Cash flow has actually been called the lifeline of service and it’s easy to see why. Sure, sales and earnings are very important, but it’s cash that keeps the wheels of your business turning.
This makes efficient cash management one of the most essential tasks for any business owner. Comprehending the fundamental principles of cash flow and how to use money management tools offered by commercial banks can help your organization gain a competitive edge.
It Begins With Collections
Money management can be divided into three primary elements: collections, disbursements and information reporting. For most businesses, much better cash management starts with more effective and prompt collections.
A lockbox is among the most valuable tools used by banks to accelerate collections and optimize offered cash. Instead of mailing payments directly to your service, customers mail them to a special post office box that the bank checks multiple times each day (consisting of weekends and vacations).
Payments are processed all the time, which decreases mail and processing float. Also, image innovation enhances accuracy and allows better audit controls. There are 2 type of lockbox services: wholesale, which is developed for companies that receive a low volume of high-dollar remittances, and retail, created for business (like utilities) that receive a high-volume of low-dollar remittances.
Business that get a high volume of checks at the point of sale, like merchants and doctor, might take advantage of Remote Deposit Capture (RDC). With this service, you get a specially created desktop scanner and software that allow you to send check images to the bank remotely from your business. You enjoy the time and cost savings of not needing to send employees to the bank to make deposits, as well as greater accuracy, much better float management and faster access to funds.
Disbursement and Reconciliation
The flip side of collections is dispensations, or how you’re paying your suppliers and vendors. The objective should be to hang onto your cash as long as possible, within your agreed-upon supplier terms.
Banks offer a range of online payment choices through the Automated Clearing House (ACH) that can assist you improve your payables, minimize costs and improve money management. These consist of payroll direct deposit, pre-authorized debits and credits, cash concentration and electronic tax payments.
Going together with disbursements is account reconciliation. With these services, the bank streamlines the task of reconciling your bank account by supplying you with electronic check-paid details. You conserve time and money through streamlined end-of-month reconciliation and lowered direct exposure to check scams.
Favorable Pay is a specific account reconciliation service that assists even more lower the danger of check fraud. The bank will compare all checks presented for payment every day with a check-issued list you send and pay just those that are an exact match with your list. Others are flagged as suspect and reported back to you so you can choose whether to pay them or not.
Timely Info is Secret
Cash management is made harder for numerous smaller sized companies due to a lack of access to prompt and accurate account info. Banks offer a range of online info reporting services that provide comprehensive, present-day data that can assist you make better financial decisions. This consists of prior- and same-day account balances, lockbox detail, account analysis and more.
When you know what your cash position is at any provided time, day or night, you can make crucial money management decisions more easily-decisions like whether to pay down or borrow from a credit line or move excess funds into short-term investments.
With this service, you get a specifically developed desktop scanner and software that enable you to transfer check images to the bank from another location from your place of service. You enjoy the time and expense savings of not having to send workers to the bank to make deposits, as well as greater accuracy, better float management and faster access to funds.
With these cash management services, the bank simplifies the task of reconciling your bank account by supplying you with electronic check-paid details. Money management is made more hard for many smaller businesses due to a lack of access to timely and accurate account details. Banks provide a range of online info reporting services that provide detailed, up-to-the-minute information that can help you make much better monetary choices.