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3 Ways Clarity Improves Your Cash Flow

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Are you generating the cash flow you want in your business? If you are not generating the revenue you want, consider these words from Steve Maraboli, “A lack of clarity could put the brakes on any journey to success.” Is your clarity helping or hindering your business? Imagine sitting in a room with the best coaches and consultants to focus on your business’ social media, team, operations and customer experience. When they ask you what they need to do more or less of to generate cash flow, are you clear on what you would want to do next? Clarity contributes more to cash flow than any strategy, process or operation ever can. Why? Without clarity we become unclear on what we want to achieve, who to target and what strategies, processes or operations to use to help us achieve our goal. Did a lightbulb just go off for you? I hope so. Here are three ways that clarity can increase your cash flow.

⦁ Clarity Lies in Being Specific

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Have you been wondering why customer acquisition is so hard? Why your social media and your copious amounts of business books, magazines and articles and networking sessions have not yielded much success? Truth is you are probably unclear of three things:
⦁ Who you are as a person and business – what makes you different, unique and attractive?
⦁ Who you serve – who are your ideal clients and why?
⦁ What results your clients experience – what results or solutions do your clients walk away with or experience?
When we become specific on who you are as a company, who you serve and the results your clients experience, you will be better equipped to communicate, connect and close. When we close, we make money. In a market place where products and service can be ‘vanilla’ or lack differentiation, let your company, product, service and solutions stand out by being clear about how you are unique, who needs your services or products and the results you consistently deliver to your clients.

⦁ Clarity Enhances Focus

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As a business owner your schedule can become your master. Everything is important. Everything requires your immediate or scheduled attention. But if you step back, take a look at all your activities – in a day, in a week, in a month, how many of them can you easily draw a line to our bottom line? How many of your daily, weekly and monthly activities are revenue-generating activities? 50%? 25%? 10%? Perhaps none? When you are focused on your business’ values and purpose, it helps you categorize, schedule and complete tasks that advance your business’ purpose. If your business is not generating revenue and you are not concerned about generating money, perhaps you should rethink if you are really running a business or an expensive hobby. Being honest about what your business needs to grow is half the battle. Staying focused and committed to doing the required revenue-generating activities to creating and sustaining cash flow.

⦁ Investment and ROI

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What does clarity have to do with investment and ROI? Let’s take a look. We have covered being clear and specific in who you are, who you serve and the results your clients get. Then we talked about your clarity of focus to ensure that you are doing revenue generating activities that keeps your businesses fed. Investment and Return on Investment (ROI) is your clarity on the value of your solutions to your client’s problems so their investment (price) to acquire your products and services generates a ROI.

How many times have you heard people question the price of a product or service? How many times have you wondered are you charging enough? Or perhaps if you are charging too much? When you have clarity on your client’s challenges and the results your solutions realize, they are clearer on how an investment in your business realizes an ROI. When they are clear on that, you are able to move from a conversation on price, to a conversation on value. Your clarity on the benefits to your client results in more cash flow for you.

We are told, taught and convinced that cash is king. Without being specific, focused and a clear on the investment and ROI for your clients, it can be very difficult to generate cash and maintain cash flow. Clarity on all three can help you identify, create and maintain cash flow. How can greater clarity create an immediate positive impact on your cash flow? What non-revenue-generating activities will you start removing from your schedule to give way for activities that directly impact your cash flow?

 

Aldeen Simmonds-Thorpe
Chief HR Transformation Officer and Coach at Aldeen Simmonds-Thorpe Consulting

Aldeen Simmonds-Thorpe is a HR Transformation Strategist, Speaker and Coach helping professionals and businesses to navigate and solve complex business and people problems enabling them to adapt, compete and thrive. She is a trusted Advisor and Coach to entrepreneurs and business owners helping them build sustainable businesses through community.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aldeen-simmonds-thorpe/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/aldeen_sim
Website: https://www.aldeenst.com/

Why Start-ups Should NOT focus on Cash Flows

 

The first thing I usually hear when a new client comes on board, especially a new client in the start-up phase, is “I want to work on my cash flow statement”. And while I am happy to help create one, there is an inherent road block in a start-up focusing on cash flow – you have no idea where your sales are coming from!

