Men and women sitting at a round table

The Pros and Cons of Your Business Taking on Private Investors

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Running a small business requires a constant and considerable flow of capital; and getting a small business idea off the ground requires just as much (if not more). While there are several kinds of financing geared toward sustaining and expanding small businesses, another option to consider when looking for capital is taking on private investors. Private investors can come in many forms but most frequently operate as venture capital firms or seed funds, also known as angel funds. But not all private funding falls into those two categories. In truth, private funding encompasses all non-bank and non-financing routes for getting capital into your business from a third party. Today, we are specifically addressing the potential pros and cons of accepting investments from private persons into an existing business.

Pro: Let Your Business (Not Your Credit) Speak for Itself

Convincing a private investor to support your business is a completely different process than if you were to seek funding at a bank or online financing company. While banks and all secured financial institutions blanketly require seeing your credit score, and frequently your entire financial history, private investors are often interested in different elements of your business. Specifically, private investors want to be certain their money will make them (and you) more money and that you, the business owner, are a reliable mast with which they can knot their sail.

Working with investors gives you the freedom to sell yourself and your business on the merits which truly excite you; the best investors will match your excitement and see that as a reason to trust your business. Private investors are a great source of capital, then, for newer businesses with a shorter credit history or businesses that can meaningly convey their plans to expand and make investors’ money expand as well; banks and financial institutions don’t get excited for your business’s growth in the same way an investor might.

Con: Investors Expect Influence in Your Business

A private investor, especially one making a major contribution, can want a decision-making seat at the table of your business. This is something all publicly traded companies deal with regularly; but in the case of small businesses the investor and business owner relationship can play out in many ways. At the very least, investors will anticipate that their input and ideas will be genuinely considered and that they will have a legitimate outlet to voice them.

As a small business transfers into the space of equity and investment, it can feel unnatural to become beholden to investors after having truly been your own boss, as many small business owners will attest that the freedom of making your business’s decisions is one of the high points of running your own operation. Taking on investors is both a structural and emotional changing for a business and a business owner

Pro: Private Investments aren’t Always Paid Back Like a Loan

When a private investor puts money out on your business, they are the one taking in the risk. Very often, an investor’s capital is paid back to them in the same way you would pay back a loan. While there are examples of “investment loans” in which the business owner pays back private investors their principal plus interest, those are much less common compared to equity investments. In cases of equity investments, the business owner exchanges the investor’s capital for a negotiated stake in your company with which they then receive a proportional amount of your company’s profits as you earn them.

Consider as well that if your business fails or is bought out, you can’t default on an investment. That investor’s bet on your business has no protection; as the equity value of your business fluctuates, as does the value of that investor’s initial capital.

Con: Unlikely to Benefit Smaller, Local Businesses

Private investors and venture capital firms are large, capital-heavy forces. Private investors also have an understandable interest in making money. They are most frequently attracted to businesses with a wide reach and near-certain potential to grow in a significant way. If you are, for example, a construction firm servicing the greater New England area with no interest in expansion or going national, it is unlikely you will find private investors lining up at your door. This isn’t because our hypothetical business isn’t successful, it’s because that business’s success and continued revenue doesn’t offer extraordinary growth for investors’ capital. Investors want a bomb primed to blow, or more specifically, a bomb primed to blow their investment sky-high. Private investors prize ambition and potential above all else, and it is essential to understand that not all small businesses are likely the right partner for private investors.

Every small business can’t reinvent the wheel, nor does every small business have massive or international ambitions for expansion. But this borders on common sense; businesses who are actively seeking investors likely already have a firm list of reasons why. Private investors aren’t backing every one-location pizzeria and bodega in America, but those pizzerias and bodega who see bigger, equity-based futures for their business may have a different story.

Pro: Trusted Investors Can Become Valuable Partners

A private investor willing to take equity in your company likely both believes in your mission and has existing industry expertise with which they found your business a suitable partner. Your investors have just as much interest in the success of your business as you do; being that your financial success also means financial success for them.  You and your investors (especially in the small business space) are likely to become close partners in managing big-picture projects. Adding experienced and educated voices to the large decisions in your business can only be a good thing.

What this section and others before it has hinted at is that taking on investors is as much your decision as it is the decision of the investor. Being that your investors will – in a way – represent your business, you have every right to decide who will become your partner through private investment. Being that your small business likely isn’t on the open market, you have the final say as to whose venture capital funding you want to take on. If an investor or team doesn’t seem like the right fit, you have every right to keep looking.

Invest in Your Business. One Way, or Another

Private investors likely aren’t the right match for many true small businesses but in those cases where small businesses see themselves becoming medium-to-large companies in the future, convincing private investors that your plans are feasible may just be the next step in your business journey. No matter if your business is right for private investors or not, the mentality and presentability that attracts investors is attractive and healthy for any and all businesses. Show your ambition and make detailed plans for the future of your business if not for private investors, perhaps for yourself and your most trusted staff. The good practices that come with attracting investors are in no way restricted to businesses on that certain path. Invest in your business’s future, one way or another.

TFTI Experience, Brian Andaya, Building Resilient Businesses Contest, Small Businesses, Kapitus

BRB Stories: Creating Libraries-worth of Unforgettable Memories!

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Congratulations to TFTI Experience, a Houston-based small business that takes “selfies” to a whole new level, for winning the 2nd place prize in Kapitus’ inaugural Building Resilient Businesses contest! TFTI, which stands for “Thanks for the Invitation,” will receive $50,000 to help grow their business

Picture Perfect

TFTI launched its first “selfie” exhibit at the Marq’E Entertainment Center in Houston in 2018 and became an immediate success. The business creates specially designed rooms that are ideal places for individuals, families and friends to take selfies. TFTI then took their unique business idea to showrooms in Atlanta and Dallas. 

After surviving the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic, TFTI took off by opening a 5,000 sq. ft. space in

TFTI Experience, Brian Andaya, Kapitus, Building Resilient Businesses

TFTI’s Love Room has been the setting for many romantic gestures, including marriage proposals.

the Galleria in Houston which features 15 custom-designed rooms that provide unique experiences and backdrops for  customers to take the perfect selfies. 

