Every company owner's worst dread is a financial catastrophe. Internal reasons such as inadequate cash flow management, as well as external factors such as a faltering economy, tragedies such as natural disasters or illnesses, and many more, can cause it. They will suffer harsher financial situations or go bankrupt if they do not act quickly when the financial crisis occurs. To avoid this scenario, we've put up a list of 7 methods to get your firm through a financial crisis.
1. Determine the Origins of the Financial Crisis
The first stage in resolving a financial crisis is to pinpoint the source of the problem. It can be brought on by both internal and external sources. Financial difficulties are often a symptom of a larger problem. As a result, long-term or permanent remedies are required to resolve the situation.
If your company's financial problems are caused by an external event, such as the Covid-19 pandemic, it's crucial to remember that once the pandemic is over, your company's financial problems may improve. The government has also developed measures, such as increased wage subsidies for all Singapore enterprises.
However, if your firm was impacted by the financial crisis before the coronavirus epidemic, more effort will be required to restore your company's financial soundness. Analyzing your money management is critical. Have you been blending your personal and corporate finances? So far, how have you put your business revenues to use? Have your clients consistently paid their bills on time? Answering these questions can assist you in better managing your company's finances and determining what works and what doesn't.
2. Invest in your current clients
Getting new clients is more expensive than keeping old ones. Even under the best of circumstances, this is true. During a recession, however, consumers cut back on their purchasing, making it much more difficult to persuade a new customer to try you out. As a result, investing in your existing consumers becomes even more critical.
Now is the moment to establish genuine connections with your clients. Demonstrate that you are on their side. Treat them with deference and demonstrate that you appreciate their patronage with your actions. Customer loyalty may be built over time through the bonds you form with them as you go through difficult times together. So, consider how you can make a significant, positive influence in the lives of your clients.
3. Keep an eye on the financial flow of your business
Keeping a tight check on your financial flow has never been more important. This will let you properly appreciate your company's revenue and expenses. From here, you can view your profit and loss, as well as what's obstructing your cash flow and which costs you might cut.
You can keep track of your cash flow at any time and from anywhere with the help of a web-based accounting program. This program allows you to track income across departments and corporate divisions, as well as quickly generate financial statements.
Make sure you keep track of your clients' invoices. Poor cash flow is caused by unpaid bills. You can issue invoices automatically, track all clients' bills, and send payment reminders to customers before they become due with HashMicro's e-Invoicing system.
You can always consider taking business loans business loans to upgrade your company with new ideas and things that will improve your income, so a financial injection which you can slowly pay back is always a good choice.
4. Eliminate non-essential expenses
You should examine your company's expenditures. You may find out where and how to save expenditures from here. Find out which processes cost you the most money. It's possible that these expenditures can be reduced. Maintain open lines of contact with your supplier and inquire if there is anything you can do to obtain a discount or lower delivery costs (e.g. with a bigger down payment).
Reduce the number of time-consuming, manual operations in your company that aren't lucrative. Accounting chores like preparing paper-based financial reports and invoices are likely to have taken up a significant amount of your time and money. Switching to an automated accounting system is the best way to cut accounting costs.
When making purchases, you must also use the utmost caution. Perhaps you've squandered a lot of cash on rash purchases. As a result, each department's or business unit's purchase requests must be properly scrutinized. Use procurement software that can be connected with other company functions like accounting and inventory management to make processing buy requests easier.
5. Reconsider your company strategy
While reevaluating certain techniques may be beneficial, the circumstance may necessitate even more extreme modifications. Spend some time reviewing your whole company plan. Examine which of your goods and services are yielding the best results and which aren't. Is it possible to eliminate the losers and devote more time and resources to the winners?
Are there any methods you've been overlooking or haven't thought to serve your market? Are there any other markets that you haven't been servicing but may have a significant impact on? Sometimes the money you require comes from a source wholly unrelated to the one you had anticipated.
6. Concentrate on your primary talents
Your customers' businesses excel at something. Most likely, it's their main product or service. That's what will keep them in business during a downturn.
There are times when it is necessary to put time and effort into a new route with an unclear return on investment. The largest risks may sometimes lead to the highest rewards. A recession, on the other hand, is not one of those periods.
Instead, companies should focus on the products and services that they know will perform best. They also shouldn't waste money supporting inferior products or services. The emphasis should be on marketing the finest products or services to previous, current, and prospective consumers.
They also need to develop ways to produce numerous streams of money while advertising the primary product or service, if at all possible. When circumstances go tough, having many revenue streams will provide you with greater financial flexibility.
Businesses may also boost income by offering VIP and economy versions of services they currently provide. They could think about a subscription with additional perks and automatic renewal. Alternatively, determine whether there is a new method they may utilize their core talents to assist in the shifting economic circumstances.
7. Adapt Your Sales Techniques
Examine your sales methods to see if they are effective. You'll be able to figure out what needs to be amended or modified this way. Examine your marketing campaigns. Have they helped you make money or have they caused you to lose money?
Know the caliber of your current leads. Have your expectations been met? Do they have the necessary qualifications? Now is the moment to concentrate your efforts on high-quality leads. As a result, sales conversions can be sped up.
You may also wish to upgrade your marketing methods to make them more effective. For example, if you've spent a lot of money on billboard commercials, it's time to shift your attention to digital marketing.
Business owners must put up a full effort in order to recover from a financial catastrophe. This might take months because it isn't something that can be fixed overnight. Business owners will be able to navigate through and recover from the continuing financial crisis if they implement the seven principles above calmly and positively.
Neil is a lifestyle journalist from Sydney, Australia.
Huge soccer fan!
Post new comment
Please Register or Login to post new comment.