Tag: Finance

Author: Stewart Clark

Cash is critically important for business, with many operators finding that periods after holidays or short trading months can be extra tough on the cash front. Staff leave payments, a short close down, penalty rates for public holidays, slow debtor collections or even extra stock holdings, will all have drained cash from your business. So, if […]

Author: Stewart Clark

Increasingly with the transition of the Baby Boomers into retirement, more and more business owners are considering the sale of their business. This is a very important event, as it allows them to unlock the investment which they have built up in their business over time and assists with funding their retirement. The key question […]

Author: Stewart Clark

If you admire gadgets or clever design, then you will most likely have one of those nifty little tools’ which have dozens of attachments enabling you to; cut, bend, clamp, squash, saw or sew. They come in a range of colours and sizes, from pink micro versions to hang off your keys to the bulkier silver […]

Author: Stewart Clark

It’s well recognised in many corporate environments that data quality is a large and expensive issue.  For banks & insurance companies with risk data, retailers with stock, marketers with poor lists, and countless others who rely on accurate financial info – poor data quality is an issue as it breeds inefficiency, increases expense and robs […]

Author: Stewart Clark

Christmas Day has been and gone and New Years is settling in, but when you sit back in the comfy chair – wherever that may be, on the beach, by the water, camping or even just at home……now is the time to take a quick “stock take” of the year that has past. For those […]

Author: Stewart Clark

With just on a week to Christmas, businesses are generally finalising last minute sales, delivering product orders, sorting through end of month accounts, preparing for New Year sales, confirming the staff leave roster, and even…. finalising the details for a staff Christmas break-up! What’s normally left off the pre-Christmas “to do list” is security – physical and virtual. […]

Author: Stewart Clark

To run a business efficiently and profitability takes more than just luck. In addition to having a good service or product, successful businesses typically have a strong management information framework in place to ensure all of the critical elements of the business are running correctly. I often liken this information to the dashboard instruments in a car – where […]

Author: Stewart Clark

With countless business finance products in the market – is can be daunting for some businesses to decide which option to choose. The frequently asked question is “which one should I take?”, so to take some of the pain out of this point – we have provided 5 simple steps for better Business Financing. To start, it’s not so […]

Author: Stewart Clark

Have you ever heard, “…what if I didn’t read the business contract before I signed it?” Unfortunately I have, with my default response being, “the devil is always in the detail”. So if you have not read your document, then the chances are that the “detail devil” will cause you trouble. Experience has shown me […]

Author: Stewart Clark

A well-used line in business – and for good reason, as without cash (or cashflow) in a business, it delivers the same result as a having a body without blood – SUDDEN DEATH! I have seen mortally wounded businesses survive, simply because they had sufficient cashflow coming in the door to provide options. In some cases, the key objective […]

Author: Stewart Clark

Finance has shown me many things over time, but perhaps one of the more powerful concepts is “profit versus turnover”. For the golfers out there, I liken this to “driving for show VERSUS putting for dough“. Underlying profitability and the associated free cash available for debt servicing are focal points for a Banker with any finance proposal – as this shows whether there is […]

Author: Stewart Clark

You would not skydive without a parachute, so don’t do business without these. From a banking perspective, every business should have these 10 items in their kit bag to either save, make or protect money – whilst maximising their banking relationship. Assess whether your business has these as you go (Yes/No responses) and be honest – pass/fail thresholds are at the end. a contact (or preferably three) […]

Author: Stewart Clark

Often the objective of most businesses is SALES GROWTH, but it comes at a cost…. so the real question is – how growth ready is your business? A basic principle of business is to generate sales (product or services) to return a profit. The natural flow on from this is to generate more sales to achieve a greater profit – but…what does this […]

Author: Stewart Clark

Whether it be in sport or business, the difference between success and failure can often be simply doing one more thing than the competition. The extra phone call, one more prototype, another sales approach, an additional quality check, a larger focus group, an extra tier of service etc etc…..any of these can be the secret ingredient to business success. A few qualifiers; – know your competition as this will provide some form of benchmark. This is […]

Author: Stewart Clark

Many business owners are time poor and simply don’t find the time to read the more comprehensive articles. So if you are looking for a bunch of potent tips for your business – then this short article is for you.  Aptly named the 10 Commandments of Business, these are 10 activities which will add bottom line value […]

