WEBVTT
1
00:00:00.200 --> 00:00:02.439
The topics and opinions expressed in the following show are
2
00:00:02.480 --> 00:00:04.120
solely those of the hosts and their guests and not
3
00:00:04.160 --> 00:00:07.040
those of W FOURCY Radio. It's employees are affiliates. We
4
00:00:07.120 --> 00:00:10.199
make no recommendations or endorsements for radio show programs, services,
5
00:00:10.240 --> 00:00:12.560
or products mentioned on air or on our web. No
6
00:00:12.679 --> 00:00:15.560
liability explicit or implies shall be extended to W FOURCY
7
00:00:15.679 --> 00:00:18.359
Radio or its employees are affiliates. Any questions or comments
8
00:00:18.399 --> 00:00:20.600
should be directed to those show hosts. Thank you for
9
00:00:20.679 --> 00:00:23.480
choosing W FOURCY Radio.
10
00:00:27.480 --> 00:00:31.039
Welcome to Powerful Business Strategies, where you will find out
11
00:00:31.079 --> 00:00:34.399
that everything you have ever learned about growing your business
12
00:00:34.679 --> 00:00:38.479
is wrong. Finally, a show where you'll learn the right
13
00:00:38.520 --> 00:00:41.840
way to grow your business by learning business and financial
14
00:00:41.880 --> 00:00:46.479
strategies that your competition isn't doing. And now here is
15
00:00:46.560 --> 00:00:52.320
your host resident of NeXTSTEP CFO Michael Barbarita, and joining
16
00:00:52.359 --> 00:00:56.920
Michael for today's show as an executive moderator is Chooky Obia.
17
00:01:00.679 --> 00:01:03.399
Welcome to Powerful Business Strategies and the reason why you
18
00:01:03.399 --> 00:01:06.120
don't hear the more invigorating voice of Chicky o Bo
19
00:01:06.239 --> 00:01:08.680
welcoming you to the show is because Chucky's wife and
20
00:01:08.760 --> 00:01:12.359
Chikey recently welcome their daughter, Chelsea to the world. So
21
00:01:12.480 --> 00:01:15.200
congratulations to Chucky and his wife and Chuky should be
22
00:01:15.280 --> 00:01:18.640
back on the show next week. So in the meantime,
23
00:01:18.799 --> 00:01:21.640
my name is Michael Barberina. I'm president of NeXTSTEP CFO
24
00:01:21.760 --> 00:01:25.400
and Next Step CFO is a fractional CFO and strategic
25
00:01:25.400 --> 00:01:29.079
immitation firm. Business owners hire us to double and triple
26
00:01:29.120 --> 00:01:32.560
that profit using business and financial strategies that their competition
27
00:01:32.879 --> 00:01:36.719
isn't doing. Our vision is to ensure that overwhelmed business
28
00:01:36.719 --> 00:01:40.400
owners achieve the time, freedom, and consistent profits to build
29
00:01:41.280 --> 00:01:45.079
a legacy and the life they desire. Our mission is
30
00:01:45.120 --> 00:01:48.519
dedicated to guiding small business owners to leveraging their time,
31
00:01:48.640 --> 00:01:53.159
exploding their profits, and building a meaningful legacy. The show
32
00:01:53.280 --> 00:01:55.920
Powerful Business Strategies and their book of the same name
33
00:01:55.959 --> 00:02:00.200
as a step toward accomplishing that vision and mission, and
34
00:02:00.280 --> 00:02:02.640
Chooky and I are both affiliated with a number of
35
00:02:02.680 --> 00:02:07.079
different organizations and Chokey currently serves as the managing director
36
00:02:07.079 --> 00:02:10.439
of business development for Better Price, which is a global
37
00:02:10.719 --> 00:02:13.960
business focused law firm, and in addition to that, Chucky
38
00:02:13.960 --> 00:02:17.879
and I collaborate to monitorate business roundtables around the country
39
00:02:17.960 --> 00:02:21.759
and around the world and document those insights as part
40
00:02:21.759 --> 00:02:25.360
of our book Powerful Business Strategies. But please not that
41
00:02:25.439 --> 00:02:28.639
the views expressed on this show are our personal views
42
00:02:28.680 --> 00:02:33.919
based on our own successful experiences. And here's something that
43
00:02:33.960 --> 00:02:36.520
i'd like to share that I've announced previously. If you
44
00:02:36.639 --> 00:02:39.479
have a business problem that you would like us to answer,
45
00:02:39.479 --> 00:02:42.439
a business question or a strategy that you like to
46
00:02:42.479 --> 00:02:47.599
ask about, please email us ask at NEXTSTEPCFO dot net.
