Ask Andi: Our mid-year financial check-up shows we stray off course. This year we need to show a profit. We can’t have both high profits and low taxes. Where’s the balance? What stats should we be watching?
Thoughts of the Day: Do a mid-year financial check-up to see if anything needs to change. Build a successful company by growing both revenue and profitability. Build reserves. Get ratio improvements. Compare assets, liabilities, and equity. When borrowing money, think of the bank as a partner who needs to be kept informed.
Mid-year financial check-up
When managing in a downturn, it’s essential to have an accurate picture of where the company is headed – immediately and mid-term. Define any shortfall, rather than ignoring the problem, by comparing revenue forecast to expense budget. Do everything possible to reduce the shortfall to zero by cutting expenses and focusing on profitable revenue. Identify the use of lines of credit and other debt instruments to close any gaps. Figure out ahead of time if the company risks running out of cash. Be realistic.
While the finance department is usually focused on reporting on historical performance, and keeping controls in place, its greatest value comes from creating a go-forward picture. Planning out the forecast of revenue and building an accurate expense budget is a way of showing everyone where the company is going, in financial terms.
Set revenue targets that everyone can agree on. Don’t over or under forecast. Use the budget to plan out critical expenditures needed to boost sales and marketing, in order to get the company back on track for profitable growth.
Re-think expenses, make adjustments
Look at crucial ratios that will determine whether or not the company can obtain additional financing. Compare current assets (cash, accounts receivable, inventory) to current liabilities (accounts payable, lines of credit, current year’s portion of long-term debt). The ratio needs to be 2:1 or higher.
Next take a look at the debt: equity ratio. That needs to be under 2.5: 1. Companies with the greatest difficulty meeting that ratio tend to be young, undercapitalized firms, and companies that have been taking losses for a long time.
If the company is at or above 2.5, and there are no funds available from the owners, the company is going to have to make do with what it has available. It may also be at risk of having its lines called by the bank. Treat this situation very seriously by building a plan to boost profits and sales immediately, without taking on additional debt.
Many times the debt: equity ratio is okay, but the current assets: current liabilities ratio is too low. If that is the case, consider terming out some of the credit lines, thereby moving debt out of current liabilities, into the long term. This move won’t impact the debt: equity ratio, but it will improve the ca: cl ratio.
Protect what’s yours
Once the company starts to produce profits, use the money to pay down debt and build reserves at the same time. $1goes to debt service, $1 into cash reserves. Building up cash reserves will give the company more room to manoeuver than paying down debt alone.
If the company is struggling, keep the bank informed. Banks don’t like surprises. They want to see an owner who is knowledgeable, forthright and working to solve problems with the resources available. Demonstrate that by sharing plans and reporting with timely data.
Ask the bank to meet with you, to review existing reports. Ask for their suggestions. What additional reports do they think you should be looking at? What ratios would they like to see? How often? They can be helpful if you open the door to a cooperative relationship, and they may see things that you don’t. The best part: their advice is usually part of the package of services they offer, you might as well make use of it.
Looking for a good book? Never Run Out of Cash, The 10 Cash Flow Rules You Can’t Afford to Ignore, by Philip Campbell