Author: Stewart Clark

Business Sale Building Blocks The prospect of selling a business, or at least positioning it so it can be sold, will be confronted by all business owners eventually. It may be for 20 years down the track (rare) or to sell now (more common), but the simple reality is that all businesses will have a […]

Author: Stewart Clark

Business owners tolerate a lot, whether it is poor performing staff, process problems, cash flow, IT and the like. In doing this, the level of stress or pressure on the owner (and in many cases – the business) rises in direct proportion. The two questions I pose are why…….and…..what is the cost? In general terms, things are […]

Author: Stewart Clark

Pricing… pricing… pricing… it’s all about the getting the price right – so that your price point is not only accepted by the market…. but also delivers sufficient profit to your bottom line. So what is the right price, who determines this and how is it calculated? To answer these questions I normally discuss two concepts – “Cost” and “Value”. Cost – is the cost of delivery […]

Author: Stewart Clark

“Fail to plan is planning to fail” – Winston Churchill. Even though this well used line receives universal acceptance in conversation……. few businesses “walk the talk”. If fact, based on a number of recent business reviews it’s obvious that more planning goes into an overseas holiday, than many business owners put into planning for the success of their business. Few businesses were actively “not planning”, […]

Author: Stewart Clark

Operating a business has its challenges due to the many and varied issues drawing on the owners time – people, product, sales, collections, just to name a few. Thus it’s no wonder that many business owners operate “in” rather than “on” their business – which has its dangers. Heading the list of dangers is the loss of sight […]

Author: Stewart Clark

For those who have borrowed money, you would be aware that financiers are always looking for a primary exit (repayment) source – normally via the repayment from business operations AS WELL AS a secondary exit just in case everything turns sour.  Most people get the simple fact that if they default on the loan, the financier will look to […]

Author: Stewart Clark

There are three key strategies available to energise your bottom line, with then an infinite number of tactics which can be used to support them – customised to your business and its circumstance. The three key strategies are; •    Revenue – increase •    Direct costs – control •    Operating costs – reduce Each of these strategies has relevance […]

Author: Stewart Clark

You often hear throw away comments such as “Cash is King” and “Cash is the lifeblood of business” – but what do these really mean? “Cash is literally King” – as it is arguably the most important aspect of the financial health of any business and essentially “rules” over what happens. The other fitting analogy is that “Cash is […]

Author: Stewart Clark

With countless finance products in the market – which one should I take? This is an FAQ from most businesses at some point, so this simple shopping list should take some pain out of the process. To start, it’s not so much a case of which product you should take, it’s more a question of which one do you need and realistically, what is […]

Author: Stewart Clark

All too often this is the catch cry after a major incident…..a show stopping incident…..a business crippling incident… But after the dust has settled and the emotion has been removed from the discussion, the real question is “WHY didn’t you see it coming?”  Show stopping incidents in business – the ones that have the ability to cripple […]

Author: Stewart Clark

Time is a precious commodity and one not to be squandered. Often time…..is the critical factor between success and failure. In prior blogs I have made references to how important time is in finance, and then more generally – to business viability. If your business is running tight – with losses or cashflow gaps starting to show, then this article […]

Author: Stewart Clark

Debt comes in two forms – Good and Bad. Successful businesses understand the difference and actively manage their position. Over the years I have seen many businesses struggle (and some crumble) under the burden of debt – with the debt load literally hanging over the business like a tree branch waiting to fall in a strong wind. Using a simple test before taking […]

Author: Stewart Clark

Ever noticed that some bill accounts are so complex that it takes a master’s degree to work them out? Put simply…..it’s an illusion to justify a larger cost and/or mask the value that is being charged.  I call the language used in these accounts “bill speak“, so once you understand how to translate it – you will never be fooled again. Regrettably the […]

Author: Stewart Clark

As with most things in life – learn the lessons of those who have gone before you. Over my years working with businesses and lending money, I have seen a number of simple mistakes that have cost people a lot of money. To save you the cost of these, I have jotted down 5 of the most common mistakes that I have seen, along with simple yet effective suggestions to […]

Author: Stewart Clark

Successful businesses have a strong handle on where they spend their money. There is no point putting in all of the effort in running a business, finding clients and generating sales if at the end of the day – you have nothing left to show for it. Every dollar you spend must deliver tangible value to you and your business.  If it doesn’t, […]