Showing posts with label Cash Flow. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cash Flow. Show all posts

Thursday, 28 September 2017

How Cash-Flow Projections Can Help Grow Your Business


Cash inflow is the lifeline of your start-up business and it comes from various sources such as receipt of a loan, interest on savings, payments from customers, monetary infusion from an investor, and investments. Cash is essential for running your business as you get payment option for various expenses such as stocking raw materials, salary of employees, office rent and other operating expenditure. In fact, positive cash flow is good as it indicates that your business is running smoothly. Also, when it occurs in large amount, cash flow is better as it will permit you to do other investments such as hire new employees or open branch on other location and helps in growing your business further.


Understanding Your Cash Flow

Typically, cash transfer in and out of your start-up business can be put in order into following three categories:

·         Operating cash flow: Cash associated with everyday operations of your start-up business like   gathering from clients and paying expenses

·         Investing cash flow: Cash associated with the sale or purchase property, plant, equipment

·         Financing cash flow: Cash transfer in and out to investors such as loans, line of credit as well as   equity

All these categories and cash usage can be coupled to provide a detailed picture of how cash flow varies time to time. This variation can give you clear picture of how much amount of cash your business actually has. This information will not only help you in understanding the current and past cash flow but also in projecting your future needs.

Projecting Your Cash Flow

Typically, the cash flow projections are driven by your operating cash flow. Ideally, operating cash flow is being projected either weekly or monthly for determining whether you need support from funding activities. As investing activities are designed on this basis for several businesses. Until and unless you are not in a progressive growth phase that needs purchase of assets, you will not have enough cash for further investments. As this tends to be larger transactions, they have considerable impact on cash flow of your business.

Usually, it has been observed that financing activities refer as plug in the model of your business cash-flow. Any insufficiency in investing or operating cash flow can be covered with money from various financing activities. As it takes time in finding potential lenders or investors in getting cash, it’s better to know in advance how much and from where your business will get funding for balancing its cash flow.

Cash-Flow Tips

Cash flow depends totally on time. Specifically, when a transaction takes place, you don't feel its impact immediately. While projecting the cash flow of your business, do consider the following things:

Be Conservative

Vendors want that the customers pay early but customers mostly pay late. Usually, it does not happen the other way around. It can be essential to create assumptions considering negative cash flow for ensuring that you have enough credit for covering that cash shortage.

Include a Minimum Cash Balance

 While projecting cash flow of business, always remember that one will never complete month with   negative cash flow. If the cash flow you are operating with is negative, then you can consider compensating all the way through asset sale or by borrowing cash.

Moreover, management of cash flow is critical for your business and considering your business expenses allow you to plan for future expenditure and know the projected profit from that business which in turn will help in managing your cash flow.

Alcor M&A is a leading advisory firm providing financial services with an emphasis on customized solutions in the areas of M&A advisory, Joint Venture Advisory, Financial Advisory,  Private Equity,  Debt Financing  and International Business Development. These services leverages insights, relationships and a culture that emphasizes a strong orientation towards excellence.

For additional information on how ALCOR MNA can help you Grow your Company, Complete the Enquiry form One of our representatives will contact you within one business day.  

                                                                       
                                                                  
http://www.alcormna.com

Monday, 11 September 2017

Understanding and Managing Your Operation Cash Flow


Whether the business is struggling or growing, cash flow management is very important and for many startup businesses it is the key to their business survival. You might have heard of before those about 60% of the businesses that are going like bust are still giving profits are running out of cash. From the point of view of cash, business is actually like a sponge and it even sucks with growing no. of cash, and to get gain back soon, one should give it a better squeeze.  If your business is increasing rapidly or managed badly, just squeezing hard will not take you further rather that sponge will just become bigger.

Understand and accept the working capital amount, your business require for operating. This should be your first step and then decide how much inventory at present you are holding? Secondly, always ensure that your startup business has enough amounts of cash for funding your working capital requirements. These can be utilized for keeping few months worth of bank outgoings for a rainy day. That might be a past thing, but I f this is the case with you then make sure to buffer some sort or either use your personal funds that are overdraft or available or revolve any kind of credit facility.


Then further plan ahead for future working capital. It is of no good to find out the reason for surviving until few things get picked up when you have reviewed already and agreed about the facility of borrowing capital. After this just plan step by step every month. Review your current systems that are so poor in small medium enterprises.

