Growing a business may well involve consuming financial resources faster than profits can replenish them, and many otherwise healthy businesses fail because they run out of cash. These guides help you avoid cashflow crises and ensure your business is adequately financed.

Making sure you get paid

• How to get paid on time and improve your cashflow
  A sale is not a sale until you have been paid. It is your right to get paid on time no matter how big or small your business is.
  
  
• Using terms and conditions of trade to ensure you get paid
  Terms and conditions of trade are vital for establishing your rights as a supplier. They can also be a good negotiating tool.
  
  
• Getting control of your cash
  Many businesses fail from lack of ready cash even though their profitability may be fine. This guide explains what cashflow is and how to keep it under control.
  
  
• What to do if a large debtor doesn't pay
  Customers who don't pay their bills are one of the occupational hazards of running a business.

Financing your business

• Raising finance
  This guide explores the main types of finance available and what investors and lenders look for before they advance money.
  
  
• Building and using a budget for my business
  This guide shows you a simple way to build a budget for your business and then use it to keep your business on course.
  
  
• Book-keeping for beginners
  In a smaller business you always need to be in control of the money. You can only acheive this by keeping good records.
  
  
• An introduction to VATRegistering for VAT
  may be compulsory for your business, depending on your turnover. This guide will help you understand what is involved.
  
  
• Financing a growing business
  This guide will help you avoid cashflow crises and ensure your business is adequately and appropriately financed.
  
  
• How does my club or charity borrow from the bank?
  Whatever the reason, you will need to go through certain preliminary processes. This guide explains the key steps that you will need to take.

Monitoring your performance

• Monitoring cashflow
  Every business needs cash to survive. You can survive without sales or profits for a time – but you cannot survive without cash.
  
  
• Understanding your profit and loss account and balance sheet
  You are in business to make money. To do so, you need to understand where the money is coming from and where it is going.
  
  
• Using key indicators to see how well you are doing
  In order to measure the success of your business you need to monitor your performance.
  
  
• The challenge of forecasting
  This guide offers some ideas for forecasting the future and assessing the feasibility of any opportunities open to your business.
  
  
• Key accounting ratios
  The use of some basic measures can help you monitor your business's performance and make best use of the financial information you have available.
  
  
• How can I save time and money on my banking?
  You can't run a business without a bank account. Here are some tips to help you save time and money.

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