I have found the same thing happens with people managing a business. They are always after the latest product that will give their business the edge. I have experienced this a number of times over the past few months. I receive comments about how my presentation or e-book has nothing new in it.

Although there is nothing wrong with trying to continually improve your business, research shows that around 85% (just like the weight loss industry) of new business management products add no value to a business except to the person selling the product. However, we keep trying to find that silver bullet to  our business the edge.

I am not saying these new management theories or products are bad or don’t work. Many will work in the right environment. However, many businesses haven’t mastered the basic principles needed. Those old pieces of wisdom that haven’t changed in years.

The formula for gravity hasn’t changed over the years. NASA has to get this formula right before trying any of its new technology when launching a space shuttle or the shuttle will come crashing back to earth. The same principle applies to business. If you don’t understand the critical numbers and how they affect your business then any gains from new management theories will be short lived.

Before trying to find the latest and greatest product to help your business make sure you have the old tried and tested basics in place.

I started Beyond the Numbers to help small business owners who were making less than the average wage. Working as a tax accountant I saw that at least 80% of small business owners were working incredibly hard but earning less than they would if they were in a job. While there is nothing wrong with my motivation to start my business it did lead me to make the biggest mistake a small business came make.

The biggest mistake any small business can make is to fail to accept they are running a business.

Many people that I speak with are passionate about their business and how their products can help others. However, many fail to accept either consciously or subconsciously they are running a business as well trying to keeping customers happy. I made the same mistake that I was advising against to my clients. I can’t explain why but I thought these rules didn’t apply to me.

If you don’t accept that you are running a business you will only ever focus on one of the two critical ingredients of a successful business. The critical ingredients in any successful business are customers and cash flow. Many businesses focus on satisfying their customer but either neglect or don’t know how to focus on satisfying their cash flow. Without cash flow you will never be able to accomplish the reasons why you started your business.

One of the reasons why people don’t focus on cash flow is because they fear or don’t want to know anything about the numbers. They wish they could just focus on doing what they love best and completely ignore the numbers. I completely understand, I feel the same way about marketing and networking. However, you will never have maximum control of your business if you don’t understand its critical numbers.

To accept that you are running a business does not mean you abandon the reasons or motivations for starting your business. Or that you must make all decisions purely based on a financial basis. Quite to the contrary, focusing on running a business by satisyfing the cash flow should enhance your ability to achieve your goals. A healthy cash flow reduces stress and creates more opportunities to help your customers and achieve your goals.

If you have failed to focus on the cash flow of your business then discover the five critical numbers that will help you keep more cash in your bank account with our FREE ‘Kickstart your Profits’ consultaion. During this consultation we work through the five critical numbers of your business and develop practical strategies to kickstart your profits and retain more cash.

Book your ‘Kickstart your Profits’ consultation here TODAY!

The same can be said about accounting software in business. With the introduction of GST one of the benefits mentioned about changing from a manual accounting system to a computerised system was the fact business owners would know more about their business and would be able to manage their businesses better. Also, it was stated it would make it easier for their accountant. Generally, I have failed to see these benefits eventuate in many small businesses.

Read more…..

Listen to the podcast here.

The podcast series is based upon my time working in Africa. I loved living in Africa and I learnt a lot about my self and how to manage a business from a different perspective.

I hope you enjoy it.

Click here for the podcast webpage

The start of the new year is a great time to reflect and make plans on how to improve your business this year. Don’t let all those good ideas go to waste.

Turn your plans into results

Improve your business by turning your plans into results by using these five successful techniques (adapted from a University of Hertfordshire study).

1. Break your goal into small manageable steps.
2. Write down your plan including the steps to be achieved.
3. Measure your progress.
4. Set rewards for yourself and your employees when you achieve a step or milestone.
5. Focus on the benefits of success. Research shows people are more successful when they focus on succeeding and its benefits.

Start 2011 with an action plan that will improve your profits, cash flow and lifestyle. The action plan should not be formal and stagnant. Choose one or two things to change in your business. Spend an hour or two developing a one page plan using the five techniques. Continually review your plan every three months as your business evolves during the year.

