A founder, or any business owner in general, can use a financial model to manage working capital in several specific ways:
Check out financial model templates by category here (over 170).
Forecasting Cash Flow: A financial model helps in projecting future cash inflows and outflows. By accurately forecasting when cash will be received and when expenses need to be paid, a founder can ensure that there's enough working capital to cover short-term liabilities. I always make sure the models I build have good timing assumptions to plan for things like a ramp-up period where there will be operational burn, initial costs, capex, and financing.
Inventory Management: For businesses that hold inventory, the financial model can be used to optimize inventory levels. It helps in analyzing how much inventory is needed to meet demand without tying up too much cash in stock, thus efficiently managing working capital.
Accounts Receivable and Payable Management: The model can track and project accounts receivable (money owed by customers) and accounts payable (money the business owes). This enables founders to identify ways to shorten receivables collection periods and optimize payment terms with suppliers, improving the working capital cycle. Generally, if you have terms for when you pay vendors and when you collect money from customers, it is important to have those offsets in a model as it impacts available cash. Two of the best templates I've ever build take this into account: construction cash flow planner and made-to-order manufacturing.
Identifying Funding Gaps: By projecting future cash flows, a financial model can help a founder identify periods where there may be a cash shortfall. This enables proactive arrangements for financing, whether through a line of credit, short-term loans, or other means.
Budgeting and Cost Control: The model provides a framework for setting budgets and monitoring actual expenditures against these budgets. Effective cost control is crucial in maintaining a healthy level of working capital.
Revenue Management: By analyzing revenue streams and their timings, founders can strategize on ways to ensure steady and predictable cash inflows, which is essential for maintaining adequate working capital.
Scenario Planning: Financial models allow for scenario analysis, such as 'what-if' analyses. Founders can assess how different scenarios (e.g., a major customer delaying payment, or a sudden increase in raw material costs) would impact working capital and plan accordingly.
Optimizing Debt and Equity Financing: The model can help in deciding the best mix of debt and equity financing to maintain a healthy working capital level without excessively increasing financial leverage or diluting ownership.
Negotiating Better Terms: Armed with detailed financial projections, founders can negotiate more favorable terms with suppliers, lenders, and clients, such as extended payment terms or better pricing, which can positively impact working capital.
Strategic Decision Making: Overall, a financial model provides the foundational information needed for strategic decisions impacting working capital, like whether to expand operations, enter new markets, or adjust pricing strategies.
In summary, a financial model is a vital tool for founders to manage working capital, ensuring that the business can meet its short-term obligations while also planning for long-term growth and stability.
Article found in Startups.
