Like it or not, budgeting is one of the most crucial aspects of running a successful business of any size. Your monthly budget—and the in-depth analysis it entails—gives you all the information you need about the money your business brings in and where it’s going. Tracking your cash flow is especially important if you have […]
If your company operates in the retail industry or provides a product or service, you’ll need to know how effective your collections efforts are during the year. There is a method for determining this information: your accounts receivable turnover ratio. It may sound complicated, but calculating this ratio is pretty simple. This is something every […]
Being a small business owner comes with plenty of ups and downs. The day-to-day machinations can be thrilling to take part in. It’s exciting to watch as your business chugs along, perfecting its craft and meeting the needs of the customers for whom you started this business in the first place. In the world of […]
We all know businesses need money to function and grow. If you’re a small business owner who is short on cash, you might be desperate to try any payment or loan method. That desperation can lead to poor decision-making and can put your business in an even stickier situation than where you started. One of […]
Selling a company isn’t a straightforward task. It involves making a lot of deals and finalizing several things. Luckily, you can structure the sale to suit your position. The calculation of a business’s purchase price incorporates different aspects. Contrary to what some sellers propagate, the value of assets isn’t solely responsible for the purchase price. […]
Accounts Payable (AP) is an essential resource for businesses in the management of payable obligations. Usually, AP refers to the amount a specific party owes to a given supplier or vendor. To elaborate, once the client places an order and receives it before releasing finances, they should record the liability amount in a record book. […]
A merchant cash advance or MCA might look attractive to a small business owner who needs some quick cash. Revenue shortfalls or immediate expansion plans can create this need. Because MCAs aren’t technically loans, you don’t have to go through a traditional bank approval process. MCAs give you an advance based on a percentage of […]
Proper account receivables management is among the key secrets to a thriving business. It helps the management identify and fix potential cash flow problems, conversely facilitating smooth-sailing operations. An excellent way to stay on top of account receivables is through an aging schedule. From what it is to why it’s of the essence, below is […]
Cash flow can present problems for any growing business. Some companies need capital upfront to manufacture a product or start a project. Others need funds for day-to-day operations while they wait for invoices to be fulfilled. One way or another, just about every enterprise runs into issues with available funds at some point. While traditional […]
Asset based lending is the process of borrowing money that is secured by an asset, or collateral. Asset based loans or lines of credit can be borrowed against equipment, property, inventory or receivables (in the form of invoice factoring). Businesses with larger transaction volumes and larger borrowing needs require custom solutions that meet those needs. […]
As a business owner, managing cash is a tedious but necessary part of the job. Keeping a hold of your cash flow is critical for a thriving, successful business, but it’s not always the simplest task or the easiest to understand. Two terms often thrown around in the realm of business management are ‘cash budget’ […]
Behind every thriving company is an efficient accounts receivable game plan. It’s easy to get lost in the pile when it comes to tracking invoices and remembering how much money your customers owe you after providing them with a product or service. If you don’t keep a close eye on this aspect of your business […]
When you’re running a small business, you must know several formulas to keep expenses low and maintain high-profit margins. Other formulas present business owners opportunities to know how fast their inventory is selling and tracking cash flow, called the cash conversion cycle (CCC). It’s also known as the net operating cycle. Read on to find […]
Running a small business is no easy feat, but running a successful small business takes even more time and skill. Performing a cash flow analysis and looking at your expenses can be the difference between your business floating or sinking. Knowing the financial health of your company helps you identify what you’re doing right and […]
Keeping cash flowing is a business’s key to success. Sadly, companies that do not manage their cash smartly tend to fail quickly. Along with making a profit, keeping the cash flowing is vitally important, especially for small businesses that are getting started. Young businesses often suffer from cash flow problems, and they need that money […]
The cash ratio, also known as the cash asset ratio, is a liquidity measurement used by financial analysts. Its purpose is to evaluate a company’s capability to pay off any short-term debts. This capability is determined by calculating the ratio of the short-term assets against a company’s short-term liabilities. There are two other common ratios: […]
Net working capital (NWC) is an organization’s total short-term assets minus its short-term liabilities. An organization’s net working capital paints a picture of its overall financial health and its being run efficiently. There are a number of ways to calculate net working capital depending on what the person analyzing the data is looking for. This […]
