You deserve a holiday, your cash flow does not.

Ah, the Summer… A time for unnecessary sun cream purchases, lonely garden furniture and barbeques in the rain.

It will soon be holiday season and just as business owners need to plan their own holidays, they also need to plan for the effect the holidays can have on finance.

After all, you don’t want to be giving your cash flow a holiday too do you ?

For most of us, the invoices you raise in June fall due at the end of July and will look to be paid the first week of August… bang in the middle of holiday season.

 

But your business doesn’t take a holiday. Wages still need to be paid. Bills and invoices still require payment. Therefore you need your own invoices settled promptly in order to keep the cash flow moving and ultimately allowing you to have a stress free, well deserved holiday.

If you’re already a Corporate and Commercial credit control customer, then you can just kick back and relax, knowing that you have a dedicated credit controller to be on top of it all for you.

However if you’ve not yet experienced the peace of mind having a successful credit control process brings and currently you’re short on time, resource or desire, read below for…

 

3 Easy Steps to Avoid Cash Flow Stress during the holidays.

  1. Remove potential payment delays. If you know there’s a query on an invoice, get it resolved. Invoices are not going to be paid whilst an issue remains. Don’t give a debtor an excuse to say… ‘you were meant to sort that for me’.
  2. Invoice promptly and correctly. If there’s an invoice that can be raised, raise it. Even if it’s for part of a project, get the invoice raised. It’s better to have some monies coming in whilst you’re away than none at all. Send statements regularly to flag up what is owed to try and avoid any further delays.
  3. Plan for payment. Pick up the phone, speak with your customers, ask them when they’re away and who will be covering their desk. Act on it with an email with any invoices that fall due in their / your absence. Something along the lines of…. ‘Dear John, just a quick note to supply you with your invoice that will fall due on the 16th August. I know you’re away / I’m away for a few days beforehand so just felt it prudent to get this across to you just in case. My accounts team are on hand should you wish to discuss this further, otherwise we’ll keep an eye out for your payment on the day’.

In short, treat your accounts as you’re treating your impending holiday.

Make a plan, prepare and execute.

Following these simple steps before the holidays can guarantee a good night’s rest whilst you’re away. Safe in the knowledge that you’ve done what you can to maximise the return of your monies but if you’d rather spend your time planning and packing, drop us a line and let us take away the stresses and stains so you can just kick back and relax.

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