Jason Kwiatkowski, CPA, CA, CBV, ASA, CEPA’s Post

🚀 Transform Your Business Strategy: Avoid These Common Financial Pitfalls. As a commercial finance broker, I work with business owners, CEOs, CFOs, and company boards daily. Time and again, I see recurring patterns that hold businesses back—often hidden until they’re on the cusp of a critical decision. Here are six common challenges that many businesses face: 📌 Tax Efficiency Over Borrowing Power A focus on minimising tax liabilities often leaves businesses unable to secure the finance they need for growth. 📌 No Financing Plan for Big Goals Many businesses craft ambitious strategies but only consider financing after the fact, creating costly delays. 📌 Relying on Outdated Assumptions Stakeholders frequently base decisions on previous experiences that no longer align with current market conditions or lender expectations. 📌 Misaligned Priorities Across Stakeholders Poor communication between directors, accountants, and advisors leads to incomplete or conflicting financial strategies. 📌 Ignoring Cash Flow Impacts Businesses focus solely on securing loans, overlooking long-term cash flow sustainability and financial health. 📌 Assuming Lender Appetite Stays the Same Economic shifts and changing lending policies mean that historical relationships with lenders may no longer deliver the same results. 🌟 How I Simplify Complexity and Deliver Results Navigating these challenges requires more than technical expertise—it demands a strategic partner who can simplify complexity and provide clarity. Here’s how I help: 💎 Comprehensive Analysis: I take the time to fully understand your business—its financial position, operational challenges, and future goals. 💎 Collaborative Problem Solving: Working with your CFO, accountants, legal advisors, and decision-makers, I align all stakeholders to develop a cohesive strategy. 💎 Clear, Insight-Driven Strategies: I provide actionable recommendations that maximise your current position and identify untapped opportunities for growth. 💎 Tailored, Transformative Solutions: Leveraging decades of experience, I craft strategies to ensure your business is always positioned to access the finance it needs for both current and future growth. 🌟 Unlock Your Financial Potential in 2025 These challenges don’t have to hold your business back. With the right guidance, you can turn financial complexity into an opportunity for growth. I’ve spent decades helping businesses like yours overcome these exact hurdles—streamlining their financial strategies, securing competitive funding, and unlocking opportunities they didn’t even know were possible. 📞 Let’s talk about how I can help your business navigate these challenges and achieve its goals faster. A short conversation could change everything. #Innovation #Management #DigitalMarketing #Technology #Economy

Struggling to make sense of your business's finances? Understand the secrets of ROI, ROA, and ROE (simpler than you ever imagined). In the maze of business operations, understanding your financial standing is crucial. KPIs like Return on Investment (ROI), Return on Assets (ROA), and Return on Equity (ROE) are your compass. -> ROI (Return on Investment) What It Is:  A simple way to see if what you're spending your money on is making you money. Pros:  Easy to understand; helps compare different investment options. Cons:  Doesn't tell you about the time value of money or the risks involved. -> ROA (Return on Assets) What It Is:  Tells you how good your company is at using its assets to make money. Pros:  Great for comparing companies in the same industry; shows how efficient your business is. Cons:  Can be skewed by industries that require a lot of assets; doesn't consider debts. -> ROE (Return on Equity) What It Is:  Shows how well the company uses shareholders' money to generate profits. Pros:  Indicates how efficiently your equity is being used; important for investors. Cons:  High ROE might be due to a lot of debt, not just good management. Knowing which metric to look at and when can help you make informed decisions about where to invest, how to improve your operations, or even how to adjust your financial strategies. By keeping an eye on these indicators, you can steer your business towards financial health and growth, ensuring you're not just spending money but making it work for you. How do you currently measure your business's financial success? #finance #roi #accounting

There are many benefits to cash flow forecasting. For example, by mapping out your income and typical expenses through a cash forecast, you can allocate your funds responsibly and avoid overspending on things you don’t need. You can also use the information to evaluate investment opportunities and make strategic decisions about your future. The following article shares a step-by-step guide on how to forecast your cash flow. Click here to check it out: https://heyor.ca/4QeZ8E #CashFlowForecasting #FinancialPlanning #CashFlowManagement #BusinessStrategy

