by Debra Robinson | Feb 6, 2023 | Blog, Cash Flow, Cash Flow Confidence, Follow the Money
Happy New Year!
In 2023, it is time to discover the pattern of cash flow that works for your business. A little change could make a big difference for financial success.
Moving money through the wrong channels at the wrong times can drastically bottleneck cash reserves. Partnering with a cash flow expert is the quickest step to excel your financial knowledge within your business.
The #1 action that cash flow experts suggest is to generate a financial forecast to create the road map of spending.
The immediate ROI is knowledge of the dollar amount needed for cash reserves.
Having looked at many business financials in the last year, I have observed business owners tensions grow as inflation rises costs. However, with the ability to be disciplined to a cash flow plan, owners can pivot away from cutting their biggest expense; salaries and benefits, .
Closing the books on 2022; the 3 biggest financial problems I am seeing are:
1. Draining Bank Accounts: Owners are spending more than they are bringing in cash collections.
2. Accounts Receivables are becoming more challenging: Struggles with cash flow results in reduced monthly revenue.
3. Rising costs and less revenue: Inflation has tightened bank accounts leaving less extra money for reserves.
I welcome the opportunity to help dental practices and small business owners to discover their pattern of cash flow to eliminate money struggles for 2023.
Not sure where to start? Sign up for a SWOT package that will deliver: the good, the bad, and proactive strategies you can implement right away to become more empowered in managing your financial arena in 2023.
EASY AS SWOT
Which way is your money flowing? Gain the level of empowerment that only comes from a SWOT analysis.
SWOT Cash Flow Forecasting Package: One Time analysis of owners current financials. Debra will create a cash flow forecast giving owners an 8 month view into the future of what their cash on hand balances are likely to be based on their current financial story.
- Delivery of an eight-month cash flow forecast that is directly tied to your current financial story.
- Guidance on what your minimum cash on hand balances need to be to sustain your business in the months ahead.
- A one-time analysis to help you understand where you are today and identify proactive strategies that can help you make smart short term decisions.
- One-on-one consultation to understand your cash flow forecast, which will model a likely outcome for 8 months into the future
by Debra Robinson | Jun 27, 2022 | Blog, Cash Flow, Dirty Little Secrets about Cash Flow
Did you take on more debt by signing up for an EIDL loan? Have you been funded with 1, 2 or even 3 loans in the last 2 years? If so, please continue to read this very important message that I want to convey that you might not realize what you signed up for when you took on more debt from the SBA.
I worked with one of my clients last week to learn about how the payback schedules are going to be kicking in. Most of my clients started receiving EIDL funds in 2020 and then some have taken 1 or 2 more loans. Each time, the government is deferring when your FIRST payment will be due.
SBA Loan – Gift or Burden?
How nice of the SBA to let you know that your loan(s) payments are being deferred for 12 or 24 months from your initial funding. Here’s the kicker…… your loans have been accruing interest from day 1 of receiving those funds. I learned that my client has accrued $14,500+ of interest on approximately $650K loan payoff. I also learned that until the accrued interest is paid off, we won’t touch the principal balance of the loan. Client’s interest is charged at $65.47/day until she is current. Oh, by the way, her first payment is not due until May of 2023 because the govt will defer another 12 months from her last funding. How nice of the SBA, or not???? Who is making money off your debt? Is it a gift or is it a burden?
Steps to Find Your Accrued Interest
Think about that for a minute……If you have not looked into your EIDL loan and are just sitting back waiting for that deferred payment schedule to kick in; I would like to strongly encourage you to find out what the accrued interest amount is sitting on your account. Here are a few steps you can follow:
- Find the last email/letter from the SBA that is for the loan. This will be your original loan document or the last AMENDED notice for the loan.
- You can call the 800 number on that letter for help. What I learned walking through this process with my client is we went to this website: Capital Access Financial System (sba.gov).
- You will need to ENROLL by clicking the NOT ENROLLED link.
- You can create your login information. (This is a different site than where you originally signed up for the loan.)
