Cashflow is king
Cashflow can make or break a business. Yet having a healthy business cashflow is not entirely within your control; it depends on customers paying you promptly. But invoicing isn’t always straightforward when you’re busy. More important things like sales or strategic tasks like marketing become the priority. Money, as we know, is the lifeblood of any business, so getting your cashflow right is as critical as it is time consuming.
Before you start feeling overwhelmed about what’s ahead of you, consider these tips that will help take the strain away from the financial management of your new business and give you that precious time back to focus on running it.
Tip #1: Agree payment terms up front
Be clear on your payment terms and state them on the invoice. Remember that if you do want to be paid within 30 days, you’ll need to set your payment terms at 13 days. Broach the difficult subject of money upfront and agree payment terms in advance. You will only be respected for this.
Tip #2: Use online invoicing & implement payment services
Online invoicing is a great way to collaborate with your customers in real time. Any changes made in Xero are instantly updated, giving you information around whether the invoice has been received, as well as viewed. This, coupled with a payment service, can really help get that payment in quicker. Up to 2 weeks quicker in fact!
Tip #3: Communicate
Never be afraid to follow up on overdue invoices. Let the client know immediately if their account is overdue. (Don’t forget to set up your automatic invoice reminders when the feature is launched in Xero). Sending these reminder emails can help, but a better option is to pick up the phone and talk to someone. Reminders from a real person are much more persuasive than automated emails.
These tips are just a few of the many ways you can proactively improve your payment results. There are lots of other invoicing best practices that can help your small business maintain a healthy cashflow. But the two really key elements are:
- Keeping on top of who owes you what.
- Proactively, but politely, chasing for payment.
By talking to customers and creditors regularly, having great records on whose payments are outstanding and chasing the right people in their accounts payable teams, you’ll soon have a regular and consistent cashflow, as well as great business relationships.