Eventually, it has been observed that even if the business is growing quickly, slow payments create a financial problem that affects business seriously. The solution of this problem is to use invoice factoring for funding slow-paying invoices. As it will help in improving cash flow immediately and allow you to offer payment terms. Companies that manufacture goods and re-sellers that keep their warehouse stocked with products may get affected by this problem. If the too much product is manufactured, then it might end up sitting on shelves and will tying up cash flow also.

Before being used or sold in the manufacturing process, fine-tune your inventory in order to make sure that you stock items for short period of time. Depending upon your sales forecasts, volume supplier capabilities and available cash, one keeps that amount of product stocks. Always carefully level your inventory before you get run out of stock at the time when you need it most because then you lose valuable clients.


Remember to make it as simple as possible for your clients to pay for you. So better, quote your account no. of your bank on your invoices, and directly ask for credits or rather you can say automated payments. Accept all credit cards, or better also set up your PayPal account for your website. In this way you don’t have to wait for a cheque to be posted at present time.

Cash flow management is all about the how you manage your working capital by understanding your business works, by getting access to the amount of working capital and then approaching towards planned as well as proactive approach. Moreover, running out of cash is stressful, embarrassing and not good for one’s well being, not counting the additional costs and finance charges that generally follow.

Alcor M&A is a leading advisory firm providing financial services with an emphasis on customized solutions in the areas of M&A advisory, Joint Venture Advisory, Financial Advisory,  Private Equity,  Debt Financing  and International Business Development. These services leverages insights, relationships and a culture that emphasizes a strong orientation towards excellence.


For additional information on how ALCOR MNA can help you Grow your Company, Complete the Enquiry form One of our representatives will contact you within one business day.  


                                                                       
                                                                  http://www.alcormna.com

Thursday, 31 August 2017

5 Financial Questions to Answer before Starting a Business

It is very essential that while starting your own business venture, you should properly plan before and then make required financial decisions. As in this way, you will be able to manage your money efficiently once your business starts operating.  Starting a new business might bring uncertainty, and certain situations may arise where you have enough cash flow and you need few alternative options too. That is why it is important to know whether you can answer below five questions related with finance before embarking towards new business venture.


1. If You Need Additional Working Capital, What Will You Do?

In order to bring their goals to fruition, several business owners need additional funds. So, at the initial stage of your startup venture, you must research on your priorities, as it will help you in preparing yourself id in case there is a need of additional financing for your business venture. There are two options which can be considered: Loan financing or Equipment financing.

If you are considering loan financing, it is quite essential to work with that lender which gives realistic term and amount for your business. And if your startup business is service or product based, with the required equipment is essential to keep your business operate smoothly. For the first time, upgrading, replacing or purchasing may put a severe pinch on the owner’s  cash flow but with the precise equipment financing, you can obtain those things which your venture needs without building a considerable dent in the bottom line.

2. For How Long Can You Live Off Your Savings?

While starting your own business venture, it is important to know if you have to live off your savings, then will you be able to do so or not and if yes, then for how long. As it is necessary that you should monitor your business expenses which will further help you in living within your means.  


3. What is The Importance of Business Debt Management?

Business debt management is important because it can help you in retaining your business status. As if you are not able to handle your business debts, then there is a possibility that it may result in bankruptcy or even compel you to shut down your business, which in turn will affect your credit too. So, it becomes quite tough to get any kind of credit after the discharge of bankruptcy.

4. Know What Amount of Debt Is Necessary For the Business

For successfully establishing your business, debt is very important. The reason behind this is that apart from equity financing; for establishing your startup business you can opt for obtain debt financing. But, it is essential to have right form of debt and more debt can play havoc with all the personal finance.

5. Can You Responsibly Manage Your Cash Flow?

From the start, the cash flow projections are driven by your operating cash flow. Ideally, operating cash flow is being projected either weekly or monthly for determining whether you need support from funding activities. As investing activities are designed on this basis for several businesses. Until and unless you are not in a progressive growth phase that needs purchase of assets, you will not have enough cash for further investments. As this tends to be larger transactions, they have considerable impact on cash flow of your business. Usually, it has been observed that financing activities refer as plug in the model of your business cash-flow. Any insufficiency in investing or operating cash flow can be covered with money from various financing activities. As it takes time in finding potential lenders or investors in getting cash, it’s better to know in advance how much and from where your business will get funding for balancing its cash flow.

Hopefully, now you can answer five finance related questions before starting your business venture. As if you are financially responsible from the initial stage them your business venture might have a better way of succeeding.


