How Small Businesses Can Manage Cashflow to Thrive in 2023


(StatePoint) Intelligent cashflow management is the essential fuel of startups and digital businesses, particularly in a challenging economy. According to experts, it can mean the difference between surviving, thriving and failure.

“Poor cashflow management will kill your business. In fact, it’s killed some of the biggest businesses in the world. No matter how fast you’re growing, you could be destined for the startup graveyard if your outgoings exceed your revenues,” says Dominic Wells, serial entrepreneur and CEO and founder of Onfolio Holdings, a leading online conglomerate that acquires and manages a diversified portfolio of online business holdings.

To help startups and digital businesses not only survive a downturn, but remain profitable while accelerating growth, Wells is sharing some top actionable insights for the current moment:

1. Know that capital is harder to secure. While during periods of low interest rates, it was possible to burn through capital, that’s no longer the case. “Don’t assume you can just raise more money. Investors are avoiding businesses that aren’t already cashflow positive,” says Wells.

2. Change your priorities. Founders must review spending line items and identify the areas generating the greatest returns. Double down on those. Cut or reduce your spending elsewhere.

3. Focus on short-term growth. Certainty beats speculation right now and investors are choosing businesses that will generate near-term certainty with monthly recurring revenue over those with potential long-term growth.

4. Make profitability your number one goal. Aim to be profitable enough to pay yourself a decent salary, cover business overheads and keep cash in reserve. If you’re looking for a buyer or investor, have solid numbers to show them. In Onfolio’s case, the investment criteria are established businesses generating annual profits over $500,000 in sectors and niches with high-growth potential. Without the metrics to support why you deserve funding, investors and buyers aren’t lurking around the next corner, ready to leap out with a check.

“It’s not easy to execute, but your goal is simple. Keep asking yourself, ‘are we profitable?’ If the answer is no, do everything you can to get there quickly,” says Wells.

5. Become more financially secure. At a time when many operations are cutting costs, making your service indispensable to customers so that they stay with you, or even spend more money, can help make you more financially secure. It’s time to deploy strategies and technology that generate more revenue from your current customers. For example, if you’re a website owner without a subscription upsell, now is the time to implement one.

For more tips and insights and to learn more about digital company acquisition, visit onfolio.com.

“New challenges arise for small business owners and digital companies during downturns,” says Wells. “Being savvy about the current climate can mean not just your survival, but your continued success.”