- It’s very easy. But, again, if you need help, call the 800 number on the loan document that you have received.
- Once you get logged in, it will tell you what the total balance is including the accrued interest amount. This is what needs to be paid before you will start hitting the principal amount.
- You will also see when your first payment will be due.
Dirty Little Secret
From my seat in the sandbox as a CASH FLOW expert, it’s important to create debt servicing strategies in line with how your cash flow can support them. Understanding how to manage cash flow takes more than just reading your Profit and Loss. You MUST understand the Balance Sheet that is tracking all your debt. How much you are posting to the principal portion of the loans are posting here. This money going out has NOTHING to do with your Net Profit/Loss.
Proposed Solution
I would welcome the opportunity to help you create those debt servicing strategies from a proactive perspective; not reactive. We are continuing to offer our SWOT Package to help you know where you are currently with your cash flow. The good, the bad and the ugly. Here is a snapshot of what this package can offer: SWOT Packages | Get Total Cash Clarity | Centennial Revenue Mgmt (centennialrevenuemanagement.com).
Don’t wait any longer to be proactive in managing the debt in your business/practice. Cash flow is the lifeblood of all businesses. Just because you may have more money in your bank account(s) than ever before, does not equate to good cash flow. I know all the “Dirty Little Secrets About Cash Flow” in a business. Let me bubble up your secrets to help you learn how to have more money at the end of your month!
by Debra Robinson | Apr 8, 2022 | Blog, Cash Flow Confidence
Beginning the month with promising figures can turn discouraging within thirty days, if funds are back to zero. Dirty Little Secrets of cash flow confidence are ways to control payables to ensure money lasts and even grows through each month rather than disappears. Penny pinching is a thing of the past, there are ways to succeed in every financial situation.
Business owners truly have the opportunity to decide how to spend. Conditioning accounts payable to act more like a bottle neck than a fire hose is the first step to nurturing a business bank account.
With increased production costs, employee wages, and interest rates about to climb; the economic environment is shouldering business owners decision making. Being conscience to fend off emotional spends or splurges to save a dollar is another trade secret in healthy cash flow. Click to read more on Money Habits.
Many business owners try and tackle their financial situation alone with the notion that they’re saving money. The truth is, hiring a team of financial experts can actually save you more money than the fees of its respective members. A cashflow specialist is a key guide to designing the road map to build valuable cash flow forecasts which eliminate the stress of uncertainty.
Savings Lift Off!
Unfortunately, there is no magic number that determines the right amount of cash on hand. This important figure varies from business to business. Essentially, the sweet spot for a particular business can be determined through cash flow forecasting.
From my seat at the table, the correct amount of beginning/ending cash balances will be defined by how easily a business owner can find peace of mind at the end of the day and go to sleep without worrying about cash flow each month.
Don’t let money slip away so easily. The success of your business relies on financial control. Learn how to be proactive by scheduling a complimentary consultation with me at the number below.
Curious to Know the Health of Your Business?
SWOT Cash Flow Forecasting Package: One Time analysis of owners current financials. Debra will create a cash flow forecast giving owners an 8 month view into the future of what their cash on hand balances are likely to be based on their current financial story.
by Debra Robinson | Nov 4, 2021 | Blog, Cash Flow, Cash Flow Confidence
Trick or SWOT? Treating your Finances…. To Outside Eyes!
Don’t be tricked by your numbers. Understanding cash flow in your business should not be frightful! Don’t play it safe going into the end of the year and not know what ghosts and goblins are interfering in maximizing your net profits and optimizing your cash flow.
Do you know the answers to these scary questions?
- Have you figured out if you are spending more money each month than you are bringing in on a cash collection basis?
- Do you know how to read your Balance Sheet that has lots of dirty little secrets?
- Do you know what your monthly breakeven revenue amount needs to be so you don’t run out of money?
- Do you know what your monthly cash reserves amount needs to be so you don’t have to juggle payroll and vendor bills?