For some reason cash flow seems to be the creditor favourite for lending. In lieu of historical financial statements for start-ups, they’ll often ask for cash flow projections and future sales growth etc. before approving any lending applications. And then you are held accountable to meet those projections because that was the basis of the loan.

A cash flow projection is supposed to help you manage when money is coming in and when money is going out; but this assumes that you have a consistent stream of money in/out to be able to make this work! If you’re a start-up then you don’t have a steady sales stream yet. Not to mention, you’re probably still experimenting with your costs so you’re expenses are fluctuating as you play around with things. This means you can project a sales of $10,000 and expenses of $8000 for September… but you don’t have enough historical data to really see if this is a reasonable projection. And now you’re being held accountable to something that maybe should not have been set in the first place.

Instead, a break-even analysis is a much more useful tool for entrepreneurs to use in the start-up phase. What this analysis shows is how much sales you would need to just cover your fixed costs. This, for most entrepreneurs, is the goal in the beginning – just to break even and maybe show a little profit. To calculate this you take your average sales price divided by your fixed costs. This will give you the number of sales you need to cover your costs.

This, for a start-up, provides a more reasonable goal to work towards. Once you’re consistently covering your costs you can start focusing on bigger sales targets. When you have consistent monthly revenues and expenses, then a cash flow projection can be made!

 

 

“Behind Every Great Business is a Great Accountant”

For more information on how to keep your business tax efficient, or to get a consultation on whether you are making all the right tax choices for your business, contact Dharna CPA. www.dharnacpa.ca. Info@dharnacpa.ca

 

The Cash Flow Paradox

 

The number one concern most business owners have – especially in the beginning – is how to manage their cash flows. It’s not just about generating the sales – but getting those clients to pay. Pay on time. So you can pay your bills on time. And just because you aren’t getting paid doesn’t mean that your vendors will excuse your late payment. And so we find ourselves in this cash flow paradox of you need money to pay your bills, but what do you do when your clients just aren’t paying you?

The reality is cash flow ups and downs happen in any business and the excuse of your clients aren’t paying you does not bode well with most vendors. You need to be prepared for this and have a plan. The solution is a business line of credit.

For some reason most entrepreneurs do not want to get a business line of credit. Perhaps they’re afraid they’ll abuse the credit available or they need to personally guarantee it. But the fact of the matter is, you will inevitably need it at some point. Here are the two mistakes I see the most when it comes to borrowing money.

  1. Timing

Getting a line of credit can be a challenge for many business owners. If you’re a new business you don’t have enough credit established as a business and many banks will deny you unless you personally guarantee the loan. If you’re an established business, but have a lot of debts, you can also be denied the loan. Or If you’re an established business, the banks can question why you need a bank loan now when you’ve been in business for X years already. It can be a red flag to all of a sudden need to borrow money unless you have an expansion or specific tangible purpose.

Typically banks and creditors like to support clients in either the start-up phase or the expanding phase. So getting a line of credit established early on – even if you have to personally guarantee or put up some collateral – is advisable. You can support your business case by citing all the start-up costs that require immediate cash flow (website, advertising, space rental etc) and banks understand that in the beginning there will be more money out than in. Versus, needing money to just survive. The latter is a guaranteed loan denial. So ask for the line of credit application when you’re starting your business!  You don’t have to use it, but it’s easier to not use it when you have it, than be denied when you need it.

  1. Borrowing the wrong way.

Yes, there is a right and wrong way to borrow. The right way includes a nice tax write off! If you borrow money for business purposes, the interest you pay on that loan is TAX DEDUCTIBLE. Yay!

Often what I see happen is entrepreneurs put their SAVINGS in the business and then BORROW to fund their PERSONAL lives. Borrowing for personal purposes is NOT tax deductible. So only use your personal savings into the business if you have enough to cover your personal needs. Otherwise, see point 1 about getting a line of credit.

