CFI.co Blog

Small businesses are expansive. Small businesses are responsible for creating over 66% of net new jobs. Every business in America needs to have good business practices to reel in from last year’s losses. If you want to recover from the pandemic’s impact you need to adapt to the new standards. Coincidentally, you will also learn new effective methods to help your incoming customers. But, what exactly do you need to know to build your business? These 7 helpful financial planning tips will help reevaluate your business’s finances.

1. Controlling Your Invoices

When developing an invoice, you can attach your terms and conditions to the payment. Learn how to create a system that can streamline creating an invoice.

Understand how to negotiate these terms with clients. Make it clear that your invoice has a set due date and payment itemization.

Communicate these terms to your clients and business partners. If you complete the work, it’s not an issue to demand that clients comply with those terms.

When it comes to small business finances, a non-payment can make or break your workflow. It’s your responsibility to make sure payments are complete on-time.

In addition, if a company does not comply, a policy can allow you to add interest on late-payments. Sometimes, accidents happen. So, sometimes these circumstances aren’t malicious.

But, you deserve your money for the hard work you put into projects. Despite this, never feel insecure about demanding a client to comply with your invoice’s set terms and conditions.

2. VAT and Tax Accounts

International business transactions are implementing VAT and various tax accounts in their regions. Small businesses should separate their bank accounts, if possible.

This means having a tax account, a VAT account, and a current account. Make sure to verify whether you can move money between these accounts. This is a great tip for startups. 

You should delineate a portion of each check you receive into a VAT account to manage your V8.0. This can allow you to pay the VAT bill with ease without mismanaging your funds.

You should implement the same method for taxable accounts. You want to make sure you always have enough set aside to take care of tax expenses.

3. Reviewing Bank Accounts

With that said, it’s also important to create a regular workflow when checking bank accounts. This includes reviewing bank statements to track your money management.

While managing money, accounts and transactions are prone to human error. It is vital to prevent vulnerabilities and understand your small business finances as a whole.

Build a routine when checking your savings account. It’s important to hold a rainy day fund for when things get hectic. You may depend on it when business is slow for a few months.

4. Cash Flow Management

Your business should allow a two-month buffer for easy cash flow. Many companies and clients can make it difficult to make on time payments.

Certain independent clients will implement a net-30 or even a net-60 into their payroll system. This is due to payments or fees implemented into their own invoice processing.

With this in mind, make sure you have a clear forecast of how you’ll complete upcoming invoices.

It’s never too late to plan for a delay or a disruption in the payment processing. A 60-day buffer is great to give yourself a future ground plan.

You can create these formulas in excel is An invoice needs time to work through different payment systems, so give a clean 60-days notice. Excel is a great application that can help manage these timetables.

5. Bank Management Relationships

Building a repertoire with your bank management staff will prove beneficial for while you manage finances. A personal relationship with a bank manager can help in a difficult time.

They can help you beyond dileneating numbers and figures. They can notify you of changes within the branch and give you financial advice.

Bank managers can help you navigate and organize and manage finances. They can also give you advice on which savings accounts are most beneficial for your small business.

6. Setting Up Direct Deposit & More

An extra trip to the bank to cash a check or manage payments can take time. Building up a series of direct deposits or standing orders in other countries can streamline this process.

The influx of digital banking is allowing this to become an easier process. This can also prevent the added human error of paper transactions.

When you’re working with troublesome clients, they can use any excuse to not pay.

Setting up an automatic online transaction can help secure these payments. Banks and corporations work through a series of verification processes to break down the payments.

At times, interconnectivity between clients and direct deposits is a precarious process. This might become an issue for certain businesses that don’t have access to these accounts.

But, if you can, routing payments to your account on the first of the month can manage finances and bills.

7. Spreading Your Payments

When your business is dealing with large projects with several profiles, payments may turn tricky. If a project is requiring thousands of dollars to complete, try to even out the payments.

This can consist of scheduling payments across a number of months. These deadlines will hit faster than you expect.

Collect your budget and review the point of sale terminals. You must also account for surcharges of banking fees when predicting these payments.

