Ask Andi: I keep getting into cash crunches. I’ve been paying off loans. Sales look good. But now it looks like I might have spent too much on improvements, and I’m wondering if my contracts are as profitable as I...
Ask Andi: How do we create a disaster plan for the business? I know it's like closing the barn door after the horses got loose, but this isn't going to be our last disaster. What can I do to prepare...
Ask Andi: We have an unusually high amount of business write-offs. It's been increasing with the small accounts, where we used to get paid 100%. We've always had some amount of write-offs with our bigger clients. Every time we give...
Ask Andi: We have poor cash flow and need help dealing with the bank. The next few months will be tough. Cash flow is already tight and taxes are coming up. If I had a bigger credit line to draw...
Ask Andi: How do we prepare for the unexpected? 2011 was looking up. Then things hit a wall in February. Clients stopped buying and stopped paying, and prospects stopped looking. What can we expect this year? Thoughts of the day:...
Ask Andi: We're starting our year-end planning. We went into last winter financially thin. Expect expenses will go up, especially health care. Want to hire a salesperson, but where's the money coming from? Any suggestions on how to plan now...
Ask Andi: We need tough revenue measures. We can't live on 60-90 day payments. Clients delay paying. Vendors ask for immediate payment. Employees won't push customers for payment but expect their paychecks on time. Those are two double standards I'd...
One of my best business associates and I used to laugh at the guys who cut corners and squeezed their vendors for every penny. Now he's just tried to do the same thing to me. Any ideas? Chasing work at...
"We’ve done a great job cost-cutting. We’re making bigger profits than ever, even though sales are down 12 percent. Should we keep focusing on profits and stay away from growth?" Taking a pause to economize can be a useful and...