Now more than ever, it is important to keep yourself financially educated to have a healthy business in 2021. Achieving cash flow wellbeing takes a team of trusted advisors. If you’re wrapped in wonder of it what would be like to step into November with a full awareness and presence in your financial arena, it is time to treat your business to a cash flow analysis.
SWOT Package Special 25% OFF through November. Become empowered by knowing what your cash on hand will look like for the next 8 months and schedule TODAY! Click to find more information on a SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats). As an expert of cash, I bring outside eyes to your financial arena. I will do a deep dive into your financials, create a working forecast model, and will deliver it to you in a 2 hour consultation. If you need support with collaborating with your CPA, I welcome the opportunity to help.
Find confidence and comfort in the financial health of your business. For the month of November, we are offering a cash flow package to help educate you on the movement of money in your business. Schedule your complimentary consultation today by calling (303) 835-7992.
by Debra Robinson | Oct 5, 2021 | Blog, Blog, Cash Flow, Cash Flow Confidence
Centennial Revenue Management offers more than consulting on cash flow; it is the GO-TO for all money management advise for the business community.
Debra is passionate about helping business owners and their teams to better understand their numbers and how to use that knowledge to grow and prosper. As such, the team at CRM provides ongoing cash flow and revenue management insights, tips and tools to help you build your financial muscle.
Using her professional background and current experiences mentoring business owners, Debra shares ways she has helped her clients from around the country with quick how-to’s on following the money to improve cash flow.
Are You Ready to Gain Control?
Start the road to financial freedom and cash flow confidence using Debra’s guide to get your business on track. Join the conversation and sign up for newsletters filled with informative tips and ways to achieve the “Dirty Little Secrets of Cash Flow”.
Gain confidence with a 5-Minute Read. Update your cash flow knowledge in a library full of monthly blogs from Debra’s resourcesful Knowledge Bank. Such blogs discuss:
How Much Cash on Hand is Enough? Cash reserves/cash on hand are the amounts of cash accessible to a business once outstanding balances have been paid. It’s an important metric to measure and determine what amount is enough for emergencies or dips in business. How much you need on hand? Read More…
The Bad Money Habits You Need to Break – I’ve seen those bad habits broken with big payoffs. What follows is a selection of some of the most common bad habits I’ve encountered during my time as a cash flow specialist, as well as how to address them. Read More…
The Role of your Bookkeeper – Most business owners think of their CPA as a go to expert for financial reporting, when in fact they should be going to their bookkeeper – The keeper of the cash flow. Read More…
Where is your Company positioned in the Cash Flow Arena? It is not uncommon for a company to show a net profit on their income statement and still find that they are having shortfalls of cash each month. Why is that? The art of managing cash flow is to look 90 to 120 days into the future. My cash flow modeling methodology forecasts 8 months into the future to predict a likely outcome. Full Article…
Centennial Revenue Management works with small business owners across industries whose needs extend beyond the basics of revenue management into total control and fiscal health.
We offer a range of cash flow consulting services such as cash flow management and forecasting as well as outsourced CFO services in Denver, CO and virtually across the country. Let us show you how to make more confident, lasting financial decisions for your company and grow a more financially healthy business. Interested in working with Debra? Click to find the right financial package for your business!
SPECIAL EVENT – Light the Night Walk
On September 23, 2021 – The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Light The Night was held in Washington Park, Denver, CO. Debra Robinson has been a part of the walk since the beginning over ten years ago. She supports the memory and legend of her sister who lost her battle to cancer, but also was a pioneer of the Rocky Mountain LLS chapter. See more about LLS and how you can get involved by bringing light to the darkness of cancer. Click to learn more about the many ways to Get Involved or Help Debra’s Light the Night Fundraiser LLS Goal – Please make a Donation.
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Centennial Revenue Management is here to help by creating proactive strategies, identify, and transform money habits to ensure you won’t run out of your money.
Contact Debra today at drobinson@centennialrevenuemanagement.com
or at 303-835-7992.
by Debra Robinson | May 20, 2021 | Blog, Blog, Cash Flow Confidence, DLS
Many business owners try and tackle their financial situation alone with the notion that they’re saving money. The truth is, hiring a team of financial experts can actually save you more money than the fees of its respective members. Adding a CFO and/or Cash Flow Strategist to your financial team, is an investment that owners will reap rewards from long into the future. A business is only as strong as its cash flow. Becoming proactive in creating strategies to help you not run out of your PPP money, is the goal to recover strong out of the pandemic!
From my own experiences, most business owners are spending money as fast as it is coming in and then some. Being accountable and aware of your business spending is the most important step towards finding solutions towards money woes. What were your money habits going into the Pandemic? Did you already have a cash flow problem and were “saved” by the PPP gifts and EIDL Loans? Have you taken the time and put forth the energy in rebuilding a more solid financial foundation?
Spring is upon us! Let May be the month that you plant the seeds to a good financial garden and begin to watch it grow. Centennial Revenue Management wants to help you get off to a good start! Take advantage of the Spring SWOT Analysis Package – strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. This snap shot will help you to plant the financial seeds to build a strong financial foundation. Click here to learn more about that offering:
Now that you are sitting on more money in your bank accounts then ever before, what will you do to ensure and empower yourself that you will not run out of money by the end of this year? The Dirty Little Secret about Cash Flow is that it’s not about the next 30 or even 60 days from now. The sweet spot is 90 to 120 days out to see if you are brewing a cash flow storm or will already be in one!
Top 5 Strategies that I highly recommend paying attention to when creating a plan in the very near future.
- Bring Outside Eyes to your Financial Arena: Take the time and consider investing your money into a cash flow expert that can identify the top money habits that you can change to get a better outcome with managing cash flow. If you went into the Pandemic with a cash flow problem or already struggling with cash flow; it’s more than likely you will come out of the Pandemic with the same cash flow problem. It will just take a longer time to spend the cash reserves that you have stashed from all the loans the government gifted you!
- Identify what your Average Monthly Revenues are each month: To determine this number, I recommend using a 4-month trend taking the total of CASH revenues (not accrual) and divide by 4 months. This will tell you a starting place of what your monthly revenues are likely to be in the months ahead.
- Next up; Identify your Average Monthly CASH Outlay: To determine this number, you need to look at both the Profit and Loss and Balance Sheet. On the P&L, I also recommend looking at the total of 4 months of Expenses on a CASH basis and divide by 4 to get an average monthly amount for each expense line. PLUS, you need to look at the Balance Sheet and determine the monthly amount of debt servicing and Owner Draws/Dividends that are being posted. The total amount will get you close to understanding what your Average OUTLAY of cash is each month.
- Implement an Accounts Receivable Process: This is money that you have earned but have not yet collected. Anything over 45 days outstanding is “low hanging” fruit in the cash flow arena and should be aggressively pursued to collect from your clients. First step in implanting a process is to assign an “owner” on your team to make client relation calls and send monthly statements asking for money owed.
- Implement an Accounts Payable Process: This is money going out that you want to slow down and control how you pay your vendors. I’m not suggesting that you violate payment terms. I am suggesting that you have your bookkeeper enter vendor invoices into your accounting system and then pay on a weekly or bi-monthly process. Big picture, you want to collect as much of your accounts receivable as possible, make payroll, pay vendors and service debt with you being empowered by the timing letting money go out of your bank accounts!
Moving into a new normal will take creating some proactive strategies! Partnering with a cash flow expert can help to empower you to hold onto your cash reserves. What if you could learn to manage the outflow of money against your revenue trends and make a profit and optimize cash flow? Take back financial control and learn how to be proactive by scheduling a complimentary consultation with me at the number below.
The goal is to focus on optimizing cash flow and to educate you on what your minimum cash on hand balances need to be to sustain your business in the months ahead.
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Centennial Revenue Management is here to help by creating proactive strategies, identify, and transform money habits to ensure you won’t run out of your money. Contact Debra today at
drobinson@centennialrevenuemanagement.com or at 303-835-7992.
