No matter type of business you operate you've got to know how to keep your business alive during economic recessions. Anytime the cash flow in a business, large or small, starts to tighten up, the money management of that business has to be run as a "tight ship."
Pause Before Paying
Some of the things you can and should do include protecting yourself from impulse expenditures. We've all bought merchandise or services we really didn't need simply because we were in the mood, then we sort of "wake up" a couple of days later and find that we've committed hundreds of dollars of business funds for an item or service that's not essential to the success of our own business, when really pressing items had been waiting for those dollars.
Using Professionals
While you may think you cannot afford it, be sure that you don't "short-change" your self on professional services. This would apply especially during a time of emergency. Anytime you commit yourself and move ahead without completely investigating all the angles, and preparing yourself for all the contingencies that may arise, you're skating on thin ice. Regardless of the costs involved, it always pays off in the long run to seek out the advice of experienced professionals before embarking on a plan that could ruin you.
Your Financials
Your company's books should reflect your way of thinking, and whoever maintains them should generate information according to your policies. Thus, you should hire an outside accountant or accounting firm to figure your return on your investment, as well as the turnover on your accounts receivable and inventory. Such an audit or survey should focus in depth on any or every item within your financial statement that merits special attention. In this way, you'll probably uncover any potential financial problems before they become readily apparent, and certainly before they could get out of hand.
Advisory Boards
Many smaller companies set up advisory boards of outside professional people. These are sometimes known as Power Circles and once in place, the business always benefits, especially in times of short operating capital. Such an advisory board or power circle should include a lawyer, a certified public accountant, civic club leaders, owners or managers of businesses similar to yours, and retired executives. Setting up such an advisory board of directors is really quite easy, because most people you ask will be honoured to serve.
Once your board is set up, you should meet about once a month and present material for review. Each meeting should be a discussion of your business problems and an input from your advisors relative to possible solutions. These members of your board of advisors should offer you advice as well as alternatives, and provide you with objectivity. No formal decisions need to be made either at your board meeting, or as a result of them, but you should be able to gain a great deal from the suggestions you hear.
Joining Associations
By all means, join your industry's local and national trade associations. Most of these organizations have a wealth of information available on everything from details on your competitors to average industry sales figures, new products, services, and trends. If you are given a membership certificate or wall plaque, you should display these conspicuously on you office wall. Customers like to see such "seals of approval" and feel additional confidence in your business when they see them.
Free Advice
Whenever you can, and as often as you need it, take advantage of whatever free business counselling is available. Your local chamber of commerce or small business advisory will likely have numerous free publications. Most local universities, and many private organizations hold seminars at minimal cost, and often without charge. Take advantage of the service s offered by your bank and local library.
Direction Is Everything
The important thing about running a small business is to know the direction in which you're heading; to know on a day-to-day basis your progress in that very direction; to be aware of what your competitors are doing and to practice good money management at all times. All this will prepare you to recognize potential problems before they arise.
In order to survive with a small business, regardless of the economic climate, it is essential to surround yourself with smart people, and practice sound business management at all times.
Author: http://www.jamesburchill.com
best cleaning company Lincolnshire ..Q: I will be retiring this year at age 60... Read More
More sales and more profit. Isn't that what you want... Read More
Think the best way to get more customers is to... Read More
If you are a non-operator owner of many work trucks,... Read More
The day care industry is expanding. There are now more... Read More
In a quest for customers and to keep those customers,... Read More
The less a business pays for goods and services the... Read More
Database Problems in MarketingI have been working on a direct... Read More
The single most important activity you can do in your... Read More
Get maximum results with minimum effort. Sounds great doesn't it?... Read More
Just recently, I took a break and caught "The Return... Read More
Do you promote yourself as offering prompt, reliable and quality... Read More
To have one of the popular in home daycare businesses.... Read More
Hi, Charles...here, Your Cap and t-shirt guy From Texas. How... Read More
Where do you look for the appropriate alliance?One of the... Read More
It is an American dream to own a business. But... Read More
Hew Hampshire car wash market. Well we have visited every... Read More
Most of us remember going to at least one garage... Read More
Researching information for a recent business plan, I came across... Read More
Most smart entrepreneurs and all large corporations have Employee Relations... Read More
A tongue-in-cheek look at the skills required to operate a... Read More
How far away is the person you need to meet?We... Read More
During the California Recall Election, I was very interested. Without... Read More
One of the biggest excuses franchisees of home based and... Read More
If you have ever had your antique shop or mall... Read More
on demand house cleaning Lake Forest ..If you're starting your own business or currently work for... Read More
COLLABORATIVE NEGOTIATING:Collaborative negotiating is a win-win strategy that can focus... Read More
When is it a good thing to say no to... Read More
Cash flow. To stay in business, you've got to keep... Read More
The FTC, Federal Trade Commission, is considering modifying the franchise... Read More
Starting your own e-commerce business can be quite the adventure.... Read More
The stock market is still on a wild roller coaster... Read More
A tongue-in-cheek look at the skills required to operate a... Read More
Someone new to business ownership recently told me, "Before I... Read More
This year, some 700,000 American businesses will be sold. Most... Read More
During the 1980 presidential campaign, candidate Ronald Reagan vowed, if... Read More
What is in an information plan?Before you even meet with... Read More
American small business is again in transition. Many employees, now... Read More
How far away is the person you need to meet?We... Read More
Once you've decided to incorporate your small business the next... Read More
As an entrepreneur you can learn a lot by following... Read More
Shopping for a franchise is easy if you know what... Read More
Think of your business as a living, breathing, organism. It... Read More
I was floored! I couldn't believe what they were saying!... Read More
Are the promoters and consultants destroying the market for Reverse... Read More
Where do you look for the appropriate alliance?One of the... Read More
Cash is the lifeblood of any business. As humans need... Read More
Here's why 'WHY' is such a profit-making marketing trigger."Stop taking... Read More
Why does research and education play an important part of... Read More
If you're an entrepreneur responsible for your own small business... Read More
Small Business |