{"id":5320,"date":"2018-08-01T16:22:58","date_gmt":"2018-08-01T15:22:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sagestaging.wpengine.com\/en-gb\/blog\/?p=5197"},"modified":"2026-01-29T10:34:52","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T10:34:52","slug":"boost-your-cash-flow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/boost-your-cash-flow\/","title":{"rendered":"10 top tips to boost your cash flow"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMoney Matters<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t10 top tips to boost your cash flow\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"Ashley\t\t\t\tAshley Thompson<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Want to boost your cash flow and keep your business moving in the right direction? It’s a sensible thing to make sure cash flow is at the forefront of your thinking. Businesses that struggle with cash flow can end up going out of business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s vital to the health of any business and cash flow ensures survival even when times are slow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are some pointers on how to boost your cash flow and keep your business bank balance in the best possible shape:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Fast invoicing<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It may sound obvious but the quicker you get bills out to clients, the quicker you will be paid. A lot of companies leave invoicing until the end of the month and post out bills in bulk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sending out bills as soon as work is completed and using email delivery is far quicker and more reliable<\/mark>. It also cuts out the \u201cI still haven\u2019t received the invoice in the post\u201d excuse when chasing payments<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Make it easy for customers to pay you<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Direct debits provide advantages for both you and your clients. From your point of view, setting up auto-payments takes away the time and stress of checking to see if people pay when they should, and also saves you chasing them if they are late<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The client will also appreciate the convenience as it ensures continuity of service and preserves a good working relationship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Art of Being Paid<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Chasing invoice payments doesn\u2019t have to be painful. Use this kit to answer a few questions about your customers so you understand their payment drivers, then read our advice on how to flex your style for each, calling techniques and much more.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGet your guide<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

3. Get to know key people in credit control<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Building a rapport with the person who clears invoices can reap dividends. You become more than just a faceless person or a voice on the end of a line and this can help you jump the queue if your client has a system of prioritising payments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Always remember them at Christmas and a polite thanks for any small favours they do will go a long way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Keep your eye on the ball<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Running a business<\/a>, especially a small one, means you have to wear many hats. Don\u2019t let other tasks swallow up all your time \u2013 set aside at least an hour a week to check the bank and your aged debtors list. If you find it difficult to keep tabs on payments, delegate this task to someone else<\/mark>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Talk to your bank<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Your bank manager doesn\u2019t want a nasty surprise if you only let them into the loop when you are at a critical point. Often, they can help manage you out of trouble by increasing your overdraft facility, or by offering a holiday on interest or capital payment loans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Spread payments for big items<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s often cheaper to buy goods outright but in the long term, smaller, regular payments will keep pennies in the bank. Try and negotiate interest-free loans wherever possible but resist the temptation to spend more than you originally budgeted for just because payments are more manageable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Ask for deposits<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t be shy about asking for part payment upfront<\/mark>. It mitigates the risk of non-payment, and also stops the client shopping around for a better deal once the deposit has been paid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. Renegotiate with your own suppliers<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Cash flow<\/a> isn\u2019t just about getting faster payment from your own customers. Overheads such as insurance and utilities should be reviewed annually, and consider consolidating suppliers and contracts to give you increased bargaining power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

9. Don\u2019t have all your eggs in one basket<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

On paper, a company can be solvent as long as the monies due in are more than monies due out. However, all it takes for this balance to be upset is if the top few customers start paying late<\/a>. Spread the risk by making sure your customer range is wide enough to avoid being too reliant on your top earners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

10. Don\u2019t overstretch the company<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Every now and again, a big opportunity may present itself that could potentially transform the fortunes of the company. A big contract also means big risk and temptation \u2013 if the company doesn\u2019t have the resources to complete the project to completion, there could be devastating consequences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Only take on work you can realistically manage and save the more lucrative deals when you are big enough to handle them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A free guide to managing your cash flow<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Our guide is packed with expert advice to help you stay on top of your cash flow.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGet your free guide<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Subscribe to the Sage Advice newsletter<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Join more than 500,000 UK readers and get the best business admin strategies and tactics, as well as actionable advice to help your company thrive, in your inbox every month.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSubscribe now<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Browse more topics from this article<\/h3>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
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