“They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and if that’s the case, then we’ve created libraries worth of unforgettable memories with all of our guests,” said Bryan Andaya, founder and partner at TFTI. “TFTI is the original photo experience concept and we’re ready to create more. We are family-owned and started by first-time entrepreneurs who have learned so much since our opening back in 2018. All we need is the fuel to grow. Our name TFTI stands for the popular social media acronym ‘Thanks For The Invite,’ and we definitely want to thank Kapitus for inviting us to this wonderful opportunity.”

The Upside-Down

TFTI Experience, Building Resilient Businesses, Kapitus, contest, Brian Andaya

TFTI’s Upside-Down Room is one of its most popular attractions.

No, we’re not talking about the parallel universe in Netflix’s hit show “Stranger Things,” but we are referring to one of the coolest rooms at TFTI’s space at the Galleria – the room that mimics an upside-down apartment. The ceiling consists of hardwood floors and a fully decorated Christmas tree. Wrapped boxes and basic furniture are bolted to the ceiling. Photos of guests are turned upside-down, giving the appearance that they are defying gravity. 

There’s also the cherry blossom room where guests can sit on a swing, as well as the space station room where customers can put on astronaut gear and pretend that they’re floating in a space station. These are just some of the creative rooms TFTI has created for its guests. 

“People come just for the upside-down room,” said Andaya, adding that the room will change once the holiday season is over. He added that the “Love Room” has been used for marriage proposals, and the entire space has been rented out for parties. The creativity of the business is still flourishing, despite the bumpy economy. 

Expanding the Lens

Andaya said that the company will use the $50,000 to enhance the specialized rooms by installing high-quality photo booths in them. 

“TFTI plans to use part of the winning funds to start building photo booth systems in our interactive rooms,” said Andaya. “This will allow guests to take high-quality photos and receive them via text message or email on the spot. Perfect for guests who may not have the latest phone or [hightest] quality camera.”

Part of the prize money will also be used to enhance the company’s marketing strategy, said Andaya, noting that online advertising is the company’s biggest challenge. 

“Our biggest challenge currently is the rising cost of online advertising spend. Most of our guests can be found on popular social media platforms, but with online privacy changes and rising costs, they are becoming more difficult to target,” he said. “We work to overcome this by doing continuous organic postings, reaching out to local influencers in our area for partnerships and focusing on interacting with potential customers organically by commenting and liking their posts.”

Moving Forward

Andaya and his partners plan for continued success and expansion for TFTI, which was a natural offshoot of another company Andaya launched nearly 12 years ago, Lucky Shots. The company rents out portable photo booths that can print out custom, branded photos and has been used for events for big clients such as the Houston Texans, Houston Astros, CITY CENTRE and the Houston Rodeo.

Learn the stories of all of our small business winners:

BRB Stories: After Devastating Setback, Play Pits Takes First Place in Kapitus’ BRB Contest!

BRB Stories: Relying on Faith and Passion for Business Success

Strands of Faith, Ameka Coleman, small business, Building Resilient Businesses, Kapitus

BRB Stories: Relying on Faith and Passion for Business Success

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For small business owners, it’s all about keeping the faith – not only in God, but in yourself and your ability to succeed. That’s what drives Ameka Coleman, founder and CEO of Strands of Faith and one of the 3rd place winners of Kapitus’ inaugural Building Resilient Businesses contest. Strands of Faith is one of five 3rd place winners, and Coleman received $20,000 to help maintain and grow Strands of Faith. 

Starting her own business in 2018 took a tremendous amount of faith, courage, and hard work for Coleman, who gave up a lucrative career as a clinical researcher for pharmaceutical contract research giant PPD to become a small business owner. The Christian mother of four took the plunge into entrepreneurship when she realized that her passion was hair care.

Coleman was able to fill a need by creating a line of cruelty-free, non-toxic hair care products that

Ameka Coleman, Strands of Faith, Building Resilient Businesses, Kapitus, Contestof Faith

Ameka Coleman, founder and CEO of Strands of Faith, used her personal credit card, a small amount of savings and her faith to launch the business.

contain no parabens or silicone-based materials, yet keep hair moisturized and healthy.

“I launched the business in 2018,” said Coleman. “Prior to this, I never thought that I would one day own a business. I was in a career, Clinical Research, that I loved. It was truly a scenario of passion meeting purpose. Starting in 2006, I developed a passion for loving and embracing my natural hair and I was equally passionate about making progress in the field of clinical trials. Eventually, my science background and real-life experience merged into one to make a beautiful faith walk with purpose!”

A Wing and a Prayer

Like most small business owners first starting out, Coleman had few resources. She used a small amount of savings and personal credit cards to fund the launch of Strands of Faith, and her biggest assets during that time were support from her family and her passion for making clean hair care products. Even though she took a huge gamble by starting her own business, she found the resilience to push through the COVID-19 pandemic through hard work.

“Building Strands of Faith has been a journey of faith, hope, and resilience,” said Coleman. “If you would have told me 6 years ago that I would one day start a business, I wouldn’t have believed it simply because I didn’t have the mental fortitude, faith, and self-confidence to bet on myself. However, little did I know, my journey leading up to it was the perfect segway to creating my brand. While I was on a journey to finding myself, it resulted in me falling in love with the hair that God blessed me with. I then found great joy in encouraging and motivating other women to do the same.” 

Expansion Plans

Strands of Faith has found success through some rough times, and has grown to 10 employees and dozens of product lines, as well as a successful blog on hair care. Coleman said that she plans to use the $20,000 in prize money to help expand her team and strengthen its marketing efforts to serve customers both in the US and internationally. 

“This business became bigger than me,” she said. “I was led to create products that could help further the

Strands of Faith’s Holy Grail collection of natural hair care products has helped launch it to success.

mission by providing clean products for textured hair that would make women feel confident about their hair regimen. This entire journey has been one of faith. Starting out, I didn’t have many resources, but I didn’t let that stop me. I put my best foot forward, juggled all of the roles, and trusted God to lead the way. I was working my full-time job while also being a mom to 2 kids and a wife. It was rough but the vision made me stay committed.

“Now, as a mom of 4, I strive daily to be the best example to my kids, and it gives me great joy for them to see me keep pushing along this entrepreneurial journey. Building this business has impacted my life and others in so many ways but the most impactful way has been the reminder to simply keep the faith! This grant by Kapitus is such a tremendous blessing in allowing me to expand my team and marketing efforts so that we can continue to serve women all around the world.”

Maintaining Balance

Coleman may be unusual among small business owners in that she’s achieved something that many small business owners have not: balance between her personal and business lives. Her secret is putting her family and faith first. That balance, she said, is a key part of the success of Strands of Faith.

