Get the Cash Is King  
Newsletter - FREE
Your Email:

(Your email will always remain private and confidential)

Learn More About the FREE Newsletter


FREE
Special Report


The Secret to Creating Cash Flow Projections You Can Trust

 
FREE
Special Report

With the information in this report, you will discover exactly what it takes to create cash flow projections you can trust.

Click Here to Learn More about this Information Packed FREE Report

Discover the Peace of Mind schedule and how it will transform the way you manage your business!

"Without a degree in accounting, I needed something like Philip's Peace of Mind schedule to keep me focused on the most important aspect of my business - CASH.

It's easy to understand and apply - just what I needed!!"

-Sylvia Barnes, Owner
Leap of Faith Enterprises

Send Me My FREE Report

This exciting Special Report will be made available to you immediately.

The Secret to Creating Cash Flow Projections You Can Trust

 
FREE
Special Report

Get it NOW while it's still FREE!


Take control of your cash flow NOW - Before it takes control of you!

Click Here to Learn More ....

Make confident decisions knowing the cash flow impact of every important business decision you make.

Learn why the standard financial statements are inadequate for managing your cash flow.  

Free yourself to do what you do best - grow your business and make more money.

Get the cash flow monkey off your back.

See cash flow problems before they happen.

Enjoy the wonderful feeling of knowing your money is under control.

Learn the 4 secrets for creating cash flow projections you can trust.

  Take action NOW to make it happen.

Click Here to Learn More ....

 

 

Send This Page To a Friend  

The Futility of Managing From Your Bank Balance


by Philip Campbell, CPA

Copyright 2003, Philip Campbell - All Rights Reserved

If you needed to know what your cash balance was right now, would you look to your accounting system for the answer or would you call (or go online) with your bank?

Your answer to this question reveals a lot about whether you have the cash flow of your business under control or not.

The correct answer is to get your cash balance from your accounting system. Not the bank!

The bank balance and the cash balance are two different animals. Rarely will the two ever be the same. Don't make the mistake of confusing them.

It's a prescription for failure and frustration. You reconcile your bank balance... you don't manage from it.

A Quick Example

A quick example will highlight the difference between the two balances.

Let's say you call the bank or go online to get your bank balance. The bank says you have $10,000 in your account.

What business decisions can you now make about the amount of money you have available to you? How can you use the information you just received from the bank to make important business decisions?

Can you go to the bank and withdraw the $10,000?

Let's say you just received an invoice today for $9,000. The vendor indicated you could deduct a 2% discount ($180) if you pay within five days. Can you write the check today? Should you write the check now and save yourself $180?

The problem here is you don't have enough information to answer these questions. You don't have your cash balance yet. You only have the bank balance.


So What's the Problem?

What if you had written a check for $8,000 three days ago? Has it cleared yet? Has it been deducted from the $10,000 balance you just got from the bank? If it hasn't cleared yet, then an $8,000 check is on its way to the bank and will be deducted from your bank balance.

When it gets there, your bank balance will go from $10,000
to $2,000.

Look at the impact this has on the questions you just asked yourself. 

Knowing there is an $8,000 check about to be deducted from your bank balance changes everything. Now you know you cannot withdraw the $10,000 and you can't write a check for $9,000.

You can answer the questions now because you have a more accurate view of your real cash balance. Your accounting system would already have deducted the $8,000 when you wrote the check.


Your Accounting System has Your Cash Balance.


Your accounting system records all your cash receipts and all your cash disbursements. The accounting system is where the "books" of your company are maintained. This is your bible. This is where your cash balance is maintained.

When you print a check from your accounting system, it is immediately deducted from your cash balance. Even as the check is sitting on the printer, it has been deducted from the cash balance on your books (the same thing applies if you use a manual check register).

It has been deducted from the books even before you have put it in an envelope to mail it.

Has it been deducted from your bank balance yet? No.

It will not be deducted from the bank until it is presented to the bank to be paid. You have to mail it to your vendor, they receive it and deposit it in their bank, the banking system routes it to your bank, and it is finally paid by your bank.

Now the check is deducted from your bank balance.



Save Yourself Time and Trouble

 

Don't try to manage your business from the bank balance. It is an activity that will create mistakes, confusion and frustration.

Use the cash balance on your books to manage the cash flow of your business. Then reconcile that balance to the bank balance each month to make sure both balances are accurate.

This will help you avoid making some very serious and very expensive mistakes.


If you would like to get a FREE Special Report "The Secret to Creating Cash Flow Projections You Can Trust", Click Here.

This Special Report is FREE for a limited time.

Learn the secret to regaining control of the financial side of your business. Get your FREE Special Report NOW.

 


About Philip Campbell
Philip Campbell is a CPA and the author of the book: “NEVER RUN OUT OF CASH, The 10 Cash Flow Rules You Can't Afford to Ignore”.  Philip has helped hundreds of business owners take control of their cash flow.  He shows you how to eliminate your cash flow worries and take control of your business.  Is your cash flow under control?  You can download his new Special Report "The Secret to Creating Cash Flow Projections You Can Trust" FREE Right Now. Click Here to get your copy NOW.



*** Web Site Owners and Newsletter Editors ***

You may publish this article in its entirety in your newsletter or on your web site as long as you leave all links in place, do not modify the content and include my resource box at the end of the article.

You can get a text version of this article by sending a blank email to: cashbalance@sendfree.com.

If you would like to publish any other articles I have written, send a blank email to: mailto:articlesfromphilip@sendfree.com. I will notify you when each article is released.


Experience the Wonderful Feeling of Knowing You Have Your Cash Flow Under Control!


Get your copy of Never Run Out of Cash

 

If you have friends or associates who could benefit from taking control of their cash flow - please click the link below.  This page will be sent to them with a brief message from you.
(no email addresses are retained in this process)

 

Send This Page To a Friend