Projecting your cash flow is essential. By forecasting ahead, you gain a clear picture of your financial position in the coming months, which allows you to take the right steps to protect your cash reserves. Detailed forecasts also make it possible to test different scenarios, identify savings, and develop strategies that keep the business secure. Staying on top of changing conditions Forecasting is not a one-off exercise. Your cash flow should be reviewed weekly or at least monthly, depending on the size and complexity of your business. This regular check gives you time to address problems before they become critical. For example, if a customer payment looks likely to be late, you can tighten credit control, chase invoices earlier, or agree staged payments to protect your position. Modern tools like Float, Fathom, or Futrli connect with your accounting system and can automatically update your forecast when new invoices or expenses are added. This saves time and ensures the data you are working with is always current. Strengthening your financial position A forecast is only useful if you act on what it shows. If your outgoings consistently outweigh your income, you need to address both sides of the equation. On the income side, consider whether your prices reflect the value you deliver. A modest increase, communicated well, can have a big impact. Look at new revenue streams, such as offering a premium version of an existing service or introducing subscription-style billing to smooth income. On the cost side, carry out a quarterly expense review. Cancel unused software licences, renegotiate supplier contracts, and monitor stock levels to prevent tying up cash in slow-moving items. If staffing costs are a concern, explore flexible hours, cross-training staff to cover more roles, or outsourcing specific tasks that don’t need full-time employees. Small adjustments can add up to a significant improvement in your forecast. Preparing for the future One of the biggest strengths of forecasting is the ability to model “what if” scenarios. Adjust the assumptions in your forecast to see the impact of a 10% fall in sales, a delayed client payment, or an increase in energy bills. This allows you to put contingency plans in place before problems arise. If a scenario shows a cash shortfall, you can line up funding early, when you are in a stronger negotiating position with banks or investors. Alongside scenarios, build a rolling 12-month forecast. Extending beyond the next few weeks or months helps you plan for seasonal peaks, tax payments, or larger one-off expenses. This longer view makes your strategy more resilient and gives you confidence when making investment decisions. Talk to us Cash flow forecasting is not just about avoiding problems; it gives you the insight to grow safely and take opportunities with less risk. Call us on 01904 787 973 if you’d like support setting up a forecast that works for your business and puts you firmly in control of your cash flow.

How often do you get to the end of a working day and wonder where the time went? Perhaps you never got to item three (or even item one!) on your to-do list. How can you solve this problem without working longer hours? The answer is very simple, but the art in the solution is where the gold is. The answer to free up time is to delegate more, either to existing team members, new people you recruit, or externally to outside contractors. However, if delegation were that easy, everyone would be doing it now, right? So, what is the art of delegation? We say art, because delegation is not an exact science; different approaches are needed depending on who the ‘delegate’ is. Time and effort are required to effectively pass on tasks to others. Often, the time the delegator needs to put in initially is greater than if they did the work themselves – that’s why so many people don’t delegate. The view that ‘it’s quicker for you to do it yourself’ holds you trapped and unable to be more productive and effective yourself. It also stops others from developing better ways to do things than you already know, i.e. if you teach them your way, then they can master that AND add their own value, two minds being better than one. Here are some essential principles to apply to help you to delegate (as opposed to abdicate!): Delegation Assess the task, issue to the right person and support, helps build trust and respect Be specific and crystal clear for greater communication Request they repeat back instructions, so you know you were understood, enabling higher productivity Set a time frame and request clarification that the task has been achieved, ensuring jobs are completed on time and are profitable Both parties to review, opens the door for future work Abdication Issue tasks to anyone and forget about it, shows distrust and a lack of respect Giving unclear and little information results in poor communication Don’t ask if you were understood, results in low productivity Don’t set a time frame – it can mean jobs are delayed and over budget Different expectations can result in disgruntled clients No review results in no future work Delegation is a skill to be learned; applying these principles consistently will ensure long-term success. Action list Which tasks am I currently doing that I could delegate to others? What can I do with the time I free up? Who are the best people for me to delegate these to? (Make sure they want to do these as part of their career development). What is the best way to document what is expected and how it should be done? What support and review process is needed to ensure success? Get in touch Delegation is one of the fastest ways to free up your time and focus on the parts of your business that really need your attention. At Inglis, we work with business owners every day who face the same challenge: too many tasks on their plate and not enough hours in the day. We can help you streamline your financial processes, take essential but time-consuming work off your shoulders, and give you the space to focus on growth. If you’d like to spend less time buried in admin and more time leading your business, book a call with Donald Inglis .