Financial Planning Tips

If you have the initiative and management skills to run a small business, then start today! These effective financial planning tips can help manage your business and keep you on track.

It’s all about money management and making sure your business is in a good position. Understanding how to have a good grasp on money management can ensure your business is stable.

Click here for more information on how to build your business and manage your finances.

600,000 businesses close each year. One of the main reasons why businesses struggle is that they are unable to stay on top of their finances or they have a lack of funding.

One thing that can help your business stay on top of changes and meet financial goals is by choosing the right small business banking company. 

Do you want to learn more about company banking options? Keep reading these top tips to choose a bank for your small business. 

Evaluate Your Needs & Business Goals

The first step to finding the best bank for your small business is evaluating your business needs and goals. Because each company requires different types of financing and services, you must find a bank that can help you meet your goals. 

For example, if your main goal is to grow your business, you may need access to different types of funding from your bank. In this case, you should choose a bank that has a variety of lending options for businesses. 

Consider both your short-term and long-term needs and make sure you find the right bank to help your business operate. 

What Types of Financial Products and Services Are Offered? 

Each bank typically offers the same services. However, there may be some banks that offer specialized financial products that would benefit your business. Before you choose a bank, you must ask them about their financial products and services for small businesses. 

Some common products include business checking accounts, business insurance. loan option, and more. 

Consider Bank Availability & Convenience

When it comes to services for your business, you need to find options that are easily accessible and convenient. For banking, you may want to find a bank that offers online or mobile banking services. 

This makes it easier to pay bills, monitor business activity, and more. Something else to consider is whether or not your bank has multiple locations. While smaller banks may be able to provide you with great service, you may prefer to have a bank with several locations.

This way, you will have easy access to your business funds when you are travelling, no matter where you are. 

Ask About Rates and Fees

Different banks have different fee structures, so you must ask your bank representative about their rates and fees. 

For example, some accounts may provide you with more interest on your deposits. Choosing a bank with the best interest rates will give you more money from your savings. Other banks may charge you monthly fees, fees for transactions, and charge you for other transactions.

To avoid these annoying fees, you may want to find a company that will help you maximize your savings without increasing your costs. 

Small Bank vs. Big Bank

Next, you should consider the network size of your bank. Most banks and credit unions offer the same services, so it may be down to your personal preferences when you choose between a small bank or a big bank. 

If you are a local business, it may be best to choose a small bank that has local expertise. These smaller banks will be more likely to cater to your business and focus on good customer service. 

However, big banks have more funds and account options, so this may be a big advantage for your company. As was mentioned before, big banks have more branches, so it will be easy to access your accounts while you are travelling. Big banks also often have digital banking services to make it even easier to access your funds. 

Similarly, you need to find a bank that can provide scalability for your future needs. While your business starts small, you may grow exponentially in the coming years. You must find a bank that will accommodate your growth and will be able to work with your growing business. 

This scalability is important when it comes to loan options as well. If your business is growing significantly, you need a bank that will be able to offer you enough funding in the future. 

Look For Industry Experience

When you are looking for a bank for your small business, it is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Different companies have different needs, so you must choose a bank that has experience in our industry. 

Banks with industry experience will have specialized products and services that are meant to help your specific pain points as a business owner in the industry. For example, banks that specialize in the real estate industry can help a real estate agent manage real estate finances and offer investment property loans. 

Do They Provide Lending? 

Finally, you must learn whether your bank provides lending options. As was mentioned before, many companies close due to a lack of funding or capital. To help your business stay afloat during tough times, you need to choose a bank that offers lending options. 

Learn more about a bank’s requirements for securing funding and make sure they offer good interest rates for business loans. You can also find a bank that participates in a preferred lender program if you want to apply for a Small Business Administration loan at some point. 

Learn More About How To Choose a Bank Today

Choosing a bank for your company banking is vital to meeting your financial goals and getting the lending that you need to grow. To find a bank that fits all of your needs, you must take each of these factors into consideration!

Do you want help learning how to choose a bank? CFI.co can help! Our website features articles about business, finance, and more. 