47
00:02:47.639 --> 00:02:52.479
That is asked at NEXTSTEPCFO dot net. Doesn't matter what
48
00:02:52.520 --> 00:02:55.360
the business problem is or the question, and we will
49
00:02:55.400 --> 00:02:58.439
answer it for you. And here's but here's a couple
50
00:02:58.479 --> 00:03:02.960
of things that we do. Ask one, please state whether
51
00:03:03.080 --> 00:03:05.360
it is something we can answer on the air or
52
00:03:05.360 --> 00:03:07.919
if it's confidential, And of course if it's confidential, we
53
00:03:07.960 --> 00:03:09.759
won't put it on the air, but we'll respond to you,
54
00:03:09.800 --> 00:03:11.719
but we won't put it on the air. And number two,
55
00:03:12.159 --> 00:03:15.439
please provide your phone number because business problems can be
56
00:03:15.520 --> 00:03:20.560
complex and we might need some additional context or clarity.
57
00:03:21.080 --> 00:03:25.759
That email address again is ask at NEXTSTEPCFO dot net.
58
00:03:26.240 --> 00:03:27.840
And I also want to point out that we've had
59
00:03:27.879 --> 00:03:31.719
a couple of questions but they have requested confidentiality, which
60
00:03:31.719 --> 00:03:36.759
of course we'll always always honor. You know, every successful
61
00:03:36.879 --> 00:03:42.120
business faces moments that test not just its model, but
62
00:03:42.199 --> 00:03:46.759
its leaders resolve. Whether it's watching a key employee walk
63
00:03:46.800 --> 00:03:51.520
out the door with critical knowledge, navigating changing government regulations,
64
00:03:51.599 --> 00:03:55.199
shouldering tax burns that seem to grow heavier each year,
65
00:03:55.800 --> 00:04:00.599
or weathering those inevitable seasons when customers simply start buying.
66
00:04:01.520 --> 00:04:04.719
These moments are not the exception of business. They're the rule.
67
00:04:05.240 --> 00:04:11.080
They're the crucible that separates temporary success from enduring achievement.
68
00:04:11.639 --> 00:04:16.360
What distinguishes extraordinary business owners isn't the absence of these challenges,
69
00:04:17.040 --> 00:04:22.040
but their response when confronted with them. While others see
70
00:04:22.319 --> 00:04:26.360
the parting talent is devastating, they see an opportunity to
71
00:04:26.399 --> 00:04:32.279
strengthen their systems. Where others see regulations as obstacles, they
72
00:04:32.279 --> 00:04:36.920
find ways to turn compliance into competitive advantage. When others
73
00:04:36.959 --> 00:04:41.600
panic during slowdowns, they use the time to innovate and
74
00:04:41.680 --> 00:04:47.000
prepare for the inevitable upturn. Remember this, every significant business
75
00:04:47.079 --> 00:04:51.800
challenge contains within it the seed of an even greater opportunity.
76
00:04:52.199 --> 00:04:55.560
So young job isn't to avoid these challenges, it's to
77
00:04:55.600 --> 00:04:59.839
develop the wisdom to extract the opportunity that they can
78
00:05:00.600 --> 00:05:05.040
the most valuable skill you can develop isn't avoiding problems.