“I did the groundwork in the beginning and worked super hard to lay a foundation, so I now have a team who has helped tremendously with taking off some of the workload. Now, these days, though the business still needs much of my time to run, my priorities have shifted, and it is all about family first! Business now comes second to my family. I intentionally did the groundwork in the beginning when my kids were younger. Now that they are older, I am super intentional about being present for them!”

Advice to New Entrepreneurs

Coleman said that the beginning days of Strands of Faith were the most difficult as they are for most small business owners, but she advised new entrepreneurs that the learning experience of launching a business is well worth it. 

“I would say that the most challenging parts, in the beginning, were wearing many titles,” she said. “I now appreciate the process of first getting the experience in each role because over time it built me up to be an efficient business owner. I have learned that entrepreneurship is not just a journey by itself but, instead, it is also a personal healing journey! There will be many times where the journey may feel lonely, but this is when it becomes super important to lean on your self-confidence and focus on the past wins to get you through and, of course, God’s given strength.”

Congratulations to All the Winners

Kapitus’ inaugural BRB contest awarded $250,000 to 7 small businesses that are the epitome of strength and resilience – two crucial ingredients needed to launch and operate a small business. The first-place prize was $100,000, the second was $50,000 and five third-place winners each received $20,000. All of the winners also will receive a complimentary, 8-hour consulting/advisory session to help their business. Kapitus also looks forward to this being an annual contest starting every spring.

Learn the stories of all of our small business winners:

BRB Stories: After Devastating Setback, Play Pits Takes First Place in Kapitus’ BRB Contest!

Play Pits, Building Resilient Businesses, Chantel PowellKapitus

BRB Stories: After Devastating Setback, Play Pits Takes First Place in Kapitus’ BRB Contest!

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Congratulations to Play Pits, an African American-owned producer of specialty deodorants made from all-natural ingredients, for being named the winner of Kapitus’ inaugural Building Resilient Businesses (BRB) contest. The Atlanta-based family business will receive $100,000 and 8 hours of complimentary educational consulting/advising sessions on its business. 

Embodiment of Resilience

Chantel Powell, Play Pits, Kapitus, Building Resilient Businesses, contest

Chantel Powell’s small business has endured the COVID-19 pandemic and a warehouse fire, making it one of the most resilient businesses out there.

For Chantel Powell, creator and CEO of Play Pits, resilience isn’t just a trait, it’s a necessity. The four-year-old company suffered through the pandemic shortly after it was created – a period in which nearly 40% of all black-owned businesses were forced to shut down. As if that weren’t enough, in September 2022, its Atlanta-based headquarters and warehouse (where all of its inventory was stored) were completely burnt to the ground in a fire – a catastrophic event that left Powell and her family reeling.

In the aftermath, however, instead of giving up, Powell and her family members are determined to rebuild the business and will use their $100,000 prize to help do so, making  Play Pits the very embodiment of everything for which BRB stands..

“It’s by the grace of God that we won the Building Resilient Businesses Contest because in the last few weeks, Play Pits has proven that we are the personification of a resilient business,” said Powell.

A Family Commitment

Play Pits. Chantel Powell, Kameron, Kapitus, Building Resilient Businesses, Contest

Chantel Powell was inspired to launch Play Pits by her son, Kameron.

After spending nearly six years as an executive assistant at Viacom International Media Networks and graduating Summa Cum Laude from Clark Atlanta University with a degree in fashion design and merchandising, Powell had picked up the skills she needed to pursue her passion for launching her own small business. All she needed was an innovative idea and a product to sell.

That idea came in 2017 when she picked up her six-year-old son, Kameron, from basketball camp. Like most active kids coming home after attending a sweaty sports camp, Kameron’s body odor hit Powell hard. 

“My exact words to him were, ‘You smell like a grown man!’” said Powell. She was determined to make him wear deodorant but didn’t want to use the typical ones that were filled with toxic chemicals. When she searched for deodorants that used natural ingredients, she found them to be boring products that she knew she would have to fight her son to get him to use them. 

Powell spent days in her kitchen using organic ingredients to make an all-natural deodorant that she felt comfortable with her son wearing. To her surprise, Kameron loved the deodorant and suggested that she make it for all his friends at camp.

“After my initial refusal, I quickly reconsidered once it hit me that Kameron had a genius business idea!” she said.

Hard Work and Self-Sufficiency

Like many seeking to achieve the American Dream, Powell put in a lot of hard work and $3,500 of her own money to start Play Pits. With no outside investments, she spent nine long months perfecting the secret formula to create the first all-natural deodorant free of aluminum, parabens, synthetic fragrances and other harsh chemicals found in most deodorant products, and one specifically designed for active kids. 

She officially launched Play Pits in March of 2018, and success came quickly for the new business. Powell saw 497% growth after just 20 months in business, with over 12,200 units sold. Play Pits soon had both out-of-state and international customers, and distributed through both Amazon and Target, as well as directly.

Powell also worked hard by engaging in one of the toughest types of marketing campaigns a business can engage in: word-of-mouth. Powell works extremely hard to market the company through social media and customer recommendations. She also doesn’t keep herself on the company payroll. “Every dime made is completely due to us bootstrapping our business, getting out there and hustling. It has been the best method for us to advance and grow Play Pits,” she said.  

“Quietly, Play Pits has become the nation’s largest 100% black-owned deodorant company,” said Powell. “This grant money is going to be invested in scaling our company by allowing us to purchase larger amounts of raw goods and materials at reduced costs, increase our marketing efforts into youth and professional sports, and to add knowledgeable professionals to help us meet customer demand by expanding our product line and increasing revenue.”  

More Than Just Survival

As Play Pits recovers and rebuilds from the devastating fire, its mission to educate parents about the

Play Pits, Chantel Powell, Building Resilient Businesses, Contest, $100,000, Kapitus

Paly Pits has endured the pandemic and a devastating fire to come back better than ever.

dangerous ingredients found in commercial deodorants and to provide a healthier, all-natural solution for their children, remains the same. The business is still seeking to grow both domestically and internationally, and to never forget where it came from. Since launching, Kameron has been named the company’s Chief Inspiration Officer and is still active in sports, while Powell continues to work hard to market and sell the company’s products. 

