Boost your cash flow by being more productive
I have been working with small businesses and running my own small business for the past five years. I think the most important lesson I have learned is that cash flow is critical to the smooth running and long-term survival of a business. Having some spare money in the bank keeps you going in tough times and allows you to invest in new technology or software or just for unexpected expenses.
However, in order to grow cash flow in your business you need to be as productive as possible. There are a few areas in your day-to-day business life that directly affect this. It's really not about having to work many hours, although sometimes this is needed also. It's about working smart. I have also noticed these behaviors in successful small businesses that I have worked with.
Block distractions Easier said than done. But keeping your desk tidy and clear helps you to focus on the task at hand. Also, switch off your mobile if it has email alerts. Don't get lost spending time on the internet. Dedicate at lest 2-hours a day to "work time" where you don't answer the phone or emails or surf the web. You will be amazed how much time work you can achieve in this 2 hour window.
Minimise time spent on non-revenue generating activity This one took me a long time to realise and sort out. When I first started my own small business I was busy all the time. It suddenly occurred to me that I was spending too much time on non-revenue generating activities. I was spending way to much time on admin items, the monthly accounts, reading industry news. Make sure you maximise the number of hours in each day that you spend on serving customers or marketing to find new ones.
Exceed the customers expectations As a small business owner you have the ability to easily go the extra mile and give a better service than expected. Deliver quicker than expected, give more than expected or do something for free. By delighting your customer, chances are you will get more business from them. Extra business from existing clients is the best kind of revenue because you don't have to spend more marketing money on new clients.
Time management Time management is very important for your cash flow. The faster you can plan, accomplish and review tasks, the more productive you are and the more hours you have for generating more revenue. Business software is really good for this. By investing in a software that helps you manage your clients or finance can save you alot of time. This saved time can be used for chasing more revenue.
Creating a routine Your productivity levels are different at different times of the day. make sure you do you revenue generating activities when you are at your best. Directly after this take a break. Taking a break is directly linked to your creativity and ability to turnout good work. By having routines you can plan your day, week, month better. Again this enables you to be more productive.
So what else would you add to the list? What other activities help you boost your cash-flow or make you more productive. Share with us in the comments below.
I have been working with small businesses and running my own small business for the past five years. I think the most important lesson I have learned is that cash flow is critical to the smooth running and long-term survival of a business. Having some spare money in the bank keeps you going in tough times and allows you to invest in new technology or software or just for unexpected expenses.
However, in order to grow cash flow in your business you need to be as productive as possible. There are a few areas in your day-to-day business life that directly affect this. It's really not about having to work many hours, although sometimes this is needed also. It's about working smart. I have also noticed these behaviors in successful small businesses that I have worked with.
Block distractions Easier said than done. But keeping your desk tidy and clear helps you to focus on the task at hand. Also, switch off your mobile if it has email alerts. Don't get lost spending time on the internet. Dedicate at lest 2-hours a day to "work time" where you don't answer the phone or emails or surf the web. You will be amazed how much time work you can achieve in this 2 hour window.
Minimise time spent on non-revenue generating activity This one took me a long time to realise and sort out. When I first started my own small business I was busy all the time. It suddenly occurred to me that I was spending too much time on non-revenue generating activities. I was spending way to much time on admin items, the monthly accounts, reading industry news. Make sure you maximise the number of hours in each day that you spend on serving customers or marketing to find new ones.
Exceed the customers expectations As a small business owner you have the ability to easily go the extra mile and give a better service than expected. Deliver quicker than expected, give more than expected or do something for free. By delighting your customer, chances are you will get more business from them. Extra business from existing clients is the best kind of revenue because you don't have to spend more marketing money on new clients.
Time management Time management is very important for your cash flow. The faster you can plan, accomplish and review tasks, the more productive you are and the more hours you have for generating more revenue. Business software is really good for this. By investing in a software that helps you manage your clients or finance can save you alot of time. This saved time can be used for chasing more revenue.
Creating a routine Your productivity levels are different at different times of the day. make sure you do you revenue generating activities when you are at your best. Directly after this take a break. Taking a break is directly linked to your creativity and ability to turnout good work. By having routines you can plan your day, week, month better. Again this enables you to be more productive.
So what else would you add to the list? What other activities help you boost your cash-flow or make you more productive. Share with us in the comments below.