How To Avoid A Christmas Cashflow Crisis

By Author: David Andrews
Total Articles: 197
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Although many businesses – particularly those in the retail sector – experience their highest sales during the Christmas period, for other companies it can represent one of the most challenging times of the year. Business-to-business industries often find that their customers aren’t interested in transacting during this period, which can play havoc with your cash flow. However, with careful forward planning and a full awareness of your options, it is possible to get through the festive season without slipping into the red.

One of the most critical rules of maintaining positive cash flow is staying on top of your accounts and ensuring that your clients are paying at the agreed time. Because many SMEs are at their busiest over Christmas, the paperwork involved in chasing accounts can often become a low priority – the intention being to sort them out over the festive break when things are quieter. However, this can have a huge impact on a business’ solvency. Overdue accounts that you overlook in December probably won’t be paid until late January or later, while delays in sending out invoices can have an even ...
... longer impact on when the full payment could be received. Bottom line – don’t skimp on your paperwork over Christmas, however tempting it might be. It’ll cost you in the long run.

Similarly, you should be systematic when it comes to chasing your debts. Consider a courtesy call to your clients a couple of days before the payment is due to ensure that your client has the invoice in their system and is going to be able to pay on time. Smaller businesses often develop personal relationships with their clients, so if you don’t feel comfortable doing this, consider outsourcing the responsibility to a separate person who doesn’t otherwise interact with the client. Find out if your client has a dedicated financial department and speak to them directly, rather than hounding people in other departments who may not have anything to do with the payment process.

If you don’t use invoice finance services, it may be well worth utilising them in time for Christmas. These are services that allow you to use your accounts receivable as collateral in return for ready cash when you need it. A factoring company will usually offer you 80-90% of the value of your invoices up-front, with the rest payable on collection of the accounts, minus a service charge. Many companies find this to be an ideal solution to persistent late payments, or in the case of extended holiday periods, the difficulties in contacting clients who cease trading over the Christmas season. If you have a strong relationship with your client that you wish to maintain, some invoice finance services offer a confidential factoring service – sometimes referred to as invoice discounting - in which you continue to collect the invoices yourself.

At the end of the day, everybody wants to be able to relax a little over Christmas. But with a careful marketing strategy and some forward planning in the preceding weeks, you can be confident that your business is in excellent shape as you enter the New Year.

Invoice factoring allows you to release cash for your business utilising invoices as collateral. Hitachi Capital is a reputable and leading provider of invoice finance solutions. Winner of the Factor and Discounter of the Year award at the CreditToday Awards 11.