Hey, there!

Imagine your startup is a ship that is sailing, and exploring unknown territories. With the wing at your back? Your cash flow is what propels you forward to sustain. It keeps the lights on, the workers paid and to achieve the targets. I am sure that you would have understood the importance of cash flow for MSMEs to keep your ship sailing. Ready to set sail? Let’s dive in!

Understanding the basics of cash flow

  • Cashflow management is the process of planning, managing, and executing when facing challenges due to limited resources
  • Accurate financial forecasting, utilizing limited resources which empowers data-driven decision, which helps you take preventive measures and avoid unexpected disruptions

Effectively managing cash flow 

  • Consistent Cash Flow Forecasting: is crucial for effective working capital management 
  • Inventory Tracking and Bookkeeping: Constant inventory levels and bookkeeping is essential to maintain accurate accounts 
  • Shift to digital platforms – Embrace automated software that helps you monitor accounts payable and receivables
  • It also increases transparency in accounts, which improves efficiency and the ability to make right decisions 
  • Seasonal Fluctuations: Recognize and plan to avoid seasonal fluctuations, and optimize the revenue during peak season 

Inventory Tracking and Bookkeeping: Regular Cash Flow Forecasting:

  1. Timely invoicing and receivables management
  • Avoid delayed payment: timely invoicing is crucial to prevent cash flow strain, ensure precise invoice generation, and take advantage of technology to prevent human errors
  • Prompt Customer Follow-Up: Ensure follow-up with customers promptly, be clear and transparent in stating terms and conditions while issuing customer credit, and recover debt promptly
  • Automate Invoicing: leverage accounting software to automate invoice generation and set reminders, before the due dates

Importance Of Planning Cash Cushion And Contingency Fund

  • MSMEs are vulnerable to external factors such as ( economic downturns, and unexpected events). It helps you avoid overdraft fees and penalties cash cushion acts as a safety net

Initiating Your Cash Cushion:

  • Negotiate with suppliers: Develop strong relationships with suppliers, and communicate it would be helpful to maintain good mutual relationships 
  • Adapt to Market Changes: Agility is necessary for the changing market, to sustain itself in the long term in the market, adapt to the market changes, and make strategic – decisions, especially when experiencing finically constraints 
  • Create financial reserve: set aside some of your profits, and treat it as a crucial aspect of your financial strategy

Take measures to establish and monitor a cash reserve, often referred to as your emergency fund.

  • Understanding Cash Flow Patterns: Understand your business cashflow patterns, and expenses and identify estimated errors
  • Setting Monthly Targets: the extra pennies that are left each month transfer to the cash reservoir 
  • Track accounts receivable – opt for setting weekly reminders over monthly reminders that not only helps you to be flexible but it allows you to take swift action on the pending or aged receivables
  • Separate Account for Cash Reserve: establish a separate account for cash reserve – to avoid unintentional spending on daily expenses 

Build A Strong Vendor Relationship 

  • Try to maintain a healthy relationship with the supplier, which paves the way to negotiating better payment terms
  • Make sure that there are reliable suppliers that would be open to contribute to working capacity
  • It also helps you with on-time deliveries, to avoid disruption in the production and distribution schedule
  • Maintaining good relationships with suppliers not only fosters loyalty, its more likely that suppliers would be inclined to accept urgent demands or try to be flexible in delivering the supplies as soon as possible

 Cash Flow Monitoring Tools 

Consider using tools like altx follow ups and altx e-Invoice:

Altx follow ups Reminders are sent automatically for on-time payments

  • To ensure early payments, altx follow-ups record commitments and automatically send reminders. Its user-friendly display provides crucial cash flow information, enabling knowledgeable judgments.

Altx e-invoice – Simplify compliance, generate accurate e-invoices effortlessly, and streamline payment management.

  • With seamless integration to altx follow-ups, automate sales vouchers and enhance payment follow-ups. Experience efficient invoicing and payment optimization with altx e-Invoice.  

 Remember the ship that sails can seize the wind of opportunity and will be a contributing factor – to building strong vendor relationships, ensure the ship sails smoothly make sure to opt for automation software and a reliable supply chain. 

Are you prepared to outshine the storms and achieve your goals?

Visit www.altx.one to learn more