Note: even if you use your personal line of credit for business purposes the interest is still tax deductible. Either way, you need to be able to support the “business purpose” with a paper trail.

 

 

“Behind Every Great Business is a Great Accountant”

For more information on how to keep your business tax efficient, or to get a consultation on whether you are making all the right tax choices for your business, contact Dharna CPA. www.dharnacpa.ca. Info@dharnacpa.ca

Choosing an accountant

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No matter the size of your business, or its cash flow position, a business owner should never be without an accountant.

Accountants ought to provide services beyond the scope of tax preparation. Business owners in our community deserve, and should expect more from their accounting and tax service providers. Your accountant should be

  1. Accessible and open all year round
  2. Someone whom you can trust to offer you sound business advice and guidance (a trusted business advisor)
  3. Someone who can interpret your financial results, and hold a meaningful discussion with you about what the numbers are saying about your business
  4. Someone with whom you have an active relationship with right throughout the year, advising you on how to structure your affairs in a tax efficient way. Not just at tax time, because at that point the relationship is reactive, not pro-active
  5. Someone who can advise you on whether or not the systems and internal controls you have implemented in your business are effective. If not, they should be able to help in the re-design and implementation of suitable controls
  6. Someone who can scrutinize the financial performance of a company that you would like to buy
  7. Able to accurately present your company’s financial performance if you would like to obtain financing or are planning to sell
  8. Able to provide or recommend you to an estate planner (for succession planning)
  9. Transparent in the pricing of their services. That is, you should know exactly (or very close to exactly) what your bill will be for the service being provided. There should be no surprises when you open up the bill from your accountant.
  10. A highly trained professional, preferably one who is licensed to deal with the public. If they are licensed, then they belong to a professional body that regulates them, and ensures that their skills and training are current.
  11. Knowledgeable and up to date on your industry and current accounting/tax issues and trends (up to date on current tax and accounting issues)
  12. Adding value with sound tax planning strategies
  13. Properly represent you with the CRA
  14. Ethical, and a right balance between conservative and aggressive, in respect of tax deductions

Note: When looking for an accountant, you should meet with about 2 or 3 accountants to determine what they have to offer, and if they will be a right fit for your company. While fees are very important, your choice should not be made based on fees, but based on what your accountant will save you I time and money, as well as whether they are a right fit.

If you find the right accountant, he or she should be a priceless resource for your business as it progresses through its various stages (start up to maturity).

Green Meikle & Smith Chartered Professional Accountants

Authorized to practice public accounting by the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario

 

1020 Matheson Blvd. E. Unit 10

Mississauga, ON L4W 4J9

905-919-3543 Ext 101

647-338-5306 (cell)

www.greenmeiklesmith.com

TIPS TO PAYING OFF YOUR MORTAGE FASTER!

Amina

 

I had a great meeting last week with a prospective client.  They wanted to know how to pay off their 25 year mortgage in 10 years.  It was a huge focus for them, as they wanted to take the money left over after paying off their mortgage and put it towards their retirement savings.  They are both in their 40’s and want to be debt free by their early 50’s.

hour glassThey, like many people did not take savings seriously and so now in their 40’s find themselves with a hefty mortgage and not much in the way of savings.  I assured them that to do so would mean making sacrifices, such as less traveling, which they both love to do and eating at home instead of eating out, which they also love doing.  They assured me they were committed.  Of course there were many more sacrifices they would have to make but these were two of the biggest in their particular scenario.

Paying off your mortgage is the single most important step towards financial independence and a healthy retirement. Owning a principal residence outright gives you the financial freedom to channel money that formerly went to your mortgage into your savings or to pursue lifelong dreams or to invest in real estate, which in my opinion is the thing to do as it provides one with extra cash flow, which is another form of retirement savings.

If paying off your mortgage as quickly as possible is your goal you want to make sure you pay attention to the following tips.

