While the UK government is still consulting with experts on how late payment penalties should be enforced, there is a real danger that small and medium enterprises (or “SMEs”) could face financial trouble from slow payers and bad debtors. Research has found that UK SME businesses are owed £30.2bn and 85% of companies experienced significant […]
Continue readingCategory Archives: Tectona Ten – Managing Cash
Managing cash is vital for your business’ success. Learn more tips and get advice for managing the cash in your business.
49. Interest rates will rise but when?
In the summer of 2013, the Governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney, stated that the Monetary Policy Committee would not consider increasing interest rates until unemployment was at 7%. At the time unemployment was at 7.8% and it was projected to take a couple of years to get down to the 7% target. […]
Continue reading47. How do you collect cash owed to you?
A sale is not a sale until you have received the cash. Agreed? “Cash is King”. Not Shakespeare, I grant you, but probably quoted just as often. Profitability is one thing but it is a lack of cash in the bank that is the most common form of business failure – even for some highly […]
Continue reading44. Contract terms – did you read the contract before signing? No, m’lud, they were too long and boring!
What do good contract terms and conditions look like? “And did you read the contract terms before you accepted them?” “No, m’Lud, they looked very long and very boring and life felt too short.” This defence might meet with some sympathy in a dispute over an on-line retail purchase; but in the commercial world, business […]
Continue reading41. The 3 things Lawyers absolutely must understand about their business – or die!
Most lawyers are great at being lawyers; but developing the skills and finding the time to effectively manage a business is not necessarily what they signed-up for. It’s unlikely there are many lawyers out there who secretly yearn to become accountants; but focusing on three key accounting things within your business will go a long […]
Continue readingIs HMRC breathing down your neck? 6 Top tips on how to keep them on your side
For any business, paying taxes on time is an important part of your financial management and there are significant penalties for late submission or late payment, as well as the distraction you get from having HMRC breathing down your neck. The main cause for delays is either incompetence in getting the forms submitted on time, […]
Continue reading37. It may be dry but it is critical – cash management best practice for SMEs
‘Cash is king’ for SME’s and all companies need to employ best practice cash management policies. Based on my extensive experience as a part time Finance Director, I offer the following key practical tips: Cash planning Ensure that a cash flow forecast is updated regularly (daily/monthly/weekly) – it can be a simple excel spreadsheet for […]
Continue reading24. Getting the most from your Forex provider
A guest blog by Ben Timms of HCFX. There won’t be many businesses that haven’t had phone calls from foreign exchange brokers and there are probably even less that haven’t made the wise move to get one on board, but in an increasingly competitive market, where everyone is promising ‘a better rate’, what does real […]
Continue reading6. Top tips for effective cash flow management in owner-managed businesses
Effective cash flow management can make it easier for SMEs to attract debt finance The latest Bank of England ‘Trends in Lending’ reports a decline in lending to UK businesses in the three months to May 2013; a contraction of around £4.5bn. Despite many lenders continuing to argue that demand for borrowing is somewhat muted, […]
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