Check out our articles today for more financial tips for your business! 

Did you know that about 145 million Americans own stock? That means that 56% of American adults are invested in the stock market.

Whether you’ve been planning on investing for a while or you’ve gotten swept up in some of the recent meme-stock crazes, learning how to start investing money is an exciting juncture in life.

If you’re looking for information about investing for beginners, you’ve come to the right place.

Let’s take a look at the steps you need to take to come up with a solid investing plan.

Determine Your Style

In the world of investing, there are two primary camps of how to invest your money. These are passive investing and active investing. Both of these have their advantages so long as you are interested in the long term rather than hoping for wins in the short term.

Depending on your personal situation, one of these types of investing might be more appropriate for you.

Active investing is when you do the work to research investments and build and maintain your portfolio. Basically, if you’re planning on signing up with an online broker and buying and selling individual stocks, then you’re thinking about being an active investor.

There are three things you need to ensure that you are successful as an active investor. These include time, knowledge, and desire.

Basically, you’ll need to do a lot of research and homework to be an active investor. You’ll also need to become quite knowledgeable about the stock market and the individual stocks you’re trading. Lastly, you’ll need to want to spend time this way as it’s a big time commitment.

Passive investing, on the other hand, involves putting your money in investment vehicles and letting someone else do all of the hard work. Investing in mutual funds is one type of passive investing, for example. With this type of investing, you can get good returns in the long run and you don’t have to put in nearly as much effort.

Some people choose to go a hybrid route such as using a robo-advisor or hiring a financial advisor.

Determine Your Budget

The next step is to figure out how much money you want to budget for investing. You actually don’t need as much money as you think to start investing, and can start a portfolio with as little as $100.

You will want to make sure that you are ready to invest before you take the plunge. Having an emergency fund is key before you start putting your money into investments. An emergency fund is cash that you have in an accessible account so that you can withdraw it quickly if necessary.

There is some level of risk when it comes to all investments and you want to avoid having to sell your investments out of necessity at an unideal time. Having an emergency fund can help avoid this outcome.

Six months worth of expenses is generally considered a good emergency fund. However, you don’t necessarily need to have that much money before you start a portfolio.

It’s also advised that you take care of any high-interest debt before you start investing. Basically, if you invest in the stock market while you have high-interest debt, you will typically lose money over the long run because of the amount of interest you owe.

Determine Your Risk Tolerance

The last piece of the puzzle is how risk tolerant you are. There is a risk to all investments, but some are riskier than others. Typically, the higher profit you stand to make the more you are at risk of losing. The less risk-tolerant you are, on the other hand, the less profit you will typically make in returns.

You will want to find the balance point that works for you between a risk level you’re comfortable with and maximizing the returns on your money. For example, the whole stock market returns almost 10% a year on average while bonds offer returns around 2-3%. However, bonds are much lower risk than stocks.

There can be huge differences in risk with the broad categories of stocks and bonds, too. You’ll want to understand what you’re getting into whenever you are thinking about making investments whether it’s stocks, bonds, real estate, silver, or something else entirely.

Some advisors suggest that beginners can start with robo-advisors to help them make a plan that works with their goals and risk tolerance. Basically, a robo-advisor is a brokerage service that builds and maintains a portfolio for you with the goal of maximizing your potential for returns and staying within your range of risk tolerance.

Are you looking to learn about different stock investment strategies? If so, check out this article.

How to Start Investing Money: Knowledge Is Power!

It’s easy to get swept up in the latest meme-stock when you’re making investments for the first time. However, it’s a really good idea to step back and look at all of your options with a more sober perspective. Sure, there are opportunities to make money in the stock market, but there is also the risk of losing a lot if you aren’t careful.

If you want to learn how to start investing, there is no substitute for doing a lot of fairly dry research about the market. However, passive investing is definitely a better choice if you aren’t interested in reading financial books or blogs.

Are you looking for more information on all things financial? If so, be sure to check out the rest of our blogs for more articles on investing and finance!

While a credit card and a debit card look almost identical on the surface, there is a big difference between a credit and debit card. If you’re looking for which card to use when we’ve rounded up a handy credit card vs debit card guide.

