What does the future hold for your small business finances? Positive cash flow is crucial for maintaining business operations and paying employees. If you don’t manage your finances appropriately, you risk cash shortages to pay your expenses when sales slow down. Fortunately, there’s a way to help you see ahead to prevent these issues and help your business grow. Here’s how you can predict a cash shortage and prevent it from affecting your business.

One question I pose to small business owners: "Do you have a six-month cash flow projection?" If not, you may have a difficult time determining how successful your business will be during this COVID-19 pandemic. A projection helps you maintain the relationships you have with loyal customers. It prevents the many problems resulting from a lack of cash.

When I work with nonprofit leaders, I hear about the challenges they face with cash flow. Nonprofits have historically faced a unique funding situation due to the variability of grant funding cycles and donor contributions. I recommend a tool – cash flow projection – that can help organizations maintain financial viability today and in the future.