“As we start recovery from this tragic event, this grant money is needed now more than ever as it will play a key role in helping us to rebuild, replenish lost inventory/materials, equipment etc., while still allowing us to continue our initial expansion plans,” she said.  

Kapitus small business lending price increases

How to Handle Inevitable Price Increases

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Having to raise the price of products and services has become a huge headache for small businesses as inflation continues to skyrocket – the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose 9.1% in June – and workers continue to demand higher compensation. This has put a squeeze on small business owners, who are now facing the major challenge of figuring out how to continue to raise prices and stay profitable while not driving away customers in the process.

So how do you continue to raise your prices without off-putting your new and existing customers? It’s a dreaded task for sure, but it may not be as bad as you think. 

Small Businesses Have The Advantage

Have you gotten notices from large retailers, supermarkets or restaurant chains that they are raising their prices? Probably not. Large companies simply raise their prices and assume customers will pay them because they have no choice. Moody’s analyst Linda Montag said in an interview that large retailers will use stealth tactics to increase prices, such as selling smaller packages of products for the same price as previously larger packages, changing the design of their packaging and offering discounts on products and then implementing a price increase when those discounts have expired. 

“Consumer companies across the board have gotten very savvy about how to implement price increases without just slapping on five to 10% price increases,” Montag said in an interview with CNBC.

Larger companies also have teams of consumer researchers monitoring how high prices can be increased before customers refuse to pay so they can determine what their price thresholds are. The point is, if you’re a small business owner, your large competitors are doing the work for you in terms of sales research and price increase strategies – this is something you can definitely use to gain an edge over your larger competitors.

Speak to Customers Personally

As a small business, you have a smaller market share than your larger counterparts, so you can more easily inform your customers of price increases through email, text messaging or a note on your website personally detailing why you need to raise prices. Your customers may not be happy with the price increases, but most of them understand the current economic circumstances the country is facing, and they will appreciate the fact that you’re being honest and upfront with them. 

Some of the ways you can soften the blow when you tell your customers of price hikes:

  • Keep explaining why. Nobody likes to pay more for goods and services, but most people understand the difficult challenges that businesses are facing right now. Inflation continues to surge, supply chain disruptions remain, and workers are demanding better pay. When you inform your customers of price increases, keep explaining to them the precise reasons why you need to do this. Most customers – especially lifetime customers – will understand, as they are most likely seeing price increases everywhere. 
  • Send personal messages. If you have the ability to do so, send individual emails or text messages to your existing customers letting them know that you have no choice but to raise products due to the rising costs of commodities, supply chain disruptions, high salaries, etc. Your customer will feel like you are speaking to them directly. There are several online services that can enable you to send these emails or text messages.
  • Undercut bigger competitors. The fact that large retailers, restaurant chains and supermarkets are increasing their prices could give you the opportunity to raise the prices of your most popular products, but not raise them as high as your larger competitors. This strategy could boost your sales dramatically if customers believe they can get products more cheaply from you. 
  • Inform your customers of price increases in advance. Letting your customers know a week or two ahead of your price increases gives them a chance to adjust their budgets and enables them to keep buying from you. Plus, they will appreciate the heads up.
  • Make sure to get customer feedback. Make sure you give your customers an opportunity to give feedback on and react to your price increases. Make room on your website for feedback or allow your customers to email you directly, even if they’re just venting about inflation and price hikes.
  • Find the Threshold. You need to raise prices to meet payroll and keep the lights on, but
    Freshbooks Kapitus Small Business Lending Financing

    Software such as Freshbooks can assist your business in finding the right price that your customers are willing to pay for your products.

    customers will only be willing to pay so much before they walk away. There are tools such as Fresh Books Markup Calculator or Mini Web Tool’s Markup Calculator that can assist you with that.

Get Creative in Product Offerings

If you must raise prices, try offering discounts to make customers feel like they’re getting value. One way to do this is to offer a bundle of products and give them the message that while prices have increased, they’re still saving money by purchasing those products as a group. Restaurants, for example, may go to a pre-fixe menu that will still be profitable and yet cost less than if a customer ordered items from the menu separately. Another simple example is a clothing store might offer a shirt-and-tie bundle when a customer purchases a new suit.

If applicable to your business, you can also offer flexible payment options on prices that are marked up. For example, if you own an electronics store, offer a long-term payment plan for a new laptop. If you’re an accounting or law firm, you may want to offer clients a monthly payment plan. 

Don’t Worry, It’s Happening Everywhere

While customers won’t be happy with higher costs, one factor that should put you at ease is that it’s not just you that’s hiking prices – both big and small businesses are doing it as well. Your best bet, and the simplest way forward,  is to keep track of the prices your competitors are charging, and stay in touch with your customers.

Construction small business lending kapitus

Construction: Make Sure Your Company is Prequalified!

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The arduous task of complying with risk management guidelines has come to the forefront for construction firms, especially subcontractors. In particular, the advent of prequalification software, which more contractors and agencies are using to keep a database of prequalified construction firms. This software makes it easier for contractors and government agencies to launch invitation-only bids for new construction projects, thereby emphasizing the need for small construction firms to make sure they are in those databases. 

This news is especially important for smaller construction companies, as the new housing construction market remains hot and the federal government is poised to issue a bevy of new contracts for specialized construction projects due to the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

If you’re a small construction company, here are some tips on how to make sure you are included in construction firm and government databases of contractors as a pre-qualified company and stay in the running for new projects.

Up Your Marketing Game

An upcoming surge in federal contracts and the continued strong demand for new housing will benefit the construction industry for the foreseeable future. Basic marketing techniques still apply: you need an optimized website; great content, a strong social media presence in which you target the exact audience you wish to do business with and monitor your web traffic and responses, among other things. 

You also most likely need to do more outreach to specific contractors, especially in your vicinity, and government agencies seeking to bid out contracts to make sure your company is on their radar. Setting up email pitches and sequences for potential clients, for example, could go a long way in making sure people know about your company. Do some digging to find out who the decision-makers are at various government agencies that may outsource construction projects (it could be your local municipality, a state government branch or a federal agency) and contact them to make sure you are on their radar screens.

IAmBuilders.com has a great web page on how to market your construction firm, and the video below from small business coach and influencer Mike Claudio also gives great tips. You should follow as many of those steps as you can to make sure your company is visible to the public. 

