New Century Financial

In order to run a successful business, a lot has to happen on the back end. Accounting, which is usually performed by the business owner in the beginning, is the place where revenue and expenses meet, and hopefully result in a positive number. While business accounting can become very complex, do-it-yourself business owners can make things easier by understanding the differences between accounts payable, accounts receivable, and liabilities.

Accounts Payable

Accounts payable are fairly simple. They consist mostly of bills to your business that you need to pay. Typical accounts payable include invoices from suppliers, payroll expenses, lease payments on the office or facilities, company lines of credit, and other short-term debt and overhead costs. Think of accounts payable as an inbox, of sorts. Your goal as a business owner is to keep that inbox empty by paying off any amounts due to other people or businesses.<

Cash flow is important to every business, as the revenue covers overhead costs and provides a source of capital which can be used for growth projects. But with receivables on staggered payment schedules, many businesses are not getting access to revenue as quickly as they should. Fortunately, there is a way to bridge the gap between staggered receivables and cash flow.

Staggered Receivables and Cash Flow Strains

Issuing invoices with staggered payment schedules of 30, 60, or even 90 days is a standard practice. However, during that time, businesses need to make payroll, purchase supplies, advertise, and cover the cost of additional orders from other customers. Staggered receivables can end up placing a severe strain on cash flow, often pushing business owners to take out short-term loans to cover gaps in capital. These short-term loans place a further strain on cash flow, because a good portion of the revenue tri

When businesses need funding, the conventional solution is to take out loans for working capital. This sets the debt cycle into motion, and many businesses find themselves dependent on loans for the duration. However, the debt cycle can place a big strain on finances and limit business growth.

What Is the Debt Cycle

When a business takes out a loan, the capital is given in exchange for debt. The business then makes payments on the loan, plus interest, to pay off the debt. Loan debt takes a good chunk out of monthly revenue, and payments must be made regardless of how many or how few sales are made in that time. If cash flow is strained, businesses may take out additional short-term loans to smooth out revenue cycles at the risk of placing even more debt on the books, and juggling various loans at different interest rates can place a business in the fast-lane towards bankruptcy.

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