79
00:05:06.040 --> 00:05:10.000
It's becoming the kind of leader who adapts and converts
80
00:05:10.040 --> 00:05:16.199
problems into platforms for unprecedented growth. That transformation begins with
81
00:05:16.319 --> 00:05:20.360
the decision that you won't merely survive these challenges, but
82
00:05:20.439 --> 00:05:27.279
you'll use them to thrive. You know, every day across America, talented,
83
00:05:27.399 --> 00:05:30.759
hard working business owners wake up with a not in
84
00:05:30.800 --> 00:05:34.720
their stomach because they don't have customers. It's not because
85
00:05:34.720 --> 00:05:37.959
they're not delivering value. It's not even because they're not
86
00:05:38.040 --> 00:05:41.120
making a profit on paper. It's because they're worried about
87
00:05:41.560 --> 00:05:45.759
cash flow. They wonder if they'll make payroll this Friday.
88
00:05:45.800 --> 00:05:48.800
They hope that that a big client payment comes in
89
00:05:48.879 --> 00:05:51.480
before the rent is do they juggle which vendor gets
90
00:05:51.519 --> 00:05:54.160
paid this week and which one will have to wait.
91
00:05:55.040 --> 00:06:00.560
But there's a fundamental truth that can transform this daily anxiety.
92
00:06:01.399 --> 00:06:05.439
Cash Flow problems are only sometimes about how much money
93
00:06:05.480 --> 00:06:11.079
your business makes, then mostly about systems, or in some cases,
94
00:06:11.120 --> 00:06:15.680
to lack thereof the most successful business owners I've worked
95
00:06:15.720 --> 00:06:19.120
with weren't necessarily the ones with the highest revenue even
96
00:06:19.240 --> 00:06:22.399
highest profit margins. They were the ones who mastered the
97
00:06:22.480 --> 00:06:26.800
mechanics of cash flow. Today, I want to inspire you
98
00:06:26.839 --> 00:06:30.959
with this powerful reality that, no matter how challenging your
99
00:06:30.959 --> 00:06:35.639
cash position is, right now, with the business systems and strategies,
100
00:06:35.800 --> 00:06:38.600
or with i should say, with the right business systems
101
00:06:38.639 --> 00:06:42.519
and strategies, you can move your business from cash starved
102
00:06:43.759 --> 00:06:47.680
to cash rich. And when you do, you'll not only
103
00:06:47.720 --> 00:06:51.040
eliminate that not in your stomach, but you'll gain the
104
00:06:51.120 --> 00:06:56.839
freedom to make decisions based on opportunity rather than necessity.
105
00:06:57.399 --> 00:07:03.360
That movement from cash starved take cash rich begins today.
106
00:07:05.040 --> 00:07:08.519
So today we're tackling perhaps the most critical aspect of
107
00:07:08.600 --> 00:07:13.000
running a successful business, mastering your cash flow. And let
108
00:07:13.000 --> 00:07:16.399
me start with the stock reality. According to a US
109
00:07:16.480 --> 00:07:21.879
bank a study, they did eighty two percent of business
110
00:07:21.879 --> 00:07:25.920
failures due to poor cash flow management, not lack of profit,
111
00:07:26.759 --> 00:07:30.399
lack of cash. You can be profitable on paper and
112
00:07:30.439 --> 00:07:33.360
still go out of business if you're run out of cash.
113
00:07:33.439 --> 00:07:37.480
And as a fractional CFO and strategic implementer who has
114
00:07:37.519 --> 00:07:42.199
worked with hundreds of businesses across dozens of industries, I've
115
00:07:42.279 --> 00:07:47.319
seen firsthand how cash flow problems can cripple otherwise successful companies.
