Starting your small business from scratch can take a lot of efforts. Moreover, managing finances when you are an amateur can be a little challenging. However, your business is a success only because of the skills you own in providing the product or the services. But the skill set is not enough to manage your business completely. You need to invest in your team and infrastructure for your skills to show.
With business, comes risks, competition, finances, giving salaries and keeping records which is not an easy task to manage wholly on your own; therefore, a business owner needs to learn the necessary skillset and keep up with the trends.
To work smartly and to coordinate your finances, accounts must be handled with care. The smart move is to discard the traditional method of recording accounts, using ledgers and incorporate the easy ways like a small business bookkeeping software to manage accounts.
Similarly, there are numerous ways to enhance your business and gain profits. Let’s have a look at them-
1) Pay yourself for the work- Owning a small business and making it work requires investment to such an extent that many owners put their money on day to day operations. It is acceptable in the initial stage, but once the business works, business owners must not overlook their role in the company and keep something to themselves too. Besides, everyone must also be paid.
2) Invest in growth- Aside from paying yourself and your employees, it is a smart move to save some money and invest in opportunities that will lead to growth. Doing so will help you take your business in a good financial direction.
You must know that your business cannot thrive or more profits cannot be gained until you embrace innovation and keep up with the changing trends.
3) Manage your books and taxes- I would suggest you to invest in good accounting software. It will help you monitor and manage your accounts, books and assist you in taking care of various financial factors, thereby reducing errors. However, you must also indulge in going through your books on a monthly or weekly basis. It will help you become familiar with the finances of your business and change your strategies.
Secondly, if you are not able to handle your quarterly estimated tax payments, make them your monthly payments, since it will be easy for you to remember them and pay them.
4) Stick to a smart billing strategy- You may have to experience clients who pay late, or you have to ask them all the time to make payments. You must know smooth cash flow is one of the main factors to manage your business finances. Therefore, bring on some innovation or a creative way with how you will bill them. SMS, invoice calls, emails are some of the best ways to remind them.
5) Focus on finances- Establishing financial rules inside your office can protect you from frauds, smooth cash flow and monitor the commercial activities. Therefore, make it your habit to re-check daily payments and accounts.
Peter Beaumont is a senior reporter on the Guardian’s Global Development desk. He has reported extensively from conflict zones including Africa, the Balkans and the Middle East and is the author of The Secret Life of War: Journeys Through Modern Conflict. Email: peter@thehearus.com
