Importance of Cash Flow Management
Jaap de Jonge, Management Consultant, Netherlands
As per research studies that have been conducted, a very large percentage (up to 80%) of businesses fail due to poor cash flow management. This statement alone should suffice in emphasizing the importance of good cash flow management.
Indeed cash flow is the lifeblood of any business. It comes from sources like payments from customers, receipt of a loan, monetary infusion from an investor, or interest on savings or investments.
Cash flow management is also important because it enables timely payment for things that make your business run:
- Positive, steady and growing cash flows please BANKS, FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, CREDIT SCORING COMPANIES AND INVESTORS.
- Also efficient cash flow management ensures that necessary funds will always be at the disposal of various managers when they need it. By timing the receivable and payables correctly, the company will always be in a position to honor the obligations to VENDORS on time. A business paying up on time is successful in building a relationship of trust with the vendor. It will also be possible to negotiate better credit terms with a satisfied vendor.
- Thirdly, efficient cash flow management ensures timely disbursement of regular expenditure, in particular salaries for its EMPLOYEES. Regular salaries keep the employee morale high so they are less prone to leave their employer for better opportunities elsewhere.