116
00:07:48.279 --> 00:07:51.439
But I've also seen how the right cash flow strategies
117
00:07:51.920 --> 00:07:57.720
can change struggling businesses if the thriving enterprises with substantial
118
00:07:57.720 --> 00:08:04.480
cash reserves. So today we're going to explore proven strategies
119
00:08:04.480 --> 00:08:08.399
to master your cash flow strategies that work regardless of
120
00:08:08.399 --> 00:08:12.879
your industry, regardless of business size, or regardless of current
121
00:08:12.920 --> 00:08:17.800
financial position. In our first segment, will identify the twelve
122
00:08:17.920 --> 00:08:22.000
most common cash flow killers that plaque small and medium
123
00:08:22.040 --> 00:08:26.160
sized businesses, from inventory management issues to pricing problems too, accounts,
124
00:08:26.199 --> 00:08:30.759
receivable challenges, and more pointantly, we'll show you how to
125
00:08:30.800 --> 00:08:33.840
diagnose each of these issues and how they might be
126
00:08:33.919 --> 00:08:37.840
impacting your business right now. In the second segment will
127
00:08:37.919 --> 00:08:43.279
dive deep into practical cash acceleration strategies. We'll talk about
128
00:08:43.279 --> 00:08:46.919
specific techniques to get your get cash into your business faster,
129
00:08:47.840 --> 00:08:51.919
also manage outflows more effectively, and create a consistent, predictable
130
00:08:51.960 --> 00:08:58.159
cash flow pattern even in seasonal or project based businesses.
131
00:08:59.200 --> 00:09:02.960
And finally, in our third segment, we'll explore how to
132
00:09:03.039 --> 00:09:06.600
create robust cash flow systems that not only solve immediate
133
00:09:06.639 --> 00:09:11.960
cash challenges, but build long term cash reserves that provide
134
00:09:12.000 --> 00:09:19.039
both security and strategic advantages. So I just want to
135
00:09:19.039 --> 00:09:21.080
point out something else too, because I said a little
136
00:09:21.279 --> 00:09:24.159
just a second ago about even if you're in a
137
00:09:24.200 --> 00:09:27.679
seasonal business. Well, if you recall, I was in the
138
00:09:27.679 --> 00:09:30.720
ski business, and what could be more seasonal. And as
139
00:09:30.799 --> 00:09:34.600
a matter of fact, we closed in the off season.
140
00:09:35.320 --> 00:09:38.279
We shut the doors because we were a specialty ski
141
00:09:38.360 --> 00:09:42.399
store and skis was our game, and we didn't sell
142
00:09:42.519 --> 00:09:46.399
aqua lungs in the summertime. But at any rate, we
143
00:09:46.519 --> 00:09:52.080
never needed to use our line of credit. We had one,
144
00:09:52.240 --> 00:09:55.679
it was Foune grant, but we never needed it. We
145
00:09:55.799 --> 00:09:57.840
never needed to use it in the off season. We
146
00:09:57.879 --> 00:10:01.600
had enough cash reserves built up to finance our summer
147
00:10:03.200 --> 00:10:06.320
and so, and those strategies that we're going to talk
148
00:10:06.360 --> 00:10:10.840
about today are the strategies that I used in order
149
00:10:10.919 --> 00:10:14.320
to not even touch the line of credit that I
150
00:10:14.399 --> 00:10:18.840
had in a seasonal business. And what makes this show
151
00:10:18.919 --> 00:10:22.159
particularly valuable is that most business owners only focus on
152
00:10:22.279 --> 00:10:26.120
cash flow when they're already in crisis mode. But the
153
00:10:26.159 --> 00:10:32.159
business that the businesses that truly excel are those that
154
00:10:32.360 --> 00:10:38.879
implement proactive cash flow management systems before problems arise. And
155
00:10:38.960 --> 00:10:43.200
these businesses have the flexibility to these opportunities, to weather
156
00:10:43.519 --> 00:10:48.240
unexpected challenges and to make decisions based on strategic goals
157
00:10:49.159 --> 00:10:55.080
rather than immediate cash pressures. Big difference, and whether you're
158
00:10:55.080 --> 00:10:59.200
currently struggling with cashblow challenges or simply want to optimize
159
00:10:59.200 --> 00:11:03.360
your already stated position, the strategies will share today can
160
00:11:03.399 --> 00:11:07.360
help you build a stronger, more resilient business because remember,
161
00:11:07.559 --> 00:11:11.080
it's not just about surviving, it's about creating that financial
162
00:11:11.120 --> 00:11:15.559