1. Profitable – For a sustainable positive cash flow a business needs to be profitable.
2. Debtors, stock and creditors – Poor control of these three factors can cause major cash flow problems. They are the silent killers of cash flow. For example, when the shop moved into the larger premises the amount of stock doubled, this stock had been financed from the cash in the bank.
3. Over capitalised – The purchase of assets that are not producing a reasonable return on investment will affect cash flow. For example, the new shop required new fixtures and fittings however there was no increase in revenue from the investment.
4. Too high borrowings – The business has borrowed too much and its loan repayments are causing cash flow problems.
5. Taxation – The business can encounter problems when it doesn’t set aside money for income tax. Another problem is spending GST or VAT collected before remitting it to the tax department.
6. Owners – The owners of the business withdraw more cash out of the business than the business is generating.
7. Unplanned or uncontrolled growth – This can be one of the biggest causes of cash flow problems in small business. It results in overtrading, i.e. buying and selling more than the resources of the business can handle.
8. Lack of planning – Cash flow is all about timing. If a business is not prepared for large payments it will affect the cash flow.
9. Poor quality financial information – The lack of regular financial reports will cause poor decisions to be made.

10.  Poor internal controls – Internal controls are procedures to safeguard the business’s assets. For example, no procedure to follow up overdue customers.

Early diagnosis by doctors can save lives. Similarly, early diagnosis of cash flow causes can save your business. Relying solely on the traditional financial statements to ensure a healthy cash flow is not enough. To diagnose the real cause of poor cash flow in your business you will need to go beyond the numbers of the financial statements.

If you have cash flow problems then learn simple strategies that you can start using today that will increase your cash flow and make your business a success by downloading the ebook 10 Cash Flow Strategies for a Successful Business free. Click here to get your copy.

External factors can have a large and frustrating influence on small business and its cash flow. They can also be overlooked by small business as part of the reason for poor cash flow. If overlooked the small business will not be able to effectively improve its cash flow. In this blog I am using a small retail bookshop in the examples.

1. Political – The influence on business by government. For example, the government increased the taxes on certain products overnight without warning causing a fall in sales not only of those products but also of other products in the store.
2. Economic - The influence of the economy as a whole on the business. For example, a rise in interest rates would always cause a decrease in sales of certain products.
3. Social – The influence of demographic composition and social norms. For example, the move to a different shopping centre saw a change in the type of customer even though they were in the same suburb.
4. Technological – The influence of progress in technology. For example, the internet enabled previous customers to purchase from overseas the same product at a cheaper price.
5. Competitors – The influence that competitors behaviour has on the business. For example, the large department stores started to stock the same items as the shop.

Tomorrow, be sure to return  and read about the internal causes of poor cash flow.

Have you downloaded my new ebook: “10 Cash Flow Strtategies for a Successful Business”? Get your copy here today. (Registration required)

With this FREE e-Book you will discover ten (10) great strategies that will improve your cash flow management. You will need that knowledge, because you can go broke while trying to make a profit! The number one reason for small business failure is poor cash flow. Cash flow needs to be managed like any other part of your business. This FREE e-Book is easy to understand, and will not take long to read. It is however, packed with knowledge and wisdom that will make it well worth investing your time in reading. Download it now!

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1. Increased interest and bank charges – When having to source funding externally from lending institutions extra costs will be involved. These extra costs will affect your profit and cash flow. Bank fees and interest can accumulate very quickly if you go outside their credit terms. Ensure you have the best overdraft and loan for your business.
2. Missed opportunities – Poor cash flow may lead to you having to pass up on great opportunities to grow your business, e.g. you may not be able to invest in the machine that will make production more efficient or will have to pass on a supplier’s special.
3. Poor relationships with suppliers – Being constantly late with payments to your suppliers may cause tension in your relationship with them. This may lead to poor service or losing them as a supplier altogether. Always pay on the day the bill is due.
4. Poor relationships with customers – Contacting customers for overdue invoices when you are stressed may lead to you saying things that you wished you didn’t. Ensure you have a debtor collection policy and that it is followed.
5. Employee morale – The culture of the business comes from the management. If the manager is stressed and worried this will reflect in the staff morale – especially if they are worried about their long term future.
6. Stress – The stress from the lack of cash can influence all areas of your life and business. Stress affects three areas of your life: physical, mental and behavioural. If stress isn’t managed effectively it can have significant impact on a person’s health.
7. Solvency – The extreme cost of lack of cash flow is that you go out of business.
8. Restricted Growth – Your business can not grow if you don’t have the resources to assist that growth. There is no point increasing sales if you don’t have the personnel or resources to fulfil the extra orders.