Make Sure You’re Prequalified

The task of prequalifying is complicated, especially now that it’s time for what construction industry experts call the “Great Expiry” – the period between April and June when most pre-qualifications expire and must be done again. The steps that need to be taken to prequalify are involved, but necessary. Clients and contractors want to cut down on the risk of project delays, shoddy work and going over budget. 

As the owner of a construction company, you must show potential customers and contractors that:

  • Your company is licensed for the particular job. Getting licensed for a particular project isn’t difficult in most states. Double-check with the customer or the contractor whether the project requires licensure. 
  • Make sure you have the proper experience. Obviously, different construction projects may require different skills. Constructing a new modern office complex or home for a private customer will require different expertise than, say, building or repairing a road or a bridge for a state or local government. Make sure you have experience to bid on a particular project, and if your company does not, make sure you hire workers who do have that experience. Having experience will give some reassurance to the customer or contractor that there won’t be any unforeseen delays or shoddy workmanship.
  • Make sure you are following proper safety protocols. This sounds simple but can mean the difference between winning and losing a bid. Make sure you are compliant with the federal Office of Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) safety guidelines for construction projects. This means taking steps to prevent fires and explosions, accidental falls and other injuries. 
  • Demonstrate that your company is financially stable. Has your company ever filed for bankruptcy protection? Do you have the assets to pay your workers adequate compensation to ensure that they won’t walk off the job due to low pay? Ensuring this will indicate to your customers that your company has the resources and inventory to complete the job without going over budget.
  • Demonstrate strong payment history. For any construction project to go smoothly and without delays and extra costs, it’s important to know that subcontractors and suppliers will get paid on time and in full. Legal claims for unpaid construction work, called a mechanics lien, can significantly delay a project. Also, don’t forget that the Little Miller Act requires that prime contractors post a payment bond backed by a surety company that guarantees the finances necessary to complete a construction project. Make sure that this bond is lined up when you apply for a project bid, be it with a private customer or government contractor. 
  • Get your financing lined up. Using financing to ensure that your construction company can complete a project is not necessary for prequalification, but it can ensure that your company is ready to take on a project. Equipment financing is a form of lending that can ensure you have the most modern construction equipment to complete a task. You can also use purchase order financing to make sure that your suppliers get paid on time without restricting your cash flow, and a line of credit can make sure your workers get paid on time. You may also wish to use invoice factoring in case your contractor or customer is slow to pay those invoices. 
  • Respond to Customer Feedback! As we are now living in the “Feedback Economy,” most consumers (including your future clients) will check Google Reviews, Angie’s List, Yelp and other apps in which customers provide feedback on their experiences with businesses. If your construction business has been reviewed, make sure you respond to those reviews. Negative reviews are especially important to respond to – when you respond to them, thank the customer for their feedback and state clearly that you’re making the necessary changes to improve your business based on their feedback.

Get to Know Prequalification Software

Being qualified for a construction job and letting the world know that you’re qualified are two different things. With the increased popularity of prequalification software, you need to get to know what these programs are looking for to be included in bids. Some of the most popular prequalification software packages out there being used by construction firms include:

These software packages emphasize slightly different aspects of the prequalification system. For example, FAST Builder focuses a lot on scheduling and pricing, while ConsensusDocs focuses more on contract details and design. Chances are a contractor or client is using one of them to build a database of qualified construction companies for various projects, so it’s important to learn the best ways to respond to each one so that you can put your best foot forward at bidding time. 

Don’t Miss Out!

The construction industry is set to be in even higher demand over the next few years as more government contracts will be coming out for bid. Make sure your company is visible, qualified and ready to go when projects are put out for bid.

Small Business Grants Lending Florida Kapitus

Small Business Grants, Contests Still Available in Florida

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With major economic hubs such as Miami, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale and Tampa Bay, Florida ranks number three in terms of states with the highest number of small businesses. The state’s 2.5 million small businesses rank it behind only California and Texas. 

With a high number of such businesses, however, comes a high amount of pain: the Sunshine State saw over 32% of its small businesses permanently or temporarily close during the height of the pandemic, one of the highest figures in the country. 

With yet another national recession looming on the horizon, getting free money has never been more important to the survival of the state’s small businesses. Fortunately, there are several small business grants and contests still available to small businesses in Florida on both a state and national level. On a national level, there are grants and contests that are still open that can land you a large pool of money and are worth applying for:

Kapitus’ $250K Building Resilient Businesses Contest – Deadline is Looming!

Kapitus has launched its Building Resilient Businesses contest, in which one first-place winner will receive $100,000; one second-place winner will receive $50,000 and five third-place winners will each receive $20,000. To enter, simply send a homemade, 2-minute video briefly describing your business, how it was able to persevere over the last two years, and how you would spend $100,000. The contest is open to all small businesses in the US (excluding Vermont and Colorado) that have been in business for at least a year and have less than $5 million in annual revenue. The deadline to apply is June 30, 2022. To enter the contest, click here.

WomensNet Amber Grant

Florida is home to 1.1 million women-owned small businesses, making it the state with the third-highest

Lending Grants Small Business Kapitus Women-Only

Previous winners of the Amber Grant for women-owned small businesses.

total of those businesses, so the WomensNet Amber Grants are very applicable to the state. WomensNet gives away one $10,000 grant and four $1000 grants to women-owned businesses in distinct categories every month such as skilled trades (January), hair care and beauty products (August) and Creative Arts (October). The site also gives grants of $25,000 to two businesses each at the end of each year, with both of them being previous $10,000 monthly grant winners. Applications are due on the last day of every month. To apply, click here. 

American Express and Main Street America’s Inclusive Backing Grants

AmEx and Main Street America are providing more than 300 grants of $5,000 each over four cycles throughout 2022 to small businesses located in older or historic commercial districts with priority to be given to small businesses owned by the LGBTQ+ community, Hispanic-owned, veteran-owned, and business owners who are women and people of color. Applications for the fourth grant cycle are now being accepted by business owners who identify as native or indigenous people, Hispanic, LGBTQ+ and immigrants and refugees. Membership in the National Main Street Center is not required. Applications for the fourth grant cycle can be found here.

State-Level: Open to Florida Small Businesses Only

Currently, there are several grant programs that are still available for small businesses operating in Florida to apply to. 

Florida High Tech Research Grants

The Florida High Tech Research Corridor is a public-private partnership between successful high-tech startups in the 23-county region of southern and central Florida and the Universities of Central and South Florida. 

