Introduction

Ever feel like you’re running your business blindfolded? One day, it’s smooth sailing. The next, you’re slammed with unexpected bills and wondering how you’ll make payroll. That’s what a lack of financial clarity does.

If you’re ready to ditch the fog and see your finances clearly, you’re in the right place.

You might be wondering, who I am and why you should listen to me?

I’m Shishir Khadka, a Chartered Certified Accountant turned cash flow expert with over twenty years of experience based in London, UK. I specialise in helping clients overcome cash flow constraints and create consistent positive cash flow using my Cash Flow Maximiser Matrix Formula.

I have delivered a masterclass on cash flow optimisation to the global brand Zoho and have been featured in leading cash flow apps like Float and major sites like Independent.

I provide professional cash flow services to my clients from my Hungry Cash Flow Ltd consulting company. This is all I do for a living.

So don’t worry, you are in safe hands.

I will provide common reasons I have seen over the years working with my clients across various sectors in Dental Practice, Retail, Marketing Agencies, Art Galleries, Travel, Property, and e-commerce at different stages and sizes of the business.

So, wherever you are on the business journey, this guide will help you overcome a lack of financial clarity.

From my experience working with clients who have annual revenue up to £53.8m, lack of financial clarity is one of the biggest drivers of cash flow constraints.

It reminds me of one of my clients, Jenny, who owns a café near Liverpool station, London. Despite being so busy and taking more than in previous months, she couldn’t see the money left in her bank account. She was confused and frustrated.

From what I have seen, many small business owners like Jenny are blindsided by a lack of financial clarity.

How Do You Know If You Lack Financial Clarity?

From my experience working with my clients, I have some questions for you to answer to determine whether you lack financial clarity.

• Are you constantly surprised by unexpected bills to pay, like shocking tax bills or significant repairs and maintenance?
• Is your business profitable on paper, when you review income statement, but you you don’t have much cash in the bank account to pay yourself a decent salary ?
• Do you feel like money comes into your bank account but goes out even faster, and you have no clue where it’s going?
• When you see an opportunity to expand your location or launch a new product range, do you let it go because you are not sure if your current bank balance can sustain the added expenses?

If you answered “yes” to any of these, I believe you lack financial clarity.

The Real Cost: What’s at Stake?

Quite often, the underlying issue is more than the surface-level problem.

For example, I was reviewing the cash flow statement of my client, a marketing coach, and I discovered that he was paying unusually high subscription expenses. I asked him if he used all of them. He told me that out of 9 subscriptions, he only used 6. He was wasting £93.25 per month in total on subscriptions.

But this is a surface level of £93.25, which may not sound like a lot.

We found that he has been paying for 38 months- £3,543.50. I told him this money could have covered your marketing director’s monthly salary.

Constant Anxiety About Money

Furthermore, he had constant anxiety about his money situation. From what I have experienced both as a cash flow advisor and business owner, being constantly unsure about money affects decision-making, which is often wrong and emotionally draining.

Missed opportunities

It reminds me of one of my clients Dr. Pritesh Kotecha, a dental practice owner.

He knew a new 3D scanner would improve patient care and streamline his workflow.

But it was a hefty investment of £4,900 for 3d Dental scanner Shining 3D Scanner AutoScan-DS-EX Pro

He was concerned about the upfront cost, and with his self-assessment tax bill, the second payment of account to be paid by 31 July looming, he wasn’t sure if he could take the financial risk.

So he postponed the purchase.

Bu this competitors around the area didn’t .

As a consequence, Dr. Kotecha is losing patients to the clinics offering faster turnaround as well as cheaper alternatives.

Why Financial Clarity Feels Out of Reach?

For many small business owners, getting a clear handle on their finances seems impossible. From what I’ve seen, most of my clients’ decisions about working with me come down to a few key challenges:

Lack of Cash flow data

If you don’t have accurate, real-time cash flow data, it’s impossible to make informed decisions.

Lack of system

You might be tracking cash in your head or in a spreadsheet prone to human errors. Consider using cash flow-focused software.

Avoiding Finances

From my experience, many clients I work with avoid finances. I know finances can be intimidating, but I believe avoiding finances can make things even worse. It’s a bit like avoiding seeing a dentist until you are in severe dental pain.

Fear of the Truth

Some business owners would rather not know the complete picture. I believe facing reality is the first step towards fixing it.

It reminds me of a quote “ You’ve got to be in it, to win it”.

Taking the Steps Towards Cash Flow Clarity

I’m sure you must be wondering how you can get crystal clear on your cash flow.

If you want to get instant cash flow clarity without becoming a finance whizz, Read my next article, [How To get instant clarity], where I share the steps to achieve clarity and inspiration from other business owners who have been in your shoes.

Need Personalised Support?

If you need my personal help speeding up financial clarity, here’s the link to book a call with me.