How do I buy some time?

Relieving cash flow pressure in debt, insolvency or liquidation crisis – how do I buy some time?

If you are facing a debt or cash flow crisis or have been trying to get finance to pay debts or tax, if pressure from creditors is keeping you from running the business, you need to examine all your options now.

Every business has periods where you just can’t find the cash flow to pay all creditors and tax debt on time all the time.

There are several things you can do to buy yourself some time

USE YOUR CREDITORS FOR CASH FLOW

Factoring your debts

The obvious but tedious and moderately expensive thing to do is factor your debtors into cash. It takes a few weeks to get all the info together and should cost about 2.5% of gross. But remember that 2.5% may be 20% of your profit so use this option sparingly.

Speak with your suppliers

With personal contact and a previous good history, your suppliers will listen unless they too are under pressure – if so, no harm done, you can sympathise and they will at least understand your problem. Your suppliers value your business. Sometimes bigger companies like to act tough but if you talk to them they often let you have some leeway and provide a faster source of cash.

Use your debtors

Use your debtors for cash flow. Again, if people have started to use you as their bank, get on the phone and explain that it is now a problem for your own cash flow. You would like to help them but your bank has started to insist and you must have cash now. Offer them the discount for paying cash with order that you might have given a factoring company for your debtors.

REFINANCE FOR MORE CASH

Change banks

We have helped dozens of businesses find a better banker. You just never know when a new manager has started with a bank and want to get runs on the board (runs on the board in their case = loans). So often you can end up with a better deal with a new institution looking for business. It helps to have an expert firm like Rebuild Now making the calls on your behalf and, especially, if we can recommend you (remember we are insolvency consultants so financiers respect our opinion – we’ve seen it all and if we are involved they know we will be helping your business survive, prosper and repay).

Sell off assets no longer useful to the business

Sell off unnecessary assets for cash. People like a garage sale and business people are no different. But make it a good one so you get the best value possible. Our contacts with auctioneers and other resellers are invaluable here.

GET AN ANGEL INTERESTED

This is where you must be careful – we are talking cash in return for equity, fixed and floating charges and possibly losing control. Therefore, make sure you are prepared before you go hunting for a saviour. Ask us first. We know most of them.

Use your suppliers

Use suppliers to get equity and cash. In some instances, your creditors will have been secretly eyeing off your business as a way to diversify and occasionally they see opportunities you can’t. Discrete inquiries by a third party like Rebuild Now can reap solutions.

Use your customers

Use customers to get equity and cash – same applies to your debtors. As above.

Cut costs

Cut costs. In a study of US SME’s in the USA it was found that the average business made 80% of their profit from only 20% of their business divisions or activities. That means that 20% of their business was ‘funding’ the other 80%. It bears examination and Rebuild Now can help you reduce costs in a positive intelligent non-destructive way.

Increase your prices

Increase your prices for more cash flow. How much does a 5% price increase your profits and how price sensitive is your volume demand? It’s a trade-off of course and should be combined with clever marketing or PR but again it bears investigation.

Rebuild Now have assisted in all industries …farming, engineering, telcos, IT, retail, building etc and can assist your business in becoming solid, profitable and enjoyable again.

WE ARE ON YOUR SIDE WITH YOUR SOLUTION