimes. Fortunately there are ways to protect against cash flow problems. Our trade credit insurance, for example, can help protect your business against credit risks, ensuring its growth.

Choose optimal management for your cash flow
Take out trade credit insurance

Information about customers

You will have access to our database with information on your customers' financial situation. This will enable you to decide responsibly which customers you will do business with, even abroad.

International debt collection

If a customer fails to pay, our debt collection department will set to work for you to get the invoice paid. You can use our collection network in more than 50 countries.

Payment of your invoices

The further abroad your customer, the greater risk the risk of non-payment. Has a customer failed to pay? You will still receive your money through our trade credit insurance.
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