Improve your business's financial position

If you haven't already, talk to an accountant or business adviser about your finances. They may be able to help you find other ways to improve your cash flow. Or they may suggest options for getting funding internally.

Chase up as many outstanding payments as you can. If you don't have the time, consider using a reputable debt collection agency.

Always have a condition of sale agreement before you make a sale. This gives the buyer your terms and conditions, including:

• how long they have to pay the debt
• any percentages you’ll apply to overdue payments.

Work out which of your expenses you could reduce or rearrange. You might be able to:

• arrange a deferred or periodic payment plan for larger expenses
• switch insurance companies, banks or suppliers to get a better deal
• change how much stock you buy and buy when you have higher cash flow
• switch to cheaper options for consumables like energy.

Selling unwanted assets can be a good way to get some cash and reduce your storage costs. Consider leasing your main assets. This helps to spread the cost over a longer period.

Consider registering a security interest on the Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) if you’re:

• selling on terms, such as retention of title
• leasing out valuable goods.

Registering a security interest can help you recover the debt if a buyer doesn’t pay or becomes insolvent.

Apply markdowns to full-price products or services to:

• attract sales
• move surplus stock or discontinued products.

Increasing your prices is an option if your business faces rising costs.

Whether you offer markdowns or increase prices, make sure you comply with pricing legislation.

Look at your current debts and see if you can combine them into a low interest, low fee product. When refinancing your current debt, make sure you shop around to see if you can you get a better deal elsewhere.

Putting more effort into marketing doesn't necessarily require spending more money. For example, using the internet and social media can be a cheaper and smarter way of getting your message across.

Offering additional payment options can open up different markets and improve your bottom line. Consider:

• credit
• e-commerce
• payment systems like BPAY, BillPay or PayPal.

You may be eligible for a grant in some circumstances, such as for business:

• expansion
• research and development
• innovation
• exporting.

There are simple ways to improve your cash flow, such as:

• making sure you send a correct invoice at the time of purchase
• following up on outstanding customer payments as soon as you can
• reducing your expenses – consider finding cheaper suppliers, consolidating your debts for a better rate, and organising a periodic payment plan for larger expenses

To cope with changes in your cash flow, consider taking out a business loan. Before you do, it's a good idea to assess your financial needs.