How to Plan a Cash Flow – part 1
When planning cash flow needs for a new business, managers should take their best guess and then double it. Then they should plan to spend three times as long moving into a profitable mode. That way they’re less likely to be disappointed. The point: It’s sad but true that being a pessimist is probably more prudent than being an optimist when predicting costs and length of time to profitability.
Companies should borrow or set up payment plans with suppliers to pay for all of inventory—or at least part of it—and then actually pay for the inventory using funds received from customers paying their bills (otherwise known as paid off accounts receivable).
Tags: cash crunch, cash dynamics, contingency, payment plans