Cash Flow Is King When cash flows, business grows.
Wherever you get the money for your initial investment-whetherit's a loan from relatives, funding from a venture capitalistor a line of credit from a local bank-you must keep the cash spigotflowing. This is possibly the single most important component ofrunning your enterprise. Vendors may act like your friend, butthey'll turn on you like a sand viper if you're slow inpaying your bills. And just try to regain the trust of youremployees if you miss a single payday. Some tips: Keep an eye oncosts-squeezing a dollar here on travel budgets and five there onadvertising will add up and keep more money in-house. Also, cutdeals whenever possible. With building landlords, reduce leasecosts by offering to stay an extra two or three years. Chances are,they'll take the deal if you're a good tenant just to keeptheir own cash-flow spigot running uninterrupted.