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Another Look at Cash Flow
Maybe you've never seen an economy like this. Maybe you have and just forgot some basic survival strategies (do NOT consider any of these options to be informed recommendations). This is what Ann-Marie Moodie reminds us in Managing Cash Flows in Tough Times: The trick to managing through these tough times is a three-pronged approach: maintaining a balance and mix of working capital sources between equity, supplier credit and bank debt. Factoring and invoice discounting are strategies for leveraging your accounts receivable. As always, research any options carefully before you commit. Recently a restaurant owner looking for advice in the Quickbooks community about managing cash flow followed up on the suggestion of negotiating with suppliers for better pricing. She reported some surprising success. Entrepreneurs looking for grants or quick ways to fund cash flow problems might well keep looking. Grants of various kinds are still available but targeted toward very specific demographics. Unless loans are supported by strong credit ratings and sizable equity (and even then that's no guarantee), they might likely not be available and less forgiving of cash flow difficulties. Your strongest position is to be intimately aware of cash flow using your accounting report tools and planning on buffering your own cash flow dips and peaks. Plan on having 30-40% of your receivables tied up at any one time.

For more info: Managing Cash Flows in Tough Times - Ann-Marie Moodie Ten Rules for Managing Cash - Tim Berry

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Dangers of Commingling
The IRS may not be your biggest worry if you commingle funds, i.e., you do not absolutely separate your business and personal finances. You may lose the "limited liability" protection of your LLC or S Corporation. This is referred to as "piercing the veil". Part of your corporate status is that it has the legal stature of an individual. If the corporation becomes your "alter ego", you are on dangerous ground. Avoid the dangers from the beginning.
  1. Use separate bank accounts. If you are a sole proprietor or an LLC taxed as a sole proprietor, account for monies you take as an "owner's draw". If you put monies into the business, account for it as owner capitalization or if it is a loan, make sure you have documented it like any other loan.
  2. Use software designed for personal or business finances. People do sometimes use QuickBooks for personal finance, but for a reasonable investment you can use Quicken, designed for personal finances, and avoid one more commingling pitfall.
For more info: Google for "commingling", "piercing the veil", "alter ego" Tax Almanac discussion about commingling Nolo.com for resources to establish your LLC
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