What exactly is a cash flow statement? Before you can make one, it is essential to understand the definition of what a cash flow is. Cash flow is a company’s ability to generate revenue and the operational turnover of a business. The cash flow statement is part of the trifecta of financial statements that are […]
Your business is running; you’re making sales; inventory is turning over, but are you making a profit? There are many costs involved in running a business, from salaries to rent to insurance to payroll, and even more so in the early days of a new company when the investments typically surpass the initial sales. It […]
It is often a struggle for entrepreneurs to find ways to fund their new business ventures. There are plenty of options, from traditional to unique. A popular and newer idea in business funding is crowdfunding. This method allows you to raise quite a bit of money without asking for a huge risk from those investing […]
The current ratio is an essential metric that small business owners, in particular, should keep a close eye on for their own company. It is also necessary for an investor to understand the current ratio in multiple companies when purchasing stock. What Is the Current Ratio? The current ratio is a commonly used metric in […]
When it comes to figuring your ability to secure funding for your business, you need to have a clear idea of your financial situation. There are many ways to do this. You must start by gathering all your financial data. You can then use several formulas to assess your current standings. One of those formulas […]
No matter the size of your business, it probably has been caught in the crosshairs of COVID-19 in one way or another. The pandemic has brought businesses to their knees, fighting to keep customers and finding new ways to stay innovative and grow. Businesses can survive during the COVID-19 pandemic, but it’s going to take […]
The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) offers much-needed relief for small business owners struggling to stay on top of costs during the pandemic. Unfortunately, not every entrepreneur managed to secure one of these loans. Hasty implementation and high demand for funds led to system crashes, processing delays, and other complications. If you fail to benefit, there […]
When you start a new business, one of the first tasks you have to learn is sales invoicing, and, in particular, transaction types. Choosing the right transaction for your business helps you get paid on time and avoid delays in cash flow. One example of a commonly used transaction is COD or cash on delivery. […]
Alternative lending refers to any type of financing outside of traditional bank loans. For a number of reasons, a business would either choose, or be unable, to secure traditional financing with a bank. Things like poor credit, limited operating history, or a lack of hard assets can make a business unfit for most bank loans. […]
As a small business, keeping up with finances can be a nightmare, especially as the business grows and things get more complicated. Not all of us were born with a love of numbers, and cash flow management is tough! Maybe you started a successful business with little understanding of balance sheets, invoicing or payroll management. […]
If you’ve already determined that invoice factoring is a good fit for your business, the next step is to identify the best factoring company for you. There are tons of different providers to choose from – so how do you know which is best? This article helps describe the differences between an independent factor and […]
Specialty lenders often use the terms Accounts Receivable Financing and Factoring interchangeably. At altLINE, we purposefully differentiate between the two with distinct structures. Whatever a lender may call it, there are certain things to keep in mind when evaluating options. How are Accounts Receivable Financing Rates Determined? Similar to other A/R based lines, your Accounts […]
No one likes to pay too much for a product or service, which is why we all shop and compare when we buy just about anything. But, when it comes to certain types of business services, you typically get what you pay for, which can end up costing you much more in many ways. You […]
Anyone who has started a business understands the immense challenges of getting it to the next level where it can grow and prosper. The central challenge for startup businesses is having sufficient working capital on hand to manage operations and pursue growth opportunities. In fact, the working capital requirements of startups can actually become a […]
If you own or manage a consulting firm, you know that cash flow can be a problem. You incur unusually heavy upfront costs—to hire the best professionals and ensure they receive the ongoing training they need to remain up-to-date. What’s the Main Cause of The Problem? However, the very clients you work so hard to […]
If you are like most small business owners, securing financing often involves emotions ranging from uncertainty to frustration as you navigate the alternatives. In addition to your daily job responsibilities, the demands of evaluating borrowing options can be stressful and overwhelming. This straightforward buyer’s guide serves as a starting point to help you with the […]
For many companies Accounts Receivable collection can at best be described as a chore and at worst as an anxiety-inducing experience where one large delinquent customer can put their own business in jeopardy. As a bank that offers factoring, or Accounts Receivable financing, The Southern Bank has a wealth of experience optimizing accounts receivable collection […]
What do agencies, staffing companies, manufacturers, consultants and other industries all have in common? In addition to supplying products and services to Fortune 500 companies, they’re all subject to the same strain caused by one of the latest trends in corporate finance – longer payment terms. More often than not, cash flow problems and extended […]
