Learn about cash flow, grants, venture capital and more with The Globe and Mail's Cash Clinic

CASH CLINIC Financial insights and tips for small business

Are entrepreneurial pitch competitions a waste of time?

There are at least 20 entrepreneurial “contests” taking place in Toronto alone and hundreds nationwide. An entrepreneur could spend every minute of the day perfecting pitches.

SMALL BUSINESS CASH TIP

Choose your priorities

Focus less on customer acquisition and more on retention. Encourage existing customers to buy more.

VIDEO:
How to find the right angel investor for your business

The Globe chats with entrepreneurs Ben Zifkin, Sharn Kandola and Ben Zlotnick to get tips on angel investing.

Seven ways to parlay a trade show into real opportunities

Learn from your trade show experience: What sat and collected dust? Which samples ran out too quickly?

SMALL BUSINESS CASH TIP

Ask about your bills.

When you’re starting out and cash is tight, ask if you can pay bills after 45 or 60 days instead of 30.

VIDEO:
How to get a government grant for your business

How do you tap into government financing for your business? The Globe chats with entrepreneurs Nick Wagner, Sharn Kandola and Ben Zlotnick to get tips.

Ten financial terms every small-business owner should know

Here are 10 financial terms all business owners should know as they grow their companies.

SMALL BUSINESS CASH TIP

Get as much cash up front as possible.

Consider offering monthly prepaid subscriptions using credit and debit cards.

VIDEO:
How to get a business loan

The Globe chats with entrepreneurs Nick Wagner, Sharn Kandola and Ben Zlotnick to learn about getting a business loan or line of credit.

The real cost of going abroad

When Mary Whittle started building Clear Lake Wineries Inc., a business selling wine from Ontario to China, she anticipated it would take about four to six months to send her first shipment overseas.

SMALL BUSINESS CASH TIP

Look for opportunities to save money.

You might be able to reduce costs on employee perks, benefit plans, consultant fees or phone bills.

The keys to mastering your business’s cash flow

Cash flow is important in any business, but for small-to-medium-sized companies, it can be the difference between surviving and shutting off the lights for good.

SMALL BUSINESS CASH TIP

Have a plan.

Even when you’re making lots of money, have a plan for when you’re short on cash.

VIDEO:
How to ask friends and family to fund your company

How do you raise money for your company from friends and family without damaging your personal relationships? The Globe chats with entrepreneurs Nick Wagner, Sharn Kandola and Ben Zlotnick to get tips.

How to find the right payment processor for your business

Cash flow is important in any business, but for small-to-medium-sized companies, it can be the difference between surviving and shutting off the lights for good.

The Risk Takers

Want more small business tips? The Globe and Mail’s Risk Takers is a podcast about the entrepreneurs who risk everything to grow their businesses. Follow host and Globe and Mail Small Business Editor Sarah Efron as she talks to businesses about the mistakes made and the opportunities seized.

Listen

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Report on Business

Small Business

SMALL BUSINESS CASH TIP

Choose your priorities

SMALL BUSINESS CASH TIP

Ask about your bills.

SMALL BUSINESS CASH TIP

Get as much cash up front as possible.

SMALL BUSINESS CASH TIP

Look for opportunities to save money.

SMALL BUSINESS CASH TIP

Have a plan.