Cashflow: key for a successful business
By Jenny Brown – CEO and Founder
International Women’s Day is just around the corner and 2020 is just starting to feel like it’s behind us, so what have we learned. I was reflecting on some lessons from over the years around improving our financial wellbeing.
“Profit is vanity, cash is sanity.”
My accountant has often used the phrase; “profit is vanity, cash is sanity” and with the experiences of the past twelve months, he was certainly right. A lesson early on in my career was the importance of cash in your business, particularly for those unanticipated situations. As a small business owner, ensure you have a good surplus of at least 3 months of expenses put aside to ensure that you can survive the unexpected. This is fundamental to owning a small business and can often be an area that is overlooked in pressing times.
Census data reveals that women are starting businesses at a faster rate than men. However, this comes with a warning as the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) cites that the leading cause of businesses failing is due to inadequate cash flow, with over 2 in 5 businesses failing within their first 5 years of operation, and of those a further 2 in 5 failing in the next 5 years.
We’ve worked with many women in business over the years, helping them to understand their cash flow and run their business as though they have independent shareholders. There are nine key tips that we would encourage everyone to consider when it comes to running your business and improving your financial wellbeing. Financial Planning for a family business.
Money matters are keeping us awake at night.
Make sure you look after your own wellness. AMP has sited that 1 in 7 people responding to their Financial wellness survey have reported moderate or severe levels of financial stress with 42% of employees reporting the COVID has had a negative impact on their finances. Pre Covid and stage 4 lockdown in Victoria 47% of respondents agreed they were financially secure, down to only 39% post-stage 4 lockdown. Financial stress increased from 54% after the first wave to 61% following the second wave of cases. i.
The good news is that 10% have experienced a positive impact on their finances during 2020. Perhaps because we just haven’t been going out as much, or we’ve discovered just how resilient small business can be. Either way, we’ve seen many who have survived what has been a crazy year.
Financial wellbeing is as much about your mindset as it is about your overall health, one will impact the other, both are paramount to achieving success.
Do you have the right team around you and the right plan in place for your business?
Make sure you have the right advisory team supporting you, it can make all the difference in how your business progresses. Your plan should take into account the cash flow you need and provide peace of mind to not only achieve your goals but to help you in uncertain times.
To those women that own their own business, now is a great time to get your A-team together to help you put the right strategy in place for a better year ahead. Be sure to prepare for all eventualities and it will get you closer to achieving business success.
Reach out and discuss your situation with the JBS Financial team.
Reference:
- AMP – Financial Wellness AMP Financial_Wellness_Nov_2020.pdf