Talk to any entrepreneur or browse the business section of any newspaper, and you will almost certainly hear stories of the struggle to simplify your finances to develop or sustain their business.
Apply Credit Management
It may seem like an odd source of funding, but very often, companies still have undiscovered cash reserves that company could use to fund growth. In addition, inefficiencies in working capital management (accounts receivable, receivables, and inventory) can tie up your cash. Cash could be freed up and put back into the machine, enabling self-funded growth strategies simply by taking a fantastic look at credit procedures, how credit terms are allowed and how outstanding payments are tracked. Ensuring optimal inventory through better inventory management is another point where a company could free up money to promote and fund growth.
Take a close look at your inventory replenishment process and identify areas where cash is stuck. Optimal working capital alignment is about improving inventory and credit management and evaluating the terms offered by creditors. Are you excited about maintaining a first-class relationship with your suppliers by paying well in advance? You can positively influence your cash position by making the most of your suppliers’ terms. Perhaps you have taken advantage of your situation to look for long-term phrases out of the country for 30 to 45 days?
Use Personal Funds
Better working capital management can free up sufficient funds to self-fund growth programs. As traditional funding avenues become harder to obtain, entrepreneurs turn to their funds to finance growth. In addition to being easier to raise, using personal funds can be a less expensive source of funding. However, in some ways, it can also be a journey fraught with peril. Obtaining financing in this way can be relatively simple, as the application and fulfillment depend primarily on the personal guarantee. Typically, a business strategy is presented that highlights both investment opportunities and risks, but ultimately success depends on the depth of the relationship and the level of trust.
The danger of raising money in this way is that the fundamental tone of the relationship changes from personal to business. Frequent difficulties in paying according to agreed terms, or perhaps outright non-payments, can irreparably damage a relationship that has been carefully cultivated.
While rollovers may not seem important, they must be considered in the context of a decline in traditional bank lending. Asset-based lenders can help accelerate a company’s cash flow by providing quicker access to cash tied to the credit ledger. For example, an invoice discounting and factoring service offers business owners the ability to access about 80 percent of an invoice immediately, rather than waiting for agreed-upon credit terms. As a result, these financing centers accelerate cash flow within the supplier, allowing the company to finance a faster growth rate.…