Tips to help improve business cash flow
Here are a few ideas you could try that should help to get your invoices paid, reduce your debtor days and so improve the cash management of your business.
Find out what information you should put on your invoices
Read our article 'Information that needs to be on an invoice' to make sure your invoices contain the minimum information required by law, plus some tips on other information it makes sense to include.
Reducing the number of payment days
The main flow of cash into any business is from sales activity. To keep your cash flow as healthy as possible you should aim to keep the number of days between making a sale and receiving the cash for that sale as few as possible.
Some simple measures that could help reduce the number of payment days:
- make sure your terms and conditions of business are clear and understood before you provide any goods or services
- check new customers are credit worthy or insist on payment in advance
- send your invoices out as soon as possible – consider weekly or even daily invoicing rather than monthly
- make sure your invoices are accurate, presentable, easy to read and have clear instructions on how to pay
- make sure your invoices clearly state when payment is due
- do not be reluctant to chase late payers – if you have provided the goods or service to the customer’s specification you should expect to receive payment by the due date
Other ways to help get your business invoices paid quickly include:
- introducing penalties for late payment, or maybe even discounts for early payment
- consider if you need to offer credit at all – can you be paid in advance, or at least at the time that the goods or services are provided?
- setting up direct debits if your customers are making regular payments to you, even if it’s only once a year
- consider personal visits or sending a courier to customers nearby to collect payment of invoices, although do call to let them know you're coming. If they pay by cash make sure you issue a proper receipt to avoid any misunderstandings.
Watch your credit terms
To keep your cash flow positive you also need to pay attention to the time difference between when your customers pay you, and when you need to pay your suppliers. If you buy goods or raw materials on credit make sure the credit terms you give to your customers is shorter that the credit terms your suppliers give to you.
Invoice factoring and invoice discounting
It’s important to appreciate the difference between raising an invoice and the money actually showing on your bank balance. Once you are established and have built up a track record, you can speed up the payment of your invoices by using a invoice factoring or invoice discounting service which, for a fee, will pay you immediately and take over the chasing and collection of your invoices. The Asset Based Finance Association (ABFA) has issued statistics showing that in 2007 the asset based finance industry has released much needed liquidity into the economy by advancing a staggering £14.9 billion to UK PLCs and SMEs.
See our guide to invoice factoring and invoice discounting
When and how to use business credit cards
Business credit cards can be a very useful cash management tool but only if you make sure you pay the bill in full at the end of each month to avoid incurring interest.
Visit our Business Finance Centre for information on a range of business credit cards.
Tips to help improve business cash flow
Here are a few ideas you could try that should help to get your invoices paid, reduce your debtor days and so improve the cash management of your business.
Find out what information you should put on your invoices
Read our article 'Information that needs to be on an invoice' to make sure your invoices contain the minimum information required by law, plus some tips on other information it makes sense to include.
Reducing the number of payment days
The main flow of cash into any business is from sales activity. To keep your cash flow as healthy as possible you should aim to keep the number of days between making a sale and receiving the cash for that sale as few as possible.
Some simple measures that could help reduce the number of payment days:
- make sure your terms and conditions of business are clear and understood before you provide any goods or services
- check new customers are credit worthy or insist on payment in advance
- send your invoices out as soon as possible – consider weekly or even daily invoicing rather than monthly
- make sure your invoices are accurate, presentable, easy to read and have clear instructions on how to pay
- make sure your invoices clearly state when payment is due
- do not be reluctant to chase late payers – if you have provided the goods or service to the customer’s specification you should expect to receive payment by the due date
Other ways to help get your business invoices paid quickly include:
- introducing penalties for late payment, or maybe even discounts for early payment
- consider if you need to offer credit at all – can you be paid in advance, or at least at the time that the goods or services are provided?
- setting up direct debits if your customers are making regular payments to you, even if it’s only once a year
- consider personal visits or sending a courier to customers nearby to collect payment of invoices, although do call to let them know you're coming. If they pay by cash make sure you issue a proper receipt to avoid any misunderstandings.
Watch your credit terms
To keep your cash flow positive you also need to pay attention to the time difference between when your customers pay you, and when you need to pay your suppliers. If you buy goods or raw materials on credit make sure the credit terms you give to your customers is shorter that the credit terms your suppliers give to you.
Invoice factoring and invoice discounting
It’s important to appreciate the difference between raising an invoice and the money actually showing on your bank balance. Once you are established and have built up a track record, you can speed up the payment of your invoices by using a invoice factoring or invoice discounting service which, for a fee, will pay you immediately and take over the chasing and collection of your invoices. The Asset Based Finance Association (ABFA) has issued statistics showing that in 2007 the asset based finance industry has released much needed liquidity into the economy by advancing a staggering £14.9 billion to UK PLCs and SMEs.
See our guide to invoice factoring and invoice discounting
When and how to use business credit cards
Business credit cards can be a very useful cash management tool but only if you make sure you pay the bill in full at the end of each month to avoid incurring interest.
Visit our Business Finance Centre for information on a range of business credit cards.