foundation for exceptional growth. So grab that pen and paper
163
00:11:15.639 --> 00:11:19.440
because the insights you'll gain today could be worth tens
164
00:11:19.559 --> 00:11:23.159
or even hundreds of thousands of dollars to your bottom
165
00:11:23.200 --> 00:11:27.960
line and more importantly, today your cash position. And if
166
00:11:27.960 --> 00:11:31.960
you're driving, certainly don't grab that pended paper, but listen
167
00:11:32.000 --> 00:11:37.360
to our replay at Powerful Business Strategies dot com. So
168
00:11:37.480 --> 00:11:40.960
let's dive into the first critical component of mastering your
169
00:11:41.000 --> 00:11:44.440
cash flow, and that is identifying and addressing the common
170
00:11:44.480 --> 00:11:48.480
cash flow killers that might be draining your business. Cashflow
171
00:11:48.559 --> 00:11:51.840
problems are caused by specific issues that can be systematically
172
00:11:51.879 --> 00:11:54.240
identified in things. So let me walk you through some
173
00:11:54.320 --> 00:11:58.720
of those cash flow killers that we see across businesses
174
00:11:58.720 --> 00:12:00.960
of all types and sizes. The way in the first
175
00:12:01.639 --> 00:12:05.200
major cash flow killer is too much inventory. You know,
176
00:12:05.360 --> 00:12:09.320
a great retailer in Massachusetts his name was Roger, Butchika
177
00:12:09.399 --> 00:12:14.039
once said, the less inventory you buy, the more money
178
00:12:14.080 --> 00:12:17.200
you make. And what Roger meant was is that too
179
00:12:17.279 --> 00:12:20.960
much inventory can put you out of business quickly. And
180
00:12:21.080 --> 00:12:25.240
this is the biggest mistake retailers make. It's overbuying, and
181
00:12:25.480 --> 00:12:27.960
over buying not only kills retailers, by the way, it
182
00:12:28.039 --> 00:12:34.759
kills distributors who overbuy product and manufacturers who overproduce. You know,
183
00:12:34.799 --> 00:12:39.440
I once had a client in the distribution business well,
184
00:12:39.480 --> 00:12:42.960
because of a promotion that didn't meet sales expectations, was
185
00:12:43.000 --> 00:12:47.720
sitting on a seven year supply of a particular product.
186
00:12:48.799 --> 00:12:51.919
Now we've got an offer of fifteen thousand dollars to
187
00:12:52.000 --> 00:12:56.320
move this inventory. But it did and it cost my client.
188
00:12:56.360 --> 00:13:00.799
That remaining inventory did cost my clients thousand dollars. So
189
00:13:01.039 --> 00:13:03.799
sixty thousand dollars that cost was sitting there and we
190
00:13:03.919 --> 00:13:07.600
got a fifteen thousand dollar offer. My suggestion was to
191
00:13:07.639 --> 00:13:12.080
take the fifteen thousand dollars and reinvest it in fresh,
192
00:13:12.639 --> 00:13:15.679
fast moving inventory that was turning over eight times per
193
00:13:15.759 --> 00:13:20.080
year at a forty percent profit. Monitule by doing this
194
00:13:20.679 --> 00:13:25.480
instead of tying up sixty thousand an inventory that would
195
00:13:25.480 --> 00:13:28.799
take seven years to move, they generated an additional two
196
00:13:28.879 --> 00:13:32.399
hundred thousand cash flows that year through the reinvestment of
197
00:13:32.440 --> 00:13:36.919
that fifteen thousand in the fast moving product. This is
198
00:13:37.039 --> 00:13:41.000
really really important, by the way, because there are several
199
00:13:41.080 --> 00:13:43.879
factors why we business owners don't pull the trigger on
200
00:13:44.000 --> 00:13:47.679
situations like this. Now, they would have never generated that
201
00:13:47.759 --> 00:13:50.159
much cash waiting for that slow moving stuff to sell,
202
00:13:50.320 --> 00:13:54.879
not a million years. And this illustrates a fundamental principle
203
00:13:54.919 --> 00:13:58.919
because of the inventory turnover of more productive inventory, it
204
00:13:59.159 --> 00:14:04.559
pays to cut your losses and get rid of that
205
00:14:04.840 --> 00:14:12.279
slower moving inventory. So getting a question from a listener,
206
00:14:12.360 --> 00:14:18.799
so the question is how can business owners determine the
207
00:14:18.879 --> 00:14:21.879
right inventory levels for their specific business to avoid this
208
00:14:21.960 --> 00:14:24.320
problem in the first place. Well, that's a great question.
