Paying Your (Small Business) Bills

A certain business based in North Carolina is facing tough times like everyone else. Its forklifts, once commanding strong prices in good times, haven’t seen demand decrease — just customers’ ability to pay on time. Its cash-flow strategy? Milk the mom-and-pop customers for what they have, and tighten the trade terms (the period during which the company will extend credit while customers get their own cash-flow situation together).

But, for the most part, small businesses report, suppliers aren’t putting the squeeze on their customers — everyone needs the business they can get. Usually, the vendors are putting the squeeze on the suppliers to come in at a lower price point.

Be that as it may, here’s how to manage a bullying vendor who’s pressuring you to pay now…

iPhone Apps to Manage Cash Woes

You don’t have to ditch your office space like Big Moving Picture did in order to survive the recession. To keep its business intact until conditions improved, the San Diego-based company went into “hibernation,” shutting the office, dismissing some employees and going virtual with the rest of the team.

In the recession, virtual means cost efficient, but you need certain tools to ensure it’s also time- and effort-efficient, too.

If you’re one of the growing number of business users carrying an iPhone, you’ll be happy to know that there are several apps available to help with one key area of business: cash flow management.

Quicken – If you use QuickBooks to manage your cash flow, this app lets you look into your balance, latest transactions, enter transactions from the road and see how it’s all performing against monthly budget levels. ($9.95/month per account)

Calc-12E RPN Financial Calculator – If you don’t already know what the HP-12C is, this probably isn’t for you. Based on the most popular portable financial calculator out there, the 12E is indispensable for business owners who need the accountant’s calculator on hand in meetings with investors, in real estate deals and the like. Enter and edit cash flows, add comparative investment analysis. ($19.99 download)

Spreadsheet – You’ll need the spreadsheet app from Softalk. It doesn’t do much on its own, but it will come in handy when you want to review Excel budgets from the road. ($7.99 download)

Credit Card Terminal – If you want to collect payments on the spot – and why not seize the moment when customers are offering – this app, while not cheap, can keep cash flowing. ($49.99 to download, $25/month subscription, and $.24 per transaction)

Omni Invoice – This app allows you to issue invoices from the road. Speeding up the process of getting paid. ($9.99 to download)

When Credit, Not Cash, is King

It might seem strange, in a downturn pinched by a credit crunch, to suggest thinking about credit. But the lag between delivery and payment – that time when you’re waiting on customers and your suppliers are waiting on you — is nothing new. But in tough times, it can get worse, as the domino effect of cash flow hits your supplier – and then you. No doubt you have some reserves on hand (right?) for rainy days like this. But don’t forget about credit – not just a business credit line, but an ongoing business credit card that you can use in a pinch.

There are advantages to both cash and credit, but don’t forget, use of credit can help keep your credit history in good standing, even if you’d rather keep the debt to a minimum in these times. Here are four tips for using credit to help you manage your cash flow and get back to the work of delivering great products and services…