Tip #1. First you want to make sure you have a good credit rating.  You can pull your credit report from Equifax here: (http://www.equifax.com/equifax-credit-score/)

By pulling your own credit bureau, you will be sure that when you speak to your mortgage agent or broker, there won’t be any surprises and if there are, you have already taken care of them.  You want to make sure that there are no “monsters in the closet” and that you are aware of your past credit problems, so that you can be prepared to discuss them with your mortage broker.

A good mortgage broker, will make sure that they explain your past indiscretions to the lender and that it does not impact your ability to qualify. You also want to make sure that you are not behind on payments as these can impact your score. It can make the difference between getting a great interest rate and one that is not that great. This can also impact the amount of interest you are paying on your mortgage.

Tip #2. You should be pulling your credit bureau every six to twelve months before shopping for a mortgage, just to make sure everything is on the up and up and that you are not faced with disappointment when it comes time to shop for that mortgage.

Tip #3. Don’t quit or change jobs just before applying for a mortgage, as that can drastically affect your ability to qualify.  Lenders want to see at least 6 months on the job.

Tip #4. The next step is maximizing your down payment.  The minimum required for most mortgages in Canada is 5% (depending on your credit rating) but by paying at least 20% down upfront, you cut down on your principal and interest payments and also avoid having to pay CMHC fees. Remember CMHC insurance protects your lender and not you in case of default so why incur that extra cost?  Of course it’s not always easy to pay 20% down so what else can you do?

Tip #5. You can be mindful of the amortization period.  Many people confuse amortization with term.  Amortization is the life of your mortgage, while the tem can run from 1-10 years with a fixed-rate or variable-rate interest mortgage.  After each term expires, you renew for another term.  Amortization on the other hand, defines how much interest you will pay over the life of the loan.  For example, you might pay less monthly (Principal + Interest combined) with a longer amortization, but the interest portion will be higher. Amortization can run anywhere from 15 years to 35 years (with at least a 20% downpayment). Interest can be the killer.  It can amount to thousands of dollars over the life of your mortgage.  Imagine what you can do with that extra money?

Tip #6. When it comes time to get that mortgage, don’t just go to your bank.  It is understandable that people want to stay with the same institutions that they regularly bank with or have their credit cards and car loans with but it doesn’t always pay to get your mortgage there.  By speaking to a mortgage agent or broker, you can shop around or more importantly they can shop around on your behalf.   Your mortgage agent will get you the best product and rate that works for you.  They have access to more than 40 lenders with different solutions and products, while the bank only has one – themselves.  Furthermore, the bank will push you to insure your mortgage and just like CMHC, the beneficiary of this insurance is the bank not you.

I remember when my husband and I went to get our first mortgage more than ten years ago – just like most, we went to our bank, thinking that since we had all of our business with them, it would make sense to get our mortgage there.  We were shocked when they offered us a rate that was higher than prime at the time and would not even consider a rate reduction based on our years of patronage.

On the advice of a friend, I called a mortgage agent and he was able to negotiate a great rate that was 2% lower.  It saved us years of mortgage interest and was a less stressful expeience overall.

Tip #7. Furthemore, rate is not the only thing you should be concerned with; you want to know if the mortgage will be compounded monthly or semi-annually.  Again this comes down to how much interest you will be paying – the less often the interest is compounded the better—semi-annual compounding could save you hundreds of dollars or more in interest.

Tip #8. Make sure you understand the difference between the variable rate and the fixed rate products, but more importantly how the penalties could affect you if you were to break the mortgage beforfe the term ends.  A variable rate mortgage will cost you 3 months interest, but a fixed rate mortgage will cost you the IRD, which is the difference between the posted rate and the discounted rate, multiplied by the number of months left on the mortgage.  In some cases it can cost you thousands of dollars in fees.

Tip #9. You want to take advantage of any and all prepayment privileges.  This can also help you pay your mortgage off faster as you can make annual prepayments of 10% to 20%, which goes directly towards the principal.  Not all mortgages allow this option so make sure that your broker factors this in, if this is important to you.

