Sageworks Blog

Sep 14, 2012 13:04

Do lenders and analysts at financial institutions always understand the judgment behind the numbers they pull from tax returns? Are they able to gain insights into the business from the information on the returns? Linda Keith, CPA and trainer to hundreds of credit unions and banks discusses what lenders and analysts should do to make good loan decisions even when the recent cash flow history as evidenced by the tax returns does not seem to support it. [More]

Jul05

5 Financial metrics every business owner should know Mary Ellen Biery [email] Research Specialist

Jul 05, 2012 14:47

Is your business successful? How do you know? If you’re like most business owners, your days are filled by efforts to make your company successful. Those tasks might be focused on making a great product, generating sales, or building customer relationships. And you might be great at those things. But how great are you at making money? And how well are you managing your resources?
While different people have various definitions of business success, there are five key financial metrics that can help you understand your business’ financial success and how you’re faring against competitors. [More]

May29

5 Fraud-fighting tips for businesses Mary Ellen Biery [email] Research Specialist

May 29, 2012 14:55

Desperate times call for desperate measures, the saying goes. So it’s not surprising that fraud in the workplace increased during the economic crisis and recession. The median loss tied to occupational fraud is $160,000, according to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners’ 2010 report, so the issue is something about which many companies are rightfully concerned. Small businesses are especially vulnerable, the ACFE says. Fraud can pad your selling, general and administrative expenses or inflate your cost of sales. Here are five ways to fight fraud in your business. [More]

Apr23

Avoid cash flow catastrophes: Part IV-10 ways cash flow forecasts go wrong Mary Ellen Biery [email] Research Specialist

Apr 23, 2012 12:45

Experts say cash flow forecasts can be tripped up by several common items that business owners and financial managers might overlook. Generally, these can be blamed on two factors: omission or over-optimism. [More]

Apr 12, 2012 08:28

Hartman King, CFO of Nashville restaurant developer MStreet Entertainment Group, discusses managing the chaos of growth and the benefit of evolving financial processes. [More]

Apr11

Avoid cash flow catastrophes: Part III - Frequency Mary Ellen Biery [email] Research Specialist

Apr 11, 2012 16:13

As with many things in finance, how often you perform or update your cash flow forecast depends on the business and your circumstances, according to Lauren Prosser, manager of advisory services at Sageworks. [More]

Apr 05, 2012 10:21

Wai-Yan Sun, CFO of Boston-based technology and marketing firm FreeCause, discusses making trade-offs and the effort tied to cash flow forecasting. [More]

Apr02

Avoid cash flow catastrophes: Part II Mary Ellen Biery [email] Research Specialist

Apr 02, 2012 15:35

One way you can tell that cash flow forecasting is a pain point for many people is the number of templates and software solutions that are available online. Nevertheless, you can also start developing your cash flow forecast simply, by thinking about the forecast the way you would a personal check register. [More]

Mar 28, 2012 19:36

Robert Frabasile, CFO of New York accounting firm Kiwi Partners Inc., discusses client relations and the role of balance sheet items in cash flow forecasting. [More]

Mar27

Avoid cash flow catastrophes: Improve your forecasts Mary Ellen Biery [email] Research Specialist

Mar 27, 2012 14:14

It’s not just big companies with declining sales that run into problems with cash flow. Talk with any accountant or other financial expert and you’re likely to hear a story like this: “I had a friend/client/relative who was very profitable but who grew themselves into trouble when their cash couldn’t keep up with their increasing expenses.” [More]