When you run a business it’s critically important to manage your finances. Keeping on top of your finances is the key to boosting your profitability and growing your company. You don’t need to be a finance professional to boost your financial health. To make a great start today, try these ten simple ideas.
1 . The best accounting software
There are plenty of accounting tools that can help you to manage your business finances. Most companies find that this is more cost-effective than hiring an accountant. Accounting software is easy to use, and some companies offer basic accounting software for free.
One of the leading accounting options for small businesses is Quickbooks. The software allows you to manage your invoices, monitor sales, calculate taxes, and more. If you’re looking to simplify your business finances, this is the tool for you. There are lots of other accounting tools to choose from including Freshbooks, Wave, and Xero.
- A detailed budget
In the business world, budgeting is critically important. A detailed budget will allow you to review your expenses and plan your outgoings. With the help of a budget, you can split your spending into categories, and see where you might be able to save money. Some businesses create their own budget using simple spreadsheet solutions, but you can also take advantage of budgeting software. Several apps are ideal for small businesses, including Float and PlanGuru.
When you create a budget you can oversee your outgoings and your profits, and ensure that everything adds up. If your finances don’t add up, you might suspect someone in your company of wrongdoing. To investigate a business partner or colleague you may need to hire a hacker for cell phone monitoring.
- Get financial support
Not all entrepreneurs are gifted at managing their finances. If you need a little extra support you may want to hire a financial advisor. With the help of a finance professional, you can clearly understand your finances, and improve your financial health. A financial advisor can support businesses in the following ways:
- Create a plan to become more profitable.
- Prepare your business for the future.
- Create a roadmap to manage your assets.
- Help you plan personal finances/retirement.
- Plan for the future
Managing your business finances is all about planning for the future. You’ll need to make predictions, create forecasts, and use this future-based info to make decisions. Forecasting is important for a business for the following reasons:
- Businesses need forecasts to inform their financial decisions.
- Using forecasts businesses can create strategies driven by data.
- Companies can make operational choices based on market conditions, and assumptions about future profitability.
- Chase up debts
To maintain your financial health it’s important to keep up with your debts. If you’re having trouble keeping on top of your debts yourself you may wish to hire a debt collection specialist. With the help of a debt collection professional, you can ensure that you are paid promptly. Businesses need to take steps to improve their cash flow where they can.
- Reduce expenses where possible
One of the most simple ways to improve your financial health is to reduce your expenses. Businesses can save money and go green using ideas like these:
- Give up using paper and printers, go digital with all your docs.
- Change your energy provider to a source of renewable energy.
- Buy second-hand items for your company instead of brand new ones.
- Remain remote operational until you actually need physical premises.
- Implement bring your own device policies instead of purchasing lots of hardware.
- Invest your money wisely
Want to make your business profits go that little bit further? Then why not start making a few investments? If you don’t have much free time, Robo Advisors or investment apps are the perfect solutions. These types of software make small investments on your behalf. First, you’ll be prompted to create a profile and answer questions about your investment goals. Next, you’ll get a few investment suggestions that you can approve or choose to decline. Investing your money can help you to grow your finances and take your business to new heights.
- Outsource to save
Outsourcing can help to save your business money. For example, working with an outsourced IT provider is often less expensive than hiring an in-house team. For short-term projects and needs, you can hire freelancers, whether it’s for graphic designer work or copywriting. If you are a smaller startup you may not want to hire too many permanent members of staff. In this case, outsourcing may be the perfect solution. Before hiring permanent staff members, ensure that you need this member of staff for the long term.
- Set financial goals
To stay on top of your finances it’s a good idea to set yourself financial goals. Your goals might be related to saving money, reducing debts, increasing profitability, or all three. When you are creating goals you should ensure that you are specific, including dates and deadlines. Consider using the SMART goal framework to help you create goals that work for you. Without financial goals, you may lack direction, and fail to reach your true potential.
- Review your suppliers
Are you getting the best deal from your suppliers? If you suspect that you could find a better offer, it’s a good idea to shop around. Some businesses like to use a Supplier Information Management System. These systems allow you to search for suppliers based on various factors. For example, if you are looking for a sustainable supplier you can use related tags to find the right company. Finding less expensive suppliers can help you to save money and boost your profits. If you like working with your current suppliers, you might consider negotiating to try and get cheaper prices.
There are lots of ways to stay in control of your business finances. From budgeting tools to outsourcing and smart spending, you’ll soon reach your financial goals and grow your business.