The Corridor provides up to $150,000 in funds for applied research projects between private startups and small high-tech firms and university researchers. Funding is provided directly to the university research team and is used to expand the project’s scope of work and allow our students to participate in cutting-edge, applied research. Industry partners must execute a sponsored research agreement with the university to formalize the project plan and terms. To learn more, click here.

Axis Helps Miami Small Business Grants

Axis Helps Miami, a resource company for small businesses in the Miami-Dade area of the state, is offering several grant opportunities to various small businesses. One is a $50,000 grant to women- and minority-owned small businesses in the area and will include consulting services as well as free advertising at Miami Heat games and partnership endorsements for your business. 

The deadline to apply is July 11, 2022. Another grant will provide $20,000 to small businesses in the area that are looking to scale up but don’t have the funds to do so. The deadline for that grant is July 15, 2022. To explore each grant program Axis Helps Miami is offering, click here. 

Seminole County’s Small Business Assistance Program

Since 2021, Seminole County has been giving grants to small businesses in the county of up to $15,000 to support expenses such as payroll, office utilities and remote access equipment. Applicants must be a for-profit business within Seminole County since at least the beginning of 2020 and must be a member of Sunbiz, a website maintained by Florida state government’s Division of Corporations. Applicants must provide their taxpayer identification number. Commercially zoned businesses with 26-50 employees will receive $15,000 if chosen, while businesses with 2-25 employees will receive $10,000 if chosen. Home- or mobile-based businesses with no more than one employee in addition to the owner can receive $5,000. For more information, click here. 

CareerSource Florida’s Incumbent Worker Training Grant – Apply Soon!

CareerSource Florida is awarding up to $100,000 to any small business owner in the Sunshine state who is seeking to train existing employees with new skills. The employee must work at least 37.5 hours per week and must have been employed with the applicant for a minimum of six months. Those interested must register with CareerSource Florida’s website. Deadline for applications is June 30, 2022. To apply, click here.

Enterprise Florida International’s (EFI) Virtual Business Matchmaking Grants

Enterprise Florida is offering grants of up to $2,500 for small businesses in the state interested in expanding overseas, but do not want to have to travel to set up an export program. The program includes virtual introductions with pre-screened overseas partners and distributors via teleconference or videoconference. The program also includes a grant that covers the full cost of matchmaker service, whether it is provided by EFI or the federal government’s US Commercial International Trade organization. Companies can apply year-round. Grants must be approved before the first day of virtual matchmaking appointments. For more information, click here.

Orlando Business Assistance Program

The city of Orlando isn’t just known for Disney World and Universal Studios, it’s also home to over 37,000 small businesses. The city’s Business Assistance Program provides grants throughout the year to assist businesses in relocating or expanding in Orlando, which include funds for development fees, permitting and other costs associated with relocating and expanding. Small businesses must pay half the related costs, and the grant amounts can be up to $20,000. To learn more about this program, click here.

Apply Soon!

If you’re a small business in Florida, any chance to gain access to funds would probably be welcome, as after-effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and current tough economic conditions such as high inflation, rising interest rates and an employee shortage are still rocking the economy. Act quickly, as many deadlines for small business grants and contests are coming up quickly.

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Should You Invest Your Business’ Surplus Cash? Absolutely

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If sales are booming and your small business is flush with cash, congratulations! While having a large surplus of cash is great for your small business, SMB owners also need to understand that the more surplus cash you have, the greater your chances are of losing money. 

How? Well, the rate of inflation reached a four-decade high of 7.9% in February, and the interest you’re collecting on your business savings account is almost certainly far less than that. Also, if you have any outstanding loans, the interest you’re paying on them is far greater than the interest from your savings account. You should also remember that we’re still going through “The Great Resignation,” so if you plan to increase your staff, current wage growth most likely is exceeding the interest that you’re getting from your business savings account.

How to Determine Timelines For Reinvesting Excess Cash

If you’re in the fortunate position of having a large cash surplus for your business, you have plenty of options to invest that cash in a way that you won’t lose money. Before you consider your options, however, you should first take the time to determine what you want to use that excess cash for. The first thing you want to do is assess what you want to spend it on, and what your time horizons may be for spending that cash. 

Kapitus, small business, investment, advisor, lending

A registered investment advisor can assist and educate you on your investment decisions.

You may want to seek advice from a financial advisor or a broker-dealer on how to invest your extra money. Take note that some financial advisors will only deal with you if you have a certain amount to invest and are generally more expensive than brokers, so choose carefully. If you feel you’re a sophisticated investor, you can always use online trading services such as Ameritrade, E*Trade or Robinhood. 

Short-Term Spending and Investing

If you have short-term plans to spend your surplus cash over the next year or less, such as expanding your business with additional staff; leasing a larger workspace; purchasing additional non-perishable inventory before inflation rises even further; or replacing old equipment crucial to your business in the next 12 months, there are investment instruments that can give you a much higher yield than your business savings account. 

You can also forgo investing by using your surplus cash to pay off any outstanding loans you may have, as many lenders do offer a pre-pay discount if you choose to pay off several types of loans before their terms expire.

If you are willing to go the investment route, there are plenty of asset management firms that offer a wide array of short-term investment options. As a business owner, you want these options to give you returns that are greater than your business savings account and are highly liquid. Some of these options include:

  • A money market account. This is an account that you can open at most large banks or by going through a broker and purchasing shares in a money market mutual funds. It will provide a higher yield than a savings account because it invests your money in short-term treasury bonds or commercial paper – a form of short-term financing typically used by large corporations. These types of accounts are considered very low risk and can be liquidated at a moment’s notice. 
  • A short-term treasury market mutual fund. Most investment managers do offer mutual funds designed for short-term investors. These funds tend to be low risk and typically invest in a mix of investment-grade and short-duration treasury bonds. Keep in mind, however, that mutual fund fees can be expensive, so shop around.
  • A certificate of deposit (CD). With the federal funds overnight rate set to rise, you may consider a CD. This is considered a low-risk account in which you can park your money and get a monthly fixed, compounding interest rate over a predetermined period that can be six months, a year or longer.  Most banks offer these types of vehicles, but you should shop around for ones that offer the best rate.
  • An exchange-traded fund (ETF).  ETFs are often cheaper than mutual funds because they don’t invest directly in securities like stocks and bonds, but rather, index futures. Put simply, they are funds that will typically generate the passive returns of whatever financial index you choose. Common indices include the S&P 500 Index (stocks) and the Bloomberg US Aggregate Bond Index (bonds). If your risk/return tolerance is high, you can invest in the stock market. Keep in mind that the average annual compounded return for the S&P 500 since its inception in the early 20th century is 10.5%, but the short-term volatility is high. 