Alcor M&A is a leading advisory firm providing financial services with an emphasis on customized solutions in the areas of M&A advisory, Joint Venture Advisory, Financial Advisory,  Private Equity,  Debt Financing  and International Business Development. These services leverages insights, relationships and a culture that emphasizes a strong orientation towards excellence.


For additional information on how ALCOR MNA can help you Grow your Company, Complete the Enquiry form One of our representatives will contact you within one business day.  



Wednesday, 16 August 2017

Working of Cash Flow to Keep Your Business Afloat

The money which is flowing or moving in and out of business in a month is referred as cash flow. Although sometimes it seems that the cash is flowing in only one way –out of business but actually it flows or moves both ways. Cash is coming in from clients or customers who are purchasing your services and products. If in case clients are not paying at the time of purchase, cash is flowing in from collection of receivable accounts while it is moving out in term of expenses such as rent, mortgage, loan payment on monthly basis and in tax payments and several other payable accounts.

One can think of 'cash flow' as a big picture of business that keeps track on the account. Cash flow can be in two forms: positive cash flow and negative cash flow. You are in positive cash flow, if the amount of money coming in is more than going out as you will have enough cash to pay your bills. On the other hand, if the cash flowing in is less than the money moving out then that is considered as negative cash flow and then you are in danger of being overdrawn. And if this happens then you need funding source to cover your overdrafts. That the reason, why startup business require working capital, in loan or line of credit form in order to cover shortages in cash flow.


Why Cash Flow Is So Important

One of the biggest reasons for failure of small businesses is the lack of cash. The administration of small business says that insufficient cash reserves are some top reason due to which startups businesses don't succeed. This process is called running out of money and it can shut down your business faster than anything else. Cash is essential for running your business as you get payment option for various expenses such as stocking raw materials, salary of employees, office rent and other operating expenditure. In fact, positive cash flow is good as it indicates that your business is running smoothly. Also, when it occurs in large amount, cash flow is better as it will permit you to do other investments such as hire new employees or open branch on other location and helps in growing your business further.


Cash Flow When Starting a Business

When starting a business, one of the most difficult issues is dealing with cash flow. There is a possibility that you might have so many expenses and your money may be flowing out fast. Also, you might have no customers or sales that are paying you back then there is a need of temporary cash sources such as a temporary line of credit which help you in continuing your business towards positive cash flow situation. Particularly, cash flow is vital for seasonal businesses that have a huge fluctuation in business transactions at various times of the year. In this type of business, managing cash flow is quite tricky, but can be managed with diligence.



Nowadays, business landscape has few mandates that small businesses should go global. But doing business with trading overseas partners might be risky. For this problem, credit insurance will help in mitigating the risks by protecting the receivables’ value. Over the decision of conducting cross-border business, one can breathe easily by guarding bottom line against slow payments pr even nonpayment of invoices. Credit insurance can also be used on the basis of case-by-case.  Actually, growth can also bring serious problems to a business, depending upon the type of growth. Like few entrepreneurs all growth is good but getting a single large order or growing sales too quickly can result in serious cash flow problems. And these issues are enough to derail your business permanently. Most businesses encounter cash flow problem but it can be prevented with the right strategy. Furthermore, the best way of keeping track on your business cash flow is to run a cash flow report. And cash flow should be managed wisely for better supply chain management as it will help in creating strong as well as healthy business. 


Alcor M&A is a leading advisory firm providing financial services with an emphasis on customized solutions in the areas of M&A advisory, Private Equity, Debt Financing and International Business Development. These services leverages insights, relationships and a culture that emphasizes a strong orientation towards excellence.

For additional information on how ALCOR MNA can help you Grow your Company, Complete the Enquiry form One of our representatives will contact you within one business day.
                     

Monday, 7 August 2017

Business Equity for Entrepreneurs

It has been observed that financing business start-ups is not so easy feat. If one can swing it, bootstrapping is the best option but no matter what, one will require small amount of money for turning idea into somewhat tangible. If funds are not rolling in yet, it’s hard to make a top notch product. That is the reason why many startups and small businesses provide equity to investors and employees. It might possible that even if investors from outside are not for you, but still you may be interested in providing equity to employees. But the question is, how will you do it? If you are running a smaller business and are thinking to offer equity then stick with all your financing options.


What Is Equity & Is It Right For You?

If you have a great idea for running a startup business but don’t have enough cash for funding your business then equity is the best solution for you. The main two common equity types are:

Equity Financing: In this, in order to finance your startup business, you need to sell shares to outside investors.

