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Cash outflows vs. cash inflows:

What's the difference?

Managing cash flow is a crucial aspect of running any business. It's important to understand the difference between cash outflows and cash inflows, as these concepts can impact the financial health of your business.

Key takeaways

  • Cash flow management is crucial for the sustainability of any business.
  • Effective cash flow management involves monitoring and controlling cash inflows and outflows, forecasting future cash flows, and implementing strategies to improve cash flow.
  • The 3 pillars of cash flow management are cash flow forecasting, cash flow analysis and cash flow improvement strategies.

What is cash inflow?

Cash inflow refers to the money that your business receives. This includes all the revenue and other types of income that your business generates.

Examples of cash inflows include:

  • Sales revenue from products or services
  • Investments made in the business
  • Loans received from lenders
  • Accounts receivable from customers who owe you money
  • Grants or subsidies received from the government
  • Rental income from leasing out property or equipment

What is cash outflow?

Cash outflow refers to the money that your business spends or pays out. This includes all the expenses that your business incurs.

Examples of cash outflows include:

  • Rent or lease payments for office space or equipment
  • Salaries and wages paid to employees
  • Purchasing inventory or supplies
  • Utilities such as electricity, water, and gas
  • Loan payments to lenders
  • Taxes paid to the government
  • Advertising expenses

Cash inflow vs. cash outflow and how to calculate it

Calculating cash inflows and cash outflows is an important part of managing your business. By comparing the two, you can get an idea of how much money is coming in and going out of your business. This can help you make better decisions about spending, investments, and financing.

To calculate your cash inflow and outflow, you can use a cash flow statement. This statement tracks all the money that flows in and out of your business during a specific period of time, usually a month or a quarter.

An example of a business calculating their cash outflow to improve their business

Let's take a look at a real-life example of how a business can use cash outflow calculations to improve its financial health. Say that a small business is struggling to make ends meet and is having trouble paying its bills on time.

To understand its cash flow situation, the business owner decides to create a cash flow statement. After reviewing the statement, the owner realises that the business is spending too much on inventory and is paying too much in rent for its office space. By reducing these expenses, the business is able to cut its cash outflows and improve its financial situation.

In summary, cash outflows and cash inflows are two important concepts in managing your business's cash flow. Understanding the difference between the two, and knowing how to calculate them, can help you make better decisions about spending, investments, and financing.

Have you ever thought about invoice finance to help improve your cash flow?

Invoice finance allows you to release cash quickly from your unpaid invoices.

As your lender, we can release up to 90% of your invoices within 24 hours. On payment of the invoice from your customers, we will then release the final amount minus any fees and charges. There are different types of invoice financing options available to businesses depending on the situation and the level of control they require in collecting unpaid invoices.

We are an invoice financing company who offer a solution whereby payments are collected on your behalf managed by our team of expert credit controllers so you can focus on running your business. Our Confidential Invoice Discounting solution is offered to businesses who want to maintain their own credit control processes, therefore this remains strictly confidential so your customers are unaware of our involvement.

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The benefits of invoice finance companies such as Novuna Business cash flow

  • Boost your cash flow without having to wait up to 120 days for your customers to pay you

  • Release up to 90% of the invoice straight away, and the final 10% when the invoice is settled

  • Access funds within 24 hours from initial appointment with our revolutionary digital onboarding process

  • Benefit from our in-house credit control processes, allowing you to focus on running your business, instead of chasing clients for payment

  • Six month trial period followed by a rolling contract

Want to understand more Cash Flow Finance terms?

Our Cash Flow Resource Hub has been set up to help SME's with cash flow finance advice, tips and resources to help with their cash flow position.

We explore ways you can begin improving your cash flow situation and start getting your business on track to positive cash flow.

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