How To Determine Your Business Short Term Spending vs. Long Term Investments

Are there long-term spending goals in your business plan, such as developing and offering a new product, or moving your headquarters to a larger space a few years down the road? The COVID-19 pandemic, which is now entering its third year, taught us that the economy can turn on a dime, so maybe you want to create an emergency cash reserve fund to keep your business afloat when the next recession hits. These are just a few examples of what you may have long-term spending plans for. 

If you have plans for your surplus cash that extend beyond a year, you can tolerate more risk, which means you have the potential to generate higher returns on your investments over the long haul. There are plenty of asset classes you can choose from that, despite having short-term volatility, have average annual returns that are much higher than anything you would see from a savings account or short-term bond investment. To put it simply, the longer your investment time horizon is, the greater your returns on capital can be. 

Your registered investment advisor (RIA) should educate you on the different asset classes and types of mutual funds that are best for long-term investing, as well as the basics such as risk management, modern portfolio theory, and portfolio optimization strategies. Depending on how much cash you have to invest, you may wish to invest in a basket of mutual funds for a diversified portfolio. Your RIA should also keep you informed on world events and how they may affect your portfolio.

Long-term Asset Classes

Some options you may consider for long-term investing include:

  1. An asset allocation mutual fund. If you want to invest in the long-term but don’t have the stomach for taking on excess investment risk, this may be the option for you. This type of mutual fund automatically allocates your assets among stocks, bonds and cash to optimize investment risk.
  2. Mutual funds that invest in equities (stocks). There are plenty of funds that invest in stocks. While these funds tend to be more expensive than low-risk bond funds – especially if they are actively managed – they tend to produce the highest returns over the long term. There are equity mutual funds that invest in everything from the S&P 500 Index to foreign stocks in emerging economies.
  3. Real Estate mutual funds. There are mutual funds that invest exclusively in various forms of real estate. Before you decide to invest, you should speak to your financial advisor and know that these types of mutual funds carry high management fees and high short-term volatility.
  4. Alternative investments. There are mutual funds that engage in exotic investment strategies, such as long/short, absolute return, and portable alpha strategies, and carry high management fees. These funds often seek to curb risk while delivering consistent returns. However, you need to make sure you get a solid understanding of these funds from your RIA before investing.

Don’t Lose Money!

Having surplus cash is a great thing for your small business, as it gives you many options for growing your business and surviving during a downturn. You must understand, however, that simply squirreling it away in your business savings account can cost you dearly. If you’re in such a fortunate position, speak with your accountant or an RIA to find out what your options are. 

 

Two cyber-faces in proximity.

How Businesses can Counter the Threat of Deepfakes

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The Internet age united the world with a universal language of twitters and pings. The benefits of our new interconnected society are too plentiful to count, but there is also a decrepit underworld of cybercriminals and cybervandals who use that interconnectedness to spread misinformation. Cyber criminals thrive in anonymity and often take their greatest pride when robbing people of their own. As the Internet becomes more intertwined with our way of life, it is becoming clear that digital attacks on a person’s character can be just as damaging as those done in the real world. Deepfakes are near-perfect digital recreations of faces, often manipulated into compromising positions or saying words the speaker never actually said. This type of mimicking technology has become increasingly convincing since its relatively recent inception. As a result, it is imperative that people and businesses targeted by deepfakes immediately act. Misinformation at the expense of your business can be costly and reputation-shattering if not properly quelled.

Types of Deepfakes and Preventions

The most popular deepfakes often put words in the mouth of celebrities or politicians, but those aren’t nearly as malicious or dangerous as fakes that target businesses. While celebrities have massive platforms to dismantle the slings and arrows of outrageous cyber ruffians, small businesses have to fight much harder to recover.

Social Engineering

Advanced deepfakes can mimic voices well enough that there are several documented cases of employees, or even executives, being fooled into sharing private information with cybercriminals. These types of fakes tend to happen over phone calls and don’t need the sophisticated face-replicating tech.  These attacks are called social engineering which is an umbrella term for any kind of manipulation done to gain personal or sensitive information. Social engineering  deepfakes take advantage of peoples’ inherent willingness to trust caller ID and the voices of people they know.

Preventions: Social engineering deepfake attacks are so successful because most people don’t expect them. Since social engineering attacks target employees or anyone who may hold sensitive information like passwords or routing numbers, the most effective way to snuff out these attacks is training. Teach your employees the telltale signs of social engineering: brief calls asking very specifically for those passwords or routing numbers.

Another tactic is to develop a failsafe or codeword system for private company information. Make a system where at least two employees must approve the sharing of private passwords or sensitive information. Social engineering attacks thrive on off-the-cuff conversation. If the target of a social engineering attack brings another employee into the conversation, it’s likely someone will realize something about the caller is off.

Viral Misinformation

Being that deepfakes are near-perfect imitations, those who may want to do your business harm or have a bit of fun at your expense may use your image or the image of someone close to your business to spread misinformation. This misinformation can come in the form of doctored video or audio clips posted to social media with the intent to harm your business’s reputation.

Preventions: While it is impossible to prevent cyber hooligans from creating deepfakes, it should be every business’s prerogative to create a quick-acting crisis response plan. Every second is precious when countering misinformation; it’s very common for the initial misinformation to overshadow delayed corrections from businesses. The objective of these deepfakes, beyond general chaos, is to sway public opinion. Sway favor back into your court by aggressively and poignantly dismantling the authenticity of the deepfake video or audio.

If the deepfake is a video impersonating one of your employees, make sure that employee is involved with these efforts. Tail the doctored video or audio relentlessly and post in its comments or adjacent pages proof of its falsehood, whether that be your own video debunking their claims or a written response. While deepfakes are near-perfect, the uncanny valley is still present: look for breaks in lighting or odd pixilation on or around the face. These little signs are common on cheaper deepfakes and can be their easy undoing in your business’s response.

Extortion

The most devious cyber hooligans may turn criminal and use their deepfake tools for criminal extortion of your business. Deepfake extortion generally entails cyber criminals creating a doctored video of a public figure, in this case, someone important to your business. Then, the cyber criminal will often send the video to you, the business, asking for ransom. If you don’t give in to their demands, they will post the video, often pornographic or displaying absurd violence, to the Internet.