Equity Compensation: In this, one has to offer the percentage of company profits in exchange of less salary.

As it is said that private equity financing is not for all but it provides greeting option for debt financing to several business owners. In fact, private equity financing against debt financing cannot be charged with two major gripes business owners’ level due to risk with personally guaranteeing a loan and the constraint placed by it on available cash flow. Private equity eradicates the drawbacks of debt in that and for paying down debt, it does not divert capital from the business rather it shares risk in the business along with the entrepreneur. Another advantage of private equity is that you don’t need to pay right back to investors after they provide funding to your business. It means that one has more time for growing his business before he starts worrying about how he will how he will pay for it or not.  And in case business fails totally, one doesn’t have to repay. It is fact that investors either swim or sink or alongside the business owners.


Moreover, private equity is actually an umbrella term for huge money raised directly from recognized institutions & individuals and pooled in a fund that mostly invests in certain range of business ventures. For considerable long-term gains, attraction is the potential. Generally the fund is placed as a limited partnership, with the investors as limited partners and a private equity firm as the general partner. Typically, private equity firms charge huge amount of money fees for taking part in partnership and be inclined to focus in a particular investment type.

Many entrepreneurs think that the best and common form of raising money for their startup is equity financing. It involves the usual pitching to venture capital firms and investors for raising money in exchange for equity in company. However, this is not the only way of raising money for company rather debt financing can help in other cases also. Another most common financing option for getting your startup off the ground is debt financing. It is when either you get loan from bank or private investors invest in your business startup which eventually you have to pay back. Each financing option has its advantages and disadvantages so better review them before taking any decisions for funding. Debt financing is money that has to be pay back and it can take the form of a line of credit, a merchant cash advance, a loan, or a credit card. Using loan for obtaining capital or growth funds for starting a business is referred as Debt financing. Debt financing allows businesses to get the money they require for their business without giving away equity. Provided businesses can continue with the payments of interest and pay off all they owe and will get to maintain all the remaining proceeds in the coming years.



Furthermore, if you have decided that equity is right option for you, then next step is to search for other investors such as family, friends, angel investors, business contacts, or venture capitalists. There are various networks that permit you to post your startup business plan and wait for outside investors to provide funding for your business. This system is great as it permits everyone to invest in your business startup and not only one main investor invests in your startup.

For additional information on how ALCOR MNA can help you Grow your Company, Complete the Enquiry form. One of our representatives will contact you within one business day.
                     

Tuesday, 1 August 2017

How to Manage and Avoid Cash Flow Problems

Main fuel that drives business is “Cash”, to which financial analysts consider most important indicators of business's financial health. As it is said, a well-managed cash flow indicates healthy business, while the cash flow that is poorly managed causes various business problems. It has been observed that companies that are facing crunches of cash flow simply throw money at that particular problem. This process is considered to be a temporary solution to that issue as cash flow management needs more than a financial fix. Cash flow management requires a kind of holistic approach that helps in making entire supply chain of company work more efficiently. And after all, the faster sellers are paid, the faster goods move from seller to buyer.


Today's business landscape has few mandates that small businesses should go global. But doing business with trading overseas partners might be risky. For this problem, credit insurance will help in mitigating the risks by protecting the receivables’ value. Over the decision of conducting cross-border business, one can breathe easily by guarding bottom line against slow payments pr even nonpayment of invoices. Credit insurance can also be used on the basis of case-by-case.

Actually, growth can also bring serious problems to a business, depending upon the type of growth. Like few entrepreneurs all growth is good but getting a single large order or growing sales too quickly can result in serious cash flow problems. And these issues are enough to derail your business permanently. Most businesses encounter cash flow problem but it can be prevented with the right strategy. Few common cash flow problems and its solution is as follows:


Slow-Paying Invoices

Most common issue of cash flow is slow-paying invoices because as a small business, one has to offer 30 to 60 day payment terms to their clients. However, small businesses can’t afford to wait for longer time as they need as soon as possible. Eventually, it has been observed that even if the business is growing quickly, slow payments create a financial problem that affects business seriously.

Solution: The solution of this problem is to use invoice factoring for funding slow-paying invoices. As it will help in improving cash flow immediately and allow you to offer payment terms.

Excess Inventory

Companies that manufacture goods and re-sellers that keep their warehouse stocked with products may get affected by this problem. If the too much product is manufactured, then it might end up sitting on shelves and will tying up cash flow also.


