Seasonal Cash Flow Tips for Business

Cash flow roller coaster, saving for a rainy day – chances are you’ve heard of these phrases in relation to business at one point or another. Throughout the year, your business could go through really good times where the cash is flowing in more than you ever thought possible, but then out of nowhere that flow could dry up, leaving you feeling anxious about where the cash is going to come from next.

As stressful as it is to ride the seasonal cash flow roller coaster, it is a part of business – the way to manage it is to be smart when thing are running perfectly so that you’re ready and prepared in leaner times. Seasonal cash flow is a real thing in pretty much every business! Whether you’re a retail shop doing the best business around the holidays or you’re a financial analyst working with businesses around the fiscal calendar, seasonal cash flow affects nearly everyone. Here are some cash flow tips to implement into your business so you can weather any type of storm that comes your way throughout slower periods:

• Look forward – Tracking your business is vital for growth and it could also help you start to determine when the slow periods are – for example, maybe you have a high volume of sales during the holidays, but experience a drop in business throughout January and February. Planning for those slow periods will help you navigate them more successfully.
• Save – When the cash flow is coming in, stash some of it away for later. Don’t get caught in a slow period and find you have expenses to pay, such as GST or other business-related expenses. When cash flow is good, spending should still be lean.
• Take advantage – During the peak seasons, take the cash flow to your advantage and boost customer service or staff levels to accommodate the additional volume. Spending a little more on hiring staff could potentially bring you more profit to save for a rainy day.

Every business goes through cycles – always prepare for them by staying focused and conservative with spending, even if the cash flow is high.

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David Gava

Passionate about small business, cloud technology & travelling the world.