Tip #10. Finally and maybe most importantly, as it also has to do with budgeting and savings, is your payment schedule.  Don’t choose something that you can’t stick to, as it will make your life and that of your budgeting very difficult.  By paying bi-weekly instead of monthly, you put more money towards the principal as you have two extra payments every year.  However, if get paid monthly and you are now paying bi-weekly, you may find yourself stretched too thin.  Ask your broker to run different scenarios for you so you know what you can and cannot afford.  The last thing you want to do is get into a mortgage that you can’t afford.

Paying off your mortgage early will take lots of sacrifice, great budgeting and keeping steadfast to your goal, but if you can follow these tips, the rewards will be aplenty!

To Your Wealth!

Amina

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What Does A New Business Need?

Kerry George (1)

When you get started in business you will typically be bombarded with a thousand good ideas from hundreds of people who may or may not know a thing about how to succeed in business. Taking their advice may do you great harm. One must always ask themselves, “why would this person give me this counsel?” If they make their living by selling advertising of course they will say their advertising is the best. If they offer a gadget or an app that is supposed to save you time, they will want to convince you that theirs is the best.

A good question to ask a salesperson is, “Have you ever owned a business?” And close behind that question should be another, “As a business owner what differences did this make for you?”

So what do you really need to succeed in a start-up venture?

While it varies industry by industry there are a few common things that everyone needs. Here are 5 essentials:

  1. Good mentorship. Real mentorship can be had and it should be pursued. One mistake that new entrepreneurs make is that they believe they are the only one who ever had this kind of business so they do not seek advice. That is a mistake that could cost you everything. One poor decision can take you out. So find someone who has succeeded at anything at all and that is a better mentor than not having one because you can’t find a person in your industry. Entrepreneurs are busy people but they typically enjoy the stimulating conversation of someone who is earnestly looking to learn. Ask questions and listen more than you talk. Build the relationship and don’t ask for their business. That may come later after you have won trust but it is not the purpose of the friendship. You need their wisdom to survive.
  2. Capital or cash flow. You either need a lot of up front capital or you need to produce a solid and consistent cash flow. If you are producing widgets part-time and working at a job, keep the job until you have enough consistent orders or you will die. Your family will suffer. You will hurt. Cash flow is king.
  3. Marketing, marketing, marketing. Sales cannot be properly supported unless you have invested either time into marketing or money and in many cases both. Never wait to start marketing. Your sales staff needs to have brochures to explain your service and they should have business cards and whatever else it takes to support a sale. It also takes months to produce a legitimate following online with Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. So don’t wait until your product launches to get started or you will shout about your new business to an empty room. Start building a small following online and take them with through the journey. By the time you launch you will have an active group of engaged cheerleaders who are excited about your new offering!
  4. Website and online presence. Today is a different world than it was even 5 years ago. These are not just about marketing these are essential to your survival and your success. Your credibility will be judged by a prospects ability to find information about you online. While branding is important do not wait to have it all perfectly aligned in the heavens to get started. You can set up a website for anywhere from $100 to $10,000 and you need to either have it done for you or get to work on it late at night. Remember that after they look at your website they then go look at you the owner. So develop a personal profile on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook. Don’t delay if you want to succeed.
  5. Accounting and tracking. Entrepreneurs often lack good bookkeeping skills. Get over it and get help. Use an online program or hire someone for a few hours a month to just keep you on track. An unpaid GST bill or a badly done tax return can destroy you. One also needs to know the numbers to improve the sales ratio later. If nothing is tracked success will be lacking. Find systems that work and implement them sooner rather than later.

Kerry George is the owner of the Canadian Imperial Business Network which is currently the largest business network in Alberta and rapidly expanding across the country. She is a serial entrepreneur/author and speaker with a zest for life and a passion to help others succeed in increasing their potential and their bottom line. Kerry has several publications and blogs that you can follow and welcomes most interaction online.

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