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Writer's pictureReuben Bergola

An E-Commerce Business's Guide to Cash Flow Forecasting

Regardless of what type of e-commerce business you’re running, it's inevitable that you’re bound to run into many different terms and financial jargon. Throughout the experience of running your business, you’ll come across different terms, such as “equity,” “accounts payable,” “debit,” and “credit.” This is even more so considering that the Australian government is taking the necessary steps to regulate the online market.


Among all the different concepts that you’ll need to tackle over time, cash flow forecasts are one practice that’s bound to stand out from the rest.


What exactly is a cash flow forecast, and why is it essential?


It is a vital financial tool that businesses use to grow their operations by being clear about the company’s status for better decision-making strategies. While it may not seem like much at first because of its structural and unassuming nature, the truth about this tool is that it’s a difference-maker for every e-commerce SMB or blogger that’s smart enough to use it.


In the case of most e-commerce businesses, using this tool correctly and setting it up can yield an abundance of lucrative results that leads to the immense growth of a business without fail. The main reason this tool has become essential in any online company’s path to success is that it lays out the path to all the right steps along the way.


By using this key practice and applying it constantly, you’ll be able to know how your business is running, what needs to be done to stay afloat, and how far you are from your target numbers!


How cash flow forecasts can help boost your e-commerce business


The proper management of your company’s receivables and payables yields many opportunities that can be used to give your business the advantages it needs to thrive. In the sections below, we will share three benefits of using cash flow forecasting:


1. It helps cut down your business’s operating costs


A significant purpose that any business owner should maximise when it comes to using cash flow forecasting is the ability to reduce operating costs. While the two concepts may not necessarily seem interconnected, spotting the trajectory of your business’s finances makes it easier to point out what hinders it and what can be done to achieve more!


2. It helps you prepare for potential shortfalls or avoid them right away


Once the forecast shows how well your business is doing, you can expect more opportunities that will help point out any pitfalls or problems in your current system. This exact advantage has allowed forecasting to be an exceptional tool because it helps business owners save all their hard work from turmoil by yielding a sense of urgency long before problems come their way.


3. It helps to prepare your business for seasonality fluctuations


If your business relies on seasonal demand, you might be preparing for a full-on crisis mode for certain parts of the year as the load that lowers purchases unravels on your cash flow tends to grow quite heavy over time. Fortunately, having a proper cash flow forecast can help weather out the “quiet season storm” by providing the necessary insight and tools to budget your expenses and properly allocate your high-season earnings for sustainability.


Conclusion


In any e-commerce business, it’s vital to have a firm hold on your finances so that you can grow and scale without any potential pitfalls along the way. This is where a proper cash flow forecast can definitely help tie everything together. By taking the time to invest in robust solutions and take the necessary steps to build a regular practice that you can stick to, you’ll provide your company with the foundation for success! When it comes to tax and Shopify accounting work, we have the solution for any Australian company that seeks an accountant for their e-commerce business. Get in touch with us today to see how we can help your business succeed!

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