From the differences between the two to how to use each card, we’ve rounded up everything you need to know about credit and debit. Let’s jump in and see which card is right for you and when to use them.

What is a Credit Card?

A credit card is a form of payment issued by a bank or financial institution to lend you money. Unlike a loan, a credit card doesn’t come with loan terms or fixed payment plans. Instead, you’re approved for a certain amount, also known as a line of credit or credit limit.

You can use your credit card as a form of payment online, in-person, through apps, or even on your cell phone in a digital wallet. You’re given a unique credit card number, a card expiration date, as well as a security code for verification purposes. This card is then linked to your credit account.

Whenever you pay for something using your credit card, your account is charged. Every month you don’t pay off your credit card balance, you’re typically charged an interest fee. You can charge an amount up to your available credit limit. A credit card payment is typically due each month.

When your monthly payment is due, there will often be a minimum payment that’s required. Any money over your minimum payment you don’t pay off gets rolled over to the next month, plus interest. To save money, it’s recommended you pay off your credit card balance each month.

What is a Debit Card?

A debit card looks almost identical to a credit card. You’ll have a unique debit card number, an expiration date, and a security code. This card number is then tied to your checking account. Unlike a credit card, you can only spend the cash you have available in your checking account.

A debit card doesn’t come with a line of credit or a credit limit. Whatever balance you have in your checking account is what you can withdrawal from your account using your debit cards. Some savings accounts will also come with a debit card.

You can also use your debit card to take cash out of your bank account. This is done at a Cash Machine, an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) or at a retailer that allows cash-back during a transaction. The money you spend using a debit card comes right out of your bank account almost immediately.

When to Use a Debit or Credit Card?

When it comes to when to use a debit card and when to use a credit card, there’s no right or wrong answer for anyone. Some people prefer to use their credit cards and then pay off the balance in order to accumulate rewards points. Many credit card companies and banks offer points for purchases to be used as cash, for travel, or for additional purchases.

Other people don’t want to run the risk of accumulating a high credit card balance. This is where using a debit card can help keep you out of debt. With a debit card, you’re only spending what you have in the bank.

At an ATM, you’ll often want to use a debit card in order to pull the cash directly from your bank account. You can sometimes withdraw cash from a credit card at an ATM, but this money is added to your credit card balance.

Credit Tips

When using a credit card, it can be difficult to keep your credit balances in check. Because this money doesn’t come out of your checking account directly, it can be easy to slip into a cycle of overspending. This can cause a high amount of debt that you have trouble paying off. This can also significantly lower your credit score. 

To keep your credit card debt manageable, make paying off your credit card each month a priority. Use your debit card for as much as possible and use your credit card for larger purchases or for places that require a credit card.

Most banks have an automated payment feature where you can choose to pay off your credit card balances or minimum payments each month. Doing this will help make sure you can keep up with the amount of debt you’re accumulating. Credit shouldn’t be used if you can’t afford to pay it back.

Debit Card Tips

When using your debit card, you want to be mindful of the balance in your bank account. If your balance is low and you’re using your debit card without checking, you may overdraw on your account. This means you’ve spent more than you actually have.

To help you stay on track, most banks have an alert system that tells you when your account is below a certain number. This will help alert you that your balance is low. If you’re constantly getting down to a low balance in your account or using your credit card as a way to pay for things you don’t have enough money for, this could lead to a dangerous cycle of debt. You may also be unable to pay important expenses such as your rent, mortgage, or car payment.

For security reasons, it’s recommended you use a credit card, however, so that if a fraud has occurred, your credit card company can cancel the charges and issue you a new card. With a debit card, your bank account information could fall into the hands of someone fraudulent giving them access to your assets.

Credit Card vs Debit Card

When choosing between a credit card vs debit card, it’s important to consider what you’re buying. Paying a utility bill or taking out cash from an ATM is usually done with a debit card. A hotel stay, however, is often done using a credit card.

If you’re looking for more great financial content, check out the banking section here. We have financial resources on everything from credit cards to home loans, wealth management, and more.