Protected against cyber attacks? Excellent. Are you prepared for a utility supply failure? Good. Password protected to resist data breaches? Wonderful. But what if something threatens your business continuity right now that you hadn’t even thought about? It’s all about the money.

The top ten business continuity threats felt by companies around the world this year have one thing in common: they are all ‘immediate’; sudden, unexpected and dramatic.

Cyber ​​attack is at the top of the list, closely followed by data breach and loss of connectivity or phones. But what about the business continuity threat that may go unnoticed by businesses, but can be just as deadly by stealth: cash flow?

Money is the oil that lubricates the machinery of commerce. And as we all know, without lubrication it will stall and may be impossible to restart.

The problem is that unless you pay close attention to it, cash flow can slowly deteriorate and reserves can dwindle to dangerous levels; when that happens, it may be too late to take corrective action. The secret to avoiding the cash flow dilemma is to keep an eye on it.

1. Check regularly (daily does not hurt) to see that everything is in order.

2. Make sure you’re getting paid when you’re due, and that customers aren’t using you as a source of free credit for not paying their bills promptly. Be good at money management and don’t be embarrassed to take money that is owed to you. The only ones who should be ashamed are those who don’t pay.

3. Bill fast. If you leave invoice writing until the end of the month, you could be giving customers an extra 30 days credit for no reason.

4. Don’t hold too many shares in the business. Experience will tell you what you need. Try to see the stuff stacked on the shelves as stacks of bills; that will focus the mind quite effectively.

5. Avoid overdraft. It is a very expensive way to ‘buy’ extra money.

6. Regularly review your spending on little things as well as big items. You may be surprised to discover that you’re spending too much on incidentals without realizing it, most often for businesses with fewer than ten employees. The problem is that being busy making sure everyone, including him or her, is taking care of the customers means the boss might not be taking care of business. This is when being in expense management can take a backseat. Disciplined use of money management apps can help businesses get a handle on that quickly and easily.

The bottom line? Remember that you cannot have a successful business with cash flow in crisis. Keep that in mind when making every trading decision.