Sageworks Blog

May 12, 2013 16:21

Try as we might try to make forecasts for a company, inevitably something goes awry. Maybe a large customer lets you know “the check is in the mail” rather than in the bank account as expected, or perhaps a marketing campaign doesn’t yield the expected sales boost. In all of these scenarios, a company needs a cash cushion, a contingency plan for cash flow. [More]

Feb 26, 2013 12:11

Guest columnist John Calia discusses current trends in mergers and acquisitions, including recent deals tied to Warren Buffett, and how these trends affect small businesses. [More]

Dec 11, 2012 08:00

More than half of the financial professionals in a recent survey said they expect to move at least some of their organizations’ cash and short-term investment portfolios from non-interest bearing bank accounts if unlimited FDIC insurance expires at the end of the year, according to the Association for Financial Professionals. Separately, the chief economist for the Independent Community Bankers of America on Monday urged Congress to extend the program promptly. [More]

Nov 28, 2012 16:26

The U.S. Senate could take up legislation to extend the FDIC’s Transaction Account Guarantee program for two years. The Wall Street Journal reports Sen. Harry Reid has introduced a bill to continue a program that has provided unlimited guarantees for non-interest bearing transaction accounts such as payroll. [More]

Jun18

Companies' cash tied up in inventory, slow payers Mary Ellen Biery [email] Research Specialist

Jun 18, 2012 14:28

Later customer payments and slower moving inventory have combined to tie up private companies’ cash 16 percent longer than just three years ago, according to recent data from Sageworks Inc., a financial information company. That’s money companies don’t have in the bank to hire or buy new equipment, even though sales and profit margins this year are up. [More]

Jun 14, 2012 17:35

In business, as in most endeavors, passion is a key ingredient to success. Entrepreneurs who genuinely enjoy sales, operations, and customer service are much more likely to build profitable firms than individuals who are simply “going through the motions” of business in the name of making money. But even the most enthusiastic managers will enjoy much greater success if their passion is governed by sound financial discipline, which stems from an understanding of their financial statements. [More]

May01

Avoid cash flow catastrophes: Part V - 7 tips for better forecasts Mary Ellen Biery [email] Research Specialist

May 01, 2012 11:35

Cash flow forecasts, the vital estimates of how much cash your business will have in order to continuing operating, are notoriously tricky because of the many variables involved. Even so, accountants and other financial experts say there are several steps you can take to improve their accuracy. These include being conservative, being aware of common pitfalls and updating your forecasts frequently. [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]