Preventions and Containment: Giving into the criminal’s demands is not an option. Collapsing before extortion is especially dangerous, as it will likely mark your business as an easy target for future cyber criminals. First, notify the police. Extortion is a crime, and in several states, malicious deepfakes are too. As for protecting your business’s brand and image, be as transparent as possible about the nature of the extortion. Act quickly and develop a public statement about the deepfake extortion before the cyber criminal posts it if possible. Beating the post will do a major hit to its credibility.

If the salacious video ever goes live, address it directly. Ignoring the deepfake, however heinous, will only go to damage your business, as consumers who see the deepfake but don’t hear an adequate rebuttal from your business may believe that either you aren’t aware of it, or even worse: that it’s real.

 

Technology’s Climb and Integrity’s Tumble

The AI technology that manufactures deepfakes is strengthening every day. There is absolutely nothing we, or anyone, can do to slow their development, so it ought to be the prerogative of every business to learn the warning signs and develop a clear plan of response. Safeguards like multiple employee sign offs for money transfers or password releases is a good measure to implement already, but it can be equally critical to your company’s deepfake defense.

Beyond these steps, there is unfortunately little businesses can do to meaningfully prevent deepfake attacks. As time moves on, however, and deepfakes become even more common, we may see a silver lining. People will hopefully learn to ask themselves when watching something wildly out of character or too good to be true “is this a deepfake?” And at that point, businesses may be fighting less of an uphill battle when responding to defamatory deepfakes.

How to Survive Negative Cash Flow

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No matter how successful your small business is, you’re going to have periods in which sales may be down, customers may be slow to pay or orders aren’t getting fulfilled due to inventory problems, resulting in your monthly expenses being greater than your monthly revenue. These are just some of the scenarios that may lead to a negative cash flow.

If you are experiencing negative cash flow, how long can your business survive? Unfortunately, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer to this, because a negative cash flow may be the result of several factors. 

Why are you in the Red?

The first question you need to answer is why exactly your business is in the red. Once you’ve identified the reason, you can consider different solutions to help you get back to being cash flow positive. 

Some of the reasons your small business may be in the red include:

  • You’re waiting for invoices to be paid – You may have a strong accounts receivable portfolio, but that won’t do you much good until customers settle the bills that they owe you. 
  • You have too much inventory – You may have over-anticipated demand for certain products and as a result, bought more inventory than you can afford.
  • Sales are slow – Your gross revenue may not be where you want it to be, perhaps due to supply shortages and the continued rippling effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • You’re waiting to launch a new product – You may have invested heavily in the research and marketing for a new product or service that you haven’t begun to sell yet.
  • Your overhead/operating expenses are too high – Your overhead/operating expenses include payroll, rent and utility payments, internet access bills, etc. There may be areas in your overhead for which you are paying too much and need to reexamine. 
  • You’re carrying too much debt – Financing is crucial to the growth of many small businesses and there are many lending options out there, but those regular installment payments of that debt may have gotten the best of you

Figure Out a Timeline

When your business is in the red, it’s going to be a stressful and time-sensitive situation. First, how long can you afford to stay there? 

You can figure this out by using a very simple equation – take the amount you have in cash reserves and credit, and divide that by how much money you are losing every month. For example, if you owe $6,000 every month and you have a total of $60,000 in reserves, credit and borrowings from friends or family, then you can afford to operate for 10 more months. 

If you have a bright spot on the horizon, such as a due date for a big invoice or the launch of a new product, then you may have multiple solutions available to you. Additionally, if you’re in the red because sales are slow, then you would have 10 months to figure out how to make your business profitable again by adjusting your prices or figuring out ways to cut overhead. 

Re-examine Your Products/Prices

If you’re struggling with a negative cash flow because of weak sales, then you may have to take a hard look at the prices of your products or services It could be that your sales margin – the price of your product minus the cost of producing your product – may be too low, thus indicating a need to adjust the price of your product.

Perhaps you need to come up with a plan to reinvent your business. Think about the way you’re promoting your product or service and whether you are reaching the right market. For example, an expensive, gourmet restaurant probably won’t succeed in a middle- or low-income neighborhood no matter how good the food is. Does your product or service represent the same mismatch with the market you’re trying to sell to?

Perhaps you’re not sufficiently engaging your market with tools such as digital advertising or email marketing. It also could be that you aren’t advertising your products or services as well as you should be, be it on social media, through your website or otherwise on the internet. Are you targeting the correct market with the right product? If not, you may consider changing your products or services or marketing approach. 

Reduce Overhead

Just like you need to be careful not to live above your means when it comes to your personal finances, you need to make sure your business expenses are not more than you can afford. Closely examine what you are spending money on every month and eliminate non-vital expenses. 

For example, you may want to switch to another office if your rent is too high, or you may have to perform the unpleasant task of furloughing or letting go of employees to reduce costs. Hiring freelancers instead of full-time employees and cutting down on the amount of office supplies will also reduce operating costs.

Work With Creditors

If your business is carrying too much debt and the monthly payments are causing your business to experience a negative cash flow, then you should work with your creditors to reduce monthly payments. 

If you are using outside vendors for services such as marketing, public relations or accounting services, you may want to put your relationships with them on hold for the time being.

Borrowing may be an Option

If your cash flow is negative because you need to pay your vendors or if customers are slow to pay their invoices, certain forms of financing such as purchase order financing or invoice factoring may help you get to the end of that timeline. Both forms of financing may put the funds in your hands, not add to your liabilities and keep you from going under.

If your company has a history of strong revenue streams but is currently experiencing a negative cash flow because you’ve poured money into the research, development and marketing of a new product and you are waiting for the product to be launched, then revenue-based financing may be an option you want to consider.

Don’t Declare Bankruptcy Just Yet

Bankruptcy is a painful and legally complex solution that you should generally try to  avoid. If you find yourself with a negative cash flow, don’t panic just yet, because it probably isn’t going to last forever. Closely examine the reasons your business is in the red and come up with solutions on how to fix them. 

Be cost-efficient with your overhead expenses, rethink your products and prices and determine if there are financing solutions for you. Doing so can give your business a consistently strong cash flow moving forward and put it in a position to be more successful in the future. 

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