Solution: Before being used or sold in the manufacturing process, fine-tune your inventory in order to make sure that you stock items for short period of time. Depending upon your sales forecasts, volume supplier capabilities, and available cash, one keeps that amount of product stocks. Always level inventory carefully as running out of stock at the right time is a way to lose valuable clients.

High Overhead Expenses

High overhead expenses may cause harm to cash flow of your business. As the high overhead expenses are persistent so they are very challenging. And until the problem is corrected, these expenses affect your cash flow every day.

Solution: The solution to this problem is to audit your expenses and where ever you can just cut back. But be careful too much cut could also harm company’s business. So, it’s better to opt for cheaper options. In fact, every business should regularly audit expenses in order to ensure overhead expenses always stay in line.


About ALCOR Mergers and Acquisitions


Moreover, to do successful cash flow management, all three commerce flows –information, goods, as well as funds--are working jointly together in order to accelerate money movement through the process of supply chain. Also, cash flow should be managed wisely for better supply chain management as it will help in creating strong as well as healthy business. So is your business is suffering from cash flow problems? ALCOR M&A is experienced in finding the best cash flow solutions for companies and small businesses. We provide a broad spectrum of comprehensive fundraising solutions to cater the debt capital requirements of different companies across industries.

For additional information on how ALCOR MNA can help you Grow your Company, Complete the Enquiry form. One of our representatives will contact you within one business day.
                     

Friday, 21 July 2017

How Cash-Flow Projections Can Help Grow Your Business

Cash inflow is the lifeline of your startup business and it comes from various sources such as receipt of a loan, interest on savings, payments from customers, monetary infusion from an investor, and investments. Cash is essential for running your business as you get payment option for various expenses such as stocking raw materials, the salary of employees, office rent, and other operating expenditure. In fact, positive cash flow is good as it indicates that your business is running smoothly. Also, when it occurs in a large amount, cash flow is better as it will permit you to do other investments such as hire new employees or open branch on other location and helps in growing your business further.


Understanding Your Cash Flow

Typically, cash transfer in and out of your start-up business can be put in order into following three categories:

·         Operating cash flow: Cash associated with everyday operations of your start-up business like  gathering from clients and paying expenses

·         Investing cash flow: Cash associated with the sale or purchase property, plant, equipment

·         Financing cash flow: Cash transfer in and out to investors such as loans, line of credit as well as  equity




All these categories and cash usage can be coupled to provide a detailed picture of how cash flow varies time to time. This variation can give you a clear picture of how much amount of cash your business actually has. This information will not only help you in understanding the current and past cash flow but also in projecting your future needs.

Projecting Your Cash Flow

Typically, the cash flow projections are driven by your operating cash flow. Ideally, operating cash flow is being projected either weekly or monthly for determining whether you need support from funding activities. As investing activities are designed on this basis for several businesses. Until and unless you are not in a progressive growth phase that needs the purchase of assets, you will not have enough cash for further investments. As this tends to be larger transactions, they have a considerable impact on cash flow of your business.

Usually, it has been observed that financing activities refer as plug in the model of your business cash-flow. Any insufficiency in investing or operating cash flow can be covered with money from various financing activities. As it takes time in finding potential lenders or investors in getting cash, it’s better to know in advance how much and from where your business will get funding for balancing its cash flow.


Cash-Flow Tips

Cash flow depends totally on time. Specifically, when a transaction takes place, you don't feel its impact immediately. While projecting the cash flow of your business, do consider the following things:

Be Conservative

Vendors want that the customers pay early but customers mostly pay late. Usually, it does not happen the other way around. It can be essential to create assumptions considering negative cash flow for ensuring that you have enough credit for covering that cash shortage.


Include a Minimum Cash Balance

While projecting cash flow of business, always remember that one will never complete month with negative cash flow. If the cash flow you are operating with is negative, then you can consider compensating all the way through asset sale or by borrowing cash.

Moreover, management of cash flow is critical for your business and considering your business expenses allow you to plan for future expenditure and know the projected profit from that business which in turn will help in managing your cash flow.

So is your business suffering from Funding problems? ALCOR MNA is experienced in finding the best Investors for companies and small businesses. We provide a broad spectrum of comprehensive fundraising solutions to cater the capital requirements of different companies across industries.

Are you looking for a Financing Options?

For additional information on how we can help you finance your Company, Complete the Enquiry form. One of our representatives will contact you within one business day.