Originally written by Mark Perrin on Small Business
During times of financial crisis, businesses are always advised that the key to survival is to keep a close eye on cash flow. But what happens if everything possible has been done and the company needs to secure a business interruption loan to get by? What can business owners do to increase their chances of getting approved and securing the money they urgently need?
Before completing an application form for a business interruption loan, business owners need to understand the true cash picture and how it might change in the future. This involves assessing how the coronavirus crisis could impact cash flow in three, 12, 24 and even 36 months’ time.
Even though it is not mandatory for financial forecasts to accompany applications to the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS), business owners should avoid committing to any loan without understanding how changes affecting the cash position of the organisation could affect their ability to make repayments in the years ahead.
As well as being a demonstration of management best practice, cash flow forecasts allow business owners to make well-informed decisions about how much money they need to borrow and whether the loan is affordable. Without