When starting a #business, you may hear about the importance of ‘telling your story in numbers’. Communicating this effectively is not just important to explain your #financial position to #lenders, #investors or other #stakeholders. It’s critical for running the business successfully long term. This data can help you understand where you may need to make changes to improve profit margin or #cashflow. Plus, if problems do arise, you can act quickly. We work with specialist firms who can provide you with #tax and other #businessadvice including growth consultancy, to help you keep on top of your financial position. Contact us today. #WealthManagement #FinancialAdvice #SoundingBoard #FinancialPlanning #BusinessPlanning #SMEs https://lnkd.in/e2JP-7fR

ROI (Return on Investment): - Definition: ROI measures the gain or return from an investment relative to its cost. It assesses the profitability of a specific investment or project. - Purpose: The purpose of ROI is to evaluate the efficiency and profitability of an investment. It helps determine if the return on the investment justifies the cost. - Time Frame: ROI is often used to measure the efficiency of an investment over a specific period, such as a year. - Formula: The formula for ROI is (Current Value of Investment - Cost of Investment) / Cost of Investment. It calculates the percentage return on the investment relative to its cost. ROA (Return on Assets): - Definition: ROA indicates how effectively a company's assets generate profit. It measures the profitability of a company's operations in relation to its total assets. - Purpose: The purpose of ROA is to assess the efficiency of asset utilization in generating profit. It helps evaluate the company's operational performance. - Time Frame: ROA is typically used for annual performance evaluation. - Formula: The formula for ROA is Annual Net Income / Total Assets. It calculates the percentage of profit generated by the company's assets. ROE (Return on Equity): - Definition: ROE shows how effectively a company's equity generates profit. It measures the profitability and financial leverage of a company. - Purpose: The purpose of ROE is to evaluate the profitability and financial performance of a company from the perspective of its shareholders' equity. - Time Frame: ROE is used to assess the efficiency of equity in generating profit over time. - Formula: The formula for ROE is Annual Net Income / Average Shareholders' Equity. It calculates the percentage return on equity investment. Financial Insight: - ROI provides insight into the profitability of specific investments. - ROA helps assess the efficiency of asset utilization in generating profit. - ROE evaluates the profitability and financial leverage of a company from the perspective of shareholders' equity. These financial metrics are valuable tools for evaluating the performance and profitability of investments and companies. They provide insights into different aspects of financial performance and help inform decision-making processes.

Overcoming financial challenges can be a huge barrier for any business. Our latest article covers some of the essential strategies that can help you manage and overcome these obstacles effectively. Key strategies include: 👉Evaluate Your Cash Flow: Regular monitoring and accurate forecasting. 👉Cut Unnecessary Costs: Streamline operations without compromising quality. 👉Improve Credit Control: Ensure timely payments from customers. 👉Access to Finance: Explore various financing options to support cash flow. 👉Negotiate with Suppliers: Establish flexible payment terms. 👉Seek Professional Advice: Gain insights from financial advisers. 👉Utilise Available Resources: Leverage support programs like the BGWM Investment Readiness Programme. 👉Plan for the Future: Develop and adjust a robust business plan. 🔗 Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/epsRBahu For personalised support and expert guidance, contact the Business Growth West Midlands Investment Readiness Programme. We're here to help you navigate financial challenges and support your business growth. #BusinessFinance #FinancialChallenges #WestMidlandsSMEs #FinanceTips #BGWM #BusinessGrowth Oxford Innovation Advice Business Growth West Midlands Investment Readiness Programme (Access to Finance) Robert Rabone Helen Fortune Sharn Haywood-Higgs Vernon Hogg Davies Okeowo Connor McManus Heather Coupland

𝗘𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝗮𝗯𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 🟣 Securing customers and growing revenue is not enough to build your start-up – good financial management involves positive cash flow. Forecasting is important to make sure you have enough cash to pay your bills and operate the business. 🟣 Put strong credit-control processes in place to avoid running into cash-flow problems and maintain the financial health of your company. Consider arranging to take an upfront payment of invoices or deposits with new customers making high-value orders. 🟣 