By - September 19, 2023
Categories: General
In the world of business, cash flow management is a key element of financial success. A business’s ability to effectively manage the cash coming in and out of the business will ultimately determine whether it remains successful and profitable or struggles to keep its doors open. One of the most widely used strategies for cash flow management comes from the book Profit First by Mike Michalowicz. This strategy helps business owners transform the way they manage their finances in order to ensure stability, growth, and confidence knowing they’ll always get paid. Read on to learn more about this strategy and how it can help you master cash management in your business.
What Is the Strategy for Cash Management?
The Profit First strategy that Mike Michalowicz teaches is more than just a financial concept. It’s a true mindset shift around how you manage your money and operate your business. This mindset prioritizes profitability over everything else. In fact, it’s so powerful that the Profit First method has been copyrighted, as it is so well known for helping business owners transform the way they look at and manage their finances and make decisions.
The core principle of the Profit First strategy is to set aside an allotted percentage of revenue as profit to pay yourself first before you pay off any expenses or set money aside for taxes.
Instead of the traditional profit formula of Sales – Expenses = Profit, this strategy flips the equation, making it Sales – Profit = Expenses. It might seem like a small, simple shift, but it can have a huge impact on your business’s overall financial health and the health of your personal finances as a business owner.
The Power Of Separate Accounts
One of the key ideas behind the Profit First strategy is to have separate bank accounts for different aspects of your business in order to manage cash flow and divide money appropriately. This is the bread and butter of the strategy and is where you’ll see the most positive impact on your cash flow management.
By separating out your accounts, you’ll be able to see exactly what’s going in and out of each account, allowing you to make sound financial decisions and take control of your business finances.
The two most important accounts to have are taxes and payroll. How this works is the business owner transfers a certain percentage of revenue into these separate checking accounts, and payroll and taxes are then paid from their specific accounts.
By having these separate accounts, you can ensure that you are consistently saving money for taxes so you never have to scramble at the last minute to scrape together enough money to cover your tax obligations. Your employees are the heartbeat of your business, so it’s essential to set aside funds in a payroll account to ensure you can always pay them on time.
Benefits of The Profit First Strategy
There are many benefits of using the Profit First strategy for your cash management. First, by having separate bank accounts for each aspect of your accounting, it creates clarity in your finances, allowing you to see where your money is going, which makes it easier to make informed decisions based on the numbers.
It also can greatly reduce the stress on the business (and owner) by knowing that you always have funds set aside to pay your taxes and your employees. With this strategy, you never have to worry about your obligations come tax time or pay day.
With the focus on profit, your business will increase profitability and be able to grow sustainably. Your spending will be under control and you’ll be able to make sound business decisions that drive you towards growth.
Plus, in all of this, you’ll actually be able to pay yourself! So often, business owners put paying themselves on the backburner, especially in tough times. With the Profit First strategy, paying yourself a wage before expenses or taxes is a priority.
If you’re looking to implement the Profit First strategy in your business to increase cash flow, I highly recommend getting a copy of Mike Michalowicz’s Profit First book. It teaches the tried and true, straightforward process for putting this strategy in action.
If you’re looking for further support in setting your business up for increased profitability, better cash management, and financial success, I’d love to work with you. As a profit strategist, I’d be happy to jump on a complimentary consultation call with you to discuss your unique needs when it comes to your business’s financials and cash management. Book your free consultation here and move one step closer to mastering your cash management.
