Surviving a Business Finance Crises
Table of Contents
A business cannot run without a solid financial plan. Certain financial stresses can happen in any business, and if your company cannot handle these, it could cause significant issues. Knowing the six problems that you must anticipate can help to improve the chances of success for your business.
Insufficient Working Capital
Your working capital is what you have on hand to keep your business running each day. To determine how much you should have, deduct current liabilities from your current assets. If your working capital is too low, you might not be able to pay your expenses, interest from debt can accumulate, and you might have to delay essential improvements or purchases. Keeping sufficient operating cash can help you weather these storms. Additionally – a small business loan can infuse your business with the money you need to survive.
Credit Card Fraud
According to the US National Cyber Security Alliance, 60% of small businesses that suffer a cyber attack go out of business within half a year. It’s crucial for entrepreneurs to prepare and improve their safety protocols as fraudsters are targeting small businesses and putting them at risk. Small companies may not have a lot of resources at their disposal to fight credit card fraud, and whether you have one employee or 100, card fraud can hurt you. Here is how entrepreneurs can protect themselves from credit card fraud.
- Staying vigilant with online transactions
- Training your employees how to prevent fraud
- Obtaining cyber insurance
- Protecting your point-of-sale system
Taking Care of Assets and Employees
Taking care of what you have may not seem like a big deal at first, but your business operates because of a couple of critical aspects. The buildings you own and work in are able to be worked in, the materials you use are up to date and functional, and the people you hire are taken care of. There are some fields where accidents happen more frequently and others where accidents are more serious than others.
As you grow as a company, taking care of those things gets harder, and business owners need to delegate and with delegation comes more for things to be overlooked. As such, in the event of an accident, it can be difficult to prove fault in a personal injury case, however, the bigger your business becomes, the bigger the target you become.
Lack of Business Savings
Emergencies and unexpected expenses happen. Without savings, if the financial burden is big enough, this has the potential to completely devastate a business, especially a small one. Having a savings account for your business is vital for the following:
- Bookkeeping
- Taxes
- Credit reasons
- Cash flow
- Tracking
Having savings can save you from a multitude of issues, including bankruptcy. The key is to determine how much you can save each month and then dedicate yourself to put that amount back. Every six months reevaluate to determine if the savings amount can be increased.
If you are struggling to save as much as your budget, make sure you are keeping track of your expenses. This record can help you identify spending habits that are causing you problems.
Inconsistent Cash Flow
It is crucial that your invoices are paid promptly so that your projected cash flow remains consistent. If inconsistency occurs, this can impair your ability to remain financially stable. Implement strategies to stay on top of late payers. You might also consider renegotiating your current payment terms.
Unorganized Bookkeeping
Bookkeeping can tell you critical information about the financial health of your business. It can also keep you out of tax trouble. If you are a very small company, there is software you can use to make this process simpler. However, if you can afford a professional, this can be highly beneficial for keeping track of your company’s finances.
These are six common issues that can occur without the right planning. However, getting your business finance affairs in order is not difficult with a little diligence and commitment.
If you find yourself struggling with business funding and are in search of funding solutions, let us help! We want to help small businesses grow, expand, and keep them open as much as we can. We will do everything in our power to help you stay afloat during hard times.
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