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In the midst of the festive excitement that’s already building around us, it’s fair enough if you need a gentle reminder not only to stay on top of recent AND upcoming tax obligations, but also remain vigilant (and smart) with the rest of your business’s financial matters.
Things like managing business cash flow – which could fluctuate over the Christmas/New Year period –or ensuring outstanding bills are paid before vendors close their doors for a week or two are critical, especially at this time of year. And by making a few strategic plans, not only can your business navigate holidays happily but sail into 2024 in a solid financial position.
With that in mind, we’ve put together some helpful financial tips designed to help you manage your business right through this festive season and into the new year:
It’s the perfect time to recognise and celebrate your team's hard work. Although Christmas parties can sometimes be difficult to organise, find a way to foster a sense of camaraderie that can extend beyond the holidays, bringing your team together and rewarding hard work is only going to contribute to your business's success.
With limited exceptions, December isn't business as usual for anyone. The festive season can impact your cash flow, up or down, regardless of the kind of business you run or industry you operate in. Develop a short-term cash flow forecast that coversDecember to February and update it weekly to identify potential short falls early. This allows you to implement strategies and make changes before they’re needed.
Keep the looming BAS return in late February on your radar for a smoother financial transition. You’ll be lodging in December and there’s no doubt that amidst the merriment, you’ll find it worthwhile staying vigilant about your tax obligations. It’s important you integrate them into your cash flow forecast (those short-term ones from above), especially with the Australian Taxation Office pulling in the reins on tax debt.
Vigilant management of debtors is essential for maintaining your business's financial health. Review your payment terms, consider offering discounts for early payments or even penalties for late ones and if existing clients are lagging, consider how gentle reminders might help gather those payments.
Evaluate client relationships and determine if applying discounts or penalties is an option, and of course, aligns with your business goals. The new year is a great time to revisit conversations with existing clients and take the opportunity to reassess payment terms. If your terms currently span 30 days (and you’re finding cash flow difficult to manage) consider shortening them to 14 days. There are always options, be creative and open with your clients and they’re likely to reciprocate out of respect!
Chat with your suppliers regarding potential payment term extensions or even discuss early payment discounts. This can alleviate cash flow strains as well as almost any other method – allowing you to hang on to money longer, or save some at the outset. As usual, the goal here is to improve your overall financial position.
Now you’ve got your short-term cash flow forecast, it’s time to think in a similar way, but go beyond the festive season. Look to adopt practices that support continuous positive cash flow:
Granted, none of the above is brand-new thinking, but sometimes we as business owners could use a reminder on building and fostering good financial habits. And although we’ve taken aim at a short time-period here, these are tips you can build into your year-round financial strategy to ensure good, sustained cash flow.
If you’d like tailored advice on arming your business with the tools for financial success – festive season or not – the Attune team can help. Our team is perfectly placed to help you put the right structure in place that enables your business to thrive. Give the Attune team a call on 1300 866 113 or send us an email to start the conversation today.
