Think back to when you started your business. What was the dream? More freedom? More time with family? The ability to work when you want and live life on your terms?
But let’s be honest… for many business owners, reality looks very different.
Longer hours
More stress
No time for family
And cash flow problems that never seem to go away
I’ve seen this happen time and time again. And most business owners think the solution is more profit.
“If I just make more profit, I’ll have more cash.”
“If I just increase profit, I can hire staff and take time off.”
But here’s the truth… profit isn’t the problem.
You don’t need more profit. You need more cash. Because profit and cash are NOT the same thing.
Your accounts might show a £100k profit, but if £50k of that is still unpaid invoices, you’re stuck. Bills don’t wait. Wages don’t wait. And without cash, your business grinds to a halt. So, how do thriving businesses manage their cash flow?
Here’s how to fix it:
Invoice immediately – The longer you wait, the longer it takes to get paid.
Automate collections – Use software to chase payments automatically.
Offer online payments – Make it easy for customers to pay.
Set clear payment terms – No more waiting 60+ days for your money.
Charge late payment fees – People pay faster when there are consequences.
Offer subscriptions & retainers – Predictable income = less stress.
Use invoice financing – Get paid quicker without waiting for slow clients.
Outsource instead of hiring – Keep your cash flow flexible.
Lease instead of buying – Don’t drain cash on unnecessary purchases.
Create multiple income streams – Never rely on just one source of money.
Upsell & cross-sell – Increase revenue from existing customers.
Forecast cash flow – Know what’s coming before it becomes a crisis.
Cash flow is the lifeblood of your business. Get it right, and you can grow, hire, and take time off without worry. Get it wrong, and you’ll always struggle—no matter how much profit you make.
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