PHOTO SOURCE: © ArLawKa AungTun / iStock via Getty Images Plus


More Resources

Covenants Not To Compete: Another Franchise Quandary
Imagine that you have operated a successful franchise business for the past several years. Your franchise agreement's term expires in the near future and you are contemplating whether renewing the agreement would be a wise business decision.
Is Your Business Making Money?
Is your business making money? Would you know?Figuring out whether your business is actually making money is no easy task. Most small business owners have a pretty good idea of what their top line is (their revenues), but unless they're closely tracking and inputting all of their expenses, the bottom line can often come as a complete surprise.
Due Dilegence 101 Or What You Do Not Know Can Kill You! - Part 1
Introduction:This article is written as a general discussion on the subject of "Due Diligence". It is for informational purposes and not intended to be a definitive guideline for your exact situation.
Overcoming Your Biggest Competitor
Before you read any further in this article, I'd like you to take a moment and write down who your biggest competition is.OK, got it?I'm going to go out on a limb here and tell you that no matter what company you wrote down, you're wrong.
How Micro Loans Can Mean Macro Success for Your Business
"Inch by inch, row by row..
Restaurant Operators - What Skills do you Need
A tongue-in-cheek look at the skills required to operate a restaurant but?on he whole they come pretty close to the truth.People Skills,You need to be good with people, because you will have different customers almost every day, you will have repeat customers who have higher expectations, a high-maintenance shift-based staff to manage, suppliers who won't always meet your expectations or time frames and creditors who want their money now.
Small Business Marketing: Specialize or Generalize?
There have been many great points raised on both sides of this discussion. In order to make a final decision, we must look at how the business world is moving and at the purchasing patterns of the consumers who will be utilizing your services.
Small Business Computer Security, the Basics
Anyone in business today realizes both the natural dependency on computers in the workplace, and also the potential dangers associated with storing important data on them. Today's business owners are constantly being reminded that their company's data is at risk by the daily reports on various news stations, or even their favorite business-related website.
Franchising Industry Burdened in Over Regulation
There were only an estimated 1800 active franchisors in this country at the end of 2002, that number down from 6000 in a single decade. It is not hard from this effort to increase regulations to see why.
To Buy Or Not To Buy: Lawn Mowing Business
TRUTH IN THE LAWN MOWING INDUSTRYWe do not wish to slander any company or person but instead share information that is of value to each and every one! Most people who enter this industry will be effected by one of the following and we see fit to share with you what we know and have seen.Buying Into A FranchiseOk buy into a franchise, spend 25 thousand.
3.5 Million People And A Possible UK Home Business Opportunity
Has this ever happened to you..
Are You Really the Boss in Your Own Business?
I recently met with a very successful magazine publisher who was telling me how a chain of retailers for his magazines wanted everything their own way, even at the expense of losing revenue for their stores and missing out on the opportunity to provide real customer service to the customer.He was mainly concerned that some of the members of this chain, which, was made up of basically "mum & dad" store owners honestly thought that as it was their business, no one else should ask them to do anything over and above what they wanted to do.
Top Ten Blunders Business Owners Make
In today's marketplace the words 'job security' have become an oxymoron. So more and more people are venturing on their own.
Build Credibility, Value, and Trust on a Shoestring
Setting priorities in your business? Your first job is to sell. Selling is - writing the orders; receiving the cash; feeding the beast.
10 Ways to Start a Business on a Budget
If you've been thinking about starting a business, but are held back due to cash-flow issues, there are plenty of ways you can get your plans off the ground. Though your vision may be to own a big store, restaurant, warehouse, or office, consider starting on a smaller scale.
How to Remove Stress from Owning a Business... Forever!
I meet and talk to hundreds and hundreds of business owners every year and do you know what I've discovered? Virtually all of them are regularly suffering from stress.It dawned on me while running a seminar one day.
Starting an Aircraft Washing Service
To wash an airplane there are many items you will need to keep in mind. The first is safety while working on the tarmac of an airfield.
How to Prevent Home Business Burnout
As a home business proprietor, you may already realize why avoiding "home business burnout" is so important. Even if you have only been working your home business venture for a relatively brief time, you may have already been aware of the need to maintain your energy levels and reduce your stress levels while you were involved in your other employment.
Direct Mail - For Small Businesses
We hear a lot of talk about junk mail nowadays. Many peoplewill tell you that they dump it straight in the trash.
Accounting and Billing Procedures for Small Business
No matter how small your small business is, it is essential to have some sort of accounting and billing police and methodology. This will prevent you from making mistakes and upsetting vendors or even bouncing checks.

More Small Business Information:

Related Articles

Look Like Sizzle, Be The Steak
You've heard marketing and advertising gurus quip, "Sell the sizzle, not the steak." Advertising initiatives best reach their target audience with benefits and the "wow" effect, not the value or features of their product or service.
Setting Up a Pressure Washer Rig to Clean Concrete
Maximum efficiency in the cleaning industry is a key to survival and higher rates of income. The trailer or tuck unit needs to be set up so that you can use a garden hose and external water supply, because you never know when you are going to need one for concrete or other types of jobs.
Three Small Business Secrets to Getting More Billable Time
As small business owners we're in business to make money doing what we love. And that means we need enough billable hours to cover our expenses, our payroll, upgrades in skills and technology, and profit.
Business Relationships Defined
What makes a business relationship?What really makes a business relationship? This may be very hard to define as it goes beyond just meeting the person and chatting about something you have in common. A relationship is developed over a period of time and usually does not happen instantly.
Specialty Advertising in C-Stores
It appears the mini-blimp indoor theme and concept is making significant headway. We have seen them in the halls of Congress sniffing for anthrax.
There Are No Dumb Business Questions, Not!
Q: I'm curious. What is the dumbest business question you've ever been asked?-- Norris W.
Want to Grow Your Business? Make an Irresistible Offer
My clients and many of my readers are small and home-based business owners, and one of the biggest struggles they face is getting new customers.Getting new customers is costly and requires a repeated effort.
Where Can I Get Clients From?
The following tips have come from a wide variety of sources; some from other successful businesses we know, some from our Home-Based and Small Business Support Group meetings and some we've developed by trial and error.Some of the ways to get clients are:contact previous employers;mailing lists;cold call your target market;attend group meetings and seminars for your target market (conventions for doctors, lawyers; computer seminars);attend local Chamber of Commerce meetings;join groups related to your target market;if your target market uses a specific system, for example accountants use the SafeGuard system, contact them and tell them that you are available to teach them how to use the system or you can do it for them.
Hone Your Edge, Stay Focused
A common hazard faced by new entrepreneurs is a lack of faith in the power of their offer. Many business people lose focus because they are worried they wont generate enough cash flow from their core product.
Tell Me a Story: A Simple But Powerful Tool to Build Your Business
Everyone loves a good story. Whether it's the story of your vacation to an exotic place, the story of how you met your spouse, or the story of your small business, people get drawn in and feel involved.
How to Curb Antique Shop Theft Inexpensively
If you have ever had your antique shop or mall ripped off, you understand that it's very hard to detect. There are simply so many items to keep track of, and an item can be missing literally for months and you may not realize it.
The Failures Guide to Small Business Success
How many "get rich schemes" have you joined? Or have you invested in numerous legitimate business endeavors only to have them not work for you? Have you started you business and now facing a complete shut down? Do you consider yourself a failure? Are your loved ones pressing you to give up?Risk-taking is a large part of entrepreneurship, in fact it is what drives it, and it's why so many people avoid small business, despite its many potential rewards. Those of us who have tried it only to have failed may find ourselves right back where we started, which could leave us feeling like total failures.
Age Old Marketing Technique Improves Business Plan Executive Summaries
Every business plan book tells you how the Executive Summary is your opportunity to provide a brief overview of your business plan; capture your readers' attention and imagination; and, summarize the plan's highlights and key selling points.So, why am I telling you these 3 things when you probably already know them?Because it's useless advice unless you employ one, not so obvious, age old marketing technique to make these points come alive.
Arent Small Businesses Lucky?
Why? Because they have access to world class public relations no matter how small they are.That's one way of saying, take care of your key target audiences, Mr/Ms small business owner, and they'll take care of you.
Truck Detailing Shop Business Case Study
As an entrepreneur you can learn a lot by following the real life case studies of other entrepreneurs. Often the text books in school leave out the beginning details and the juicy part of how it all comes together and is created out of nothing but a thought.
Credit Repair Business Opportunities - Huge Profit Potential!
In the world today, many people are further in debt than they realize. When they finally come to understand they need help, they are on the brink of bankruptcy.
But Weve Always Done It This Way
Sacred cows take a long time to die. We get comfortable in the way we do things and lose sight of how they could be improved.
How to Start a Paper Shredding Business
Paper Shredding Business Opportunities are blossoming up everywhere because in recent years, privacy concerns and new policies have forced companies all over the country to invest in paper shredding services. Large corporations and small are in need of shredding services.
Why Small and Medium-Sized Businesses Should
As the owner or an employee of a small-to medium-sized business, you might have never thought about media monitoring. Maybe you are not even sure what exactly is meant by this and have thus ignored it so far.
Creating a Power Plan
Part of the power plan is making sure you have all the necessary contact information within a company. It is one thing to have the CEO's information, as he is the decision-maker, but it is quite another to have the information on others that you may be working with directly.