It’s no secret that around 80 percent of businesses fail due to cash flow problems.
The big challenge for professional service business owners like lawyers and engineers is when cash flow problems creep up unnoticed.
That’s why it’s important to understand the main risks in your business and take the steps to manage cash flow before it becomes a larger issue.
Following are four simple steps you can take immediately to get paid quicker – and some other quick tips for improving cashflow.
First, though, make sure that you ‘re able to identify the ‘red flags’ that can lead to a crisis situation if you ignore them.
Cash flow red flags
Cash flow has nothing to do with profit.
It is the amount of cash available to your business: the difference between the cash paid out and the cash received.
Professional services businesses may face periods when cash becomes tight because of high outlays or slow-paying clients.
If you start to address cash flow issues only when the situation is already an emergency, you’re asking for trouble.
Here are a few tell-tale signs of a professional services business that may be entering a crisis cash flow situation:
- You’re operating with less than twice your monthly expenditure available as cash in your account
- You have multiple unsettled bills from suppliers and relationships have become strained
- You have multiple clients with unpaid invoices 30-60 days after invoice date
- Clients are frequently asking you for payment extensions
- You’re spending too much time on the phone chasing clients who owe money
- You feel stressed and it’s difficult to focus on bringing cash in to the business
8 quick tips to bring cash in to your business and stabilise cash flow
One of the most effective ways to improve cash flow is simply to take steps to get paid quicker by clients:
1. Automate as much as possible
Collecting payments can largely be automated, saving you time and money.
Xero, for example, can be set up to automate invoice reminders and statements, as well as email reminders to clients for overdue invoices.
2. Prioritize the biggest invoices
Focus on either the biggest amounts or the oldest amounts.
You’ve sent your automatic reminders and statements and they still haven’t paid. Start phoning the biggest ones – not the ones at the top of an alphabetical list.
3. Document your conversations
Record all conversations about outstanding debts with clients.
Making notes will prevent you forgetting what was said, which makes it easier to restart the conversation later, if necessary. Sometimes, a client’s own words are your best weapon!
4. Follow up in writing
Follow-up your phone call with a reminder letter or automated email clearly stating the amount outstanding and details of the conversation.
Also state what further action will take place if payment is not received by a set date. The threat legal action often spurs slow-paying clients into action.
9 other ways to improve cash flow in your professional services business
For new clients:
- Conduct checks
Conduct credit checks before taking new customers on and use a Credit Review Checklist to make sure you have everything covered. - Start good habits early
For new clients, start instilling good payment habits early on. Let them know clearly about when payment is expected, when they will receive invoices, and the payment terms that apply.
For new and existing clients:
- Start collecting upfront payments
Consider collecting an upfront payment from clients. If you are clear with clients on the process from the beginning, it should help cash come in regularly to your business. - Invoice ASAP
Send the final invoice as soon as the work is completed. Don’t wait until the end of the month. Most clients will pay earlier if the final invoice is received earlier. - Specify an exact date of payment
Ensure that all invoices clearly identify the due date for payment – an exact due date is much more effective than saying “within 14 days”. - Get the timing of statements right
Send statements showing outstanding amounts two days after the exact due date for payment rather than on the due date. This allows for bank processing time and internal receipting time to clear any payments received near to the due date. You can automate this process. - Make it easy to pay
Ask regular or ongoing clients for monthly direct debit payments. That way you know precisely how much is arriving and when. - Be strict on credit
Never over-extend credit. Be sure to keep a lookout for warning signs that clients are experiencing financial difficulties. - Don’t be frightened of walking away from bad payers
Encourage regular clients to stick to payment terms or consider whether they are really worth retaining.
Following up with bad payers costs you time and money that you can ill afford.