209
00:14:24.720 --> 00:14:30.279
The key is implementing what I call an inventory intelligence system,
210
00:14:30.559 --> 00:14:33.399
and that's a systematic approach to the management of inventory
211
00:14:33.399 --> 00:14:37.799
and is start by categorizing your inventory into A, B
212
00:14:38.200 --> 00:14:43.559
and C items based on sales velocity and profit contribution.
213
00:14:44.240 --> 00:14:47.159
So your A items, typically the top twenty percent that
214
00:14:47.240 --> 00:14:50.440
generated eighty percent of your profit, should never be out
215
00:14:50.480 --> 00:14:55.039
of stock and require type management for these items. Calculate
216
00:14:55.120 --> 00:14:58.799
your optimal reorder point by multiplying your average daily sales
217
00:14:58.840 --> 00:15:02.440
by your supplier lead, then add a safety stock factor
218
00:15:02.480 --> 00:15:07.039
based on sales buriability. For B and C items, you
219
00:15:07.080 --> 00:15:11.039
can be more conservative with stocking levels. Review these calculations
220
00:15:11.080 --> 00:15:14.240
quarterly as sales patterns change from time to time, but
221
00:15:14.360 --> 00:15:18.639
most importantly, implement a regular, slow moving inventory review to
222
00:15:18.759 --> 00:15:23.360
identify and liquid date items before they become seventy year supplies.
223
00:15:24.080 --> 00:15:28.759
Excuse the reference to the last example. So here's the
224
00:15:28.799 --> 00:15:33.000
other thing. We need to check our egos at the door.
225
00:15:33.399 --> 00:15:37.200
All of us, we business owners, never want to admit
226
00:15:37.440 --> 00:15:41.759
that we made a buying mistake. It's probably one of
227
00:15:41.759 --> 00:15:44.399
the biggest reasons why we hold on inventory, and as
228
00:15:44.399 --> 00:15:48.320
a result, we keep the inventory way too long. My
229
00:15:48.440 --> 00:15:53.000
client would have kept that inventory. We all have purchased dogs,
230
00:15:53.639 --> 00:15:56.279
no matter how great our buying skills are. We all
231
00:15:56.440 --> 00:16:04.120
have purchased dogs. Let's let's admit that they're dogs as
232
00:16:04.240 --> 00:16:08.440
soon as we possibly can, instead of hoping and praying
233
00:16:08.759 --> 00:16:13.519
that our dogs are really great anyway. The second major
234
00:16:13.600 --> 00:16:17.879
cash flow killer, I hate to say it. It bothers
235
00:16:17.960 --> 00:16:19.919
me to say it, but it's the owner's taking too
236
00:16:20.000 --> 00:16:24.799
much salary or making too many withdrawals. This one hits
237
00:16:24.799 --> 00:16:28.559
home hardest. The business is doing well, and as a result,
238
00:16:28.600 --> 00:16:33.399
the owner increases their personal lifestyle, not necessarily too extravagantly,
239
00:16:33.440 --> 00:16:35.320
but by the way, but more than the business can
240
00:16:35.360 --> 00:16:38.960
afford if there is a downturn, and so while the
241
00:16:39.000 --> 00:16:42.519
business is doing well, it's not really feeling the effects
242
00:16:42.519 --> 00:16:45.480
of the additional salary that the owner is taking. And furthermore,
243
00:16:45.919 --> 00:16:48.240
the owner feels entitled to it. I don't blame them