The importance of cash flow and cash flow forecasts

You don’t need us to tell you just how important positive cash flow is to a growing business - knowing how much money is flowing in and out of your bank account is key for the (small) business owners/ your client. For clients, to be able to look at their own cash flow forecast is crucial in understanding their business's financial health. The question is how you can effectively communicate that message to your clients, so you are helping them to look forward at all times.

Thanks to the advances in cloud technology, helping your clients with their business cash flow is a much faster, more accurate, and less arduous task than ever. Forecasting cash flow is easy and accessible with our software.

Devastating cash shortfalls can be spotted quicker, and unruly debtors brought to heel more efficiently thanks to ‘at a glance’ dashboards and real­-time reports. This is what makes helping your clients maintain a robust cash flow forecast important.

Here are a few ways to stay one step ahead when it comes to cash flow forecasting and analysis:

1. Set up alerts

Using a cloud reporting and forecasting platform that interfaces with your client’s accounting software and online banking allows you to analyze an always up-­to-­date picture of the business’ performance.

This real-­time feed of financial information is complemented by the ability to set up alerts to notify you if those numbers change. Upon receiving an alert, you can then dig a little deeper and make informed recommendations to your client, adding value to your own service in the process.

Cloud technology offers huge time savings. For example, Futrli can automate these alerts, and this will feed you the information you need so impactful conversations with your client are on-point for them and effortless for you.

2. Spot trends

Having access to accurate cash flow information is crucial, and will help you help your client avoid a nasty surprise or two further down the line. By picking up on and effectively communicating particular trends, such as the aforementioned cash shortfalls and debtors, you can ensure your client avoids steering their business into choppy waters.

3. Communicate cash flow success

An accurate cash flow report also allows you an understanding of your client’s current situation and provides you with the opportunity to communicate success where appropriate. Their cash flow forecast shows you where things have been going well. Having success communicated to them is also important for the (small) business owner.

Have they hit their sales target for this month or quarter? Congratulate them on a job well done. Is their cash flow the healthiest it has ever been? Let them know the good news. They will certainly appreciate the sentiment and what’s more, they will see that you have taken an interest in the success of their business, thereby marking you out as their valued and trusted advisor.

4. Look to the future

Delivering that invaluable insight into your client’s cash flow will help them make better, more informed decisions regarding the health and performance of their business. Whether it's a sales forecast or looking at cash outflows, cash payments, and sales income in the future - use the power of forecasting to improve your clients' financial planning.

Futrli can help you keep your finger on the cash flow pulse, and report a clear, understandable, real-­time cash flow analysis to your clients like never before. Seeing how much cash their business is likely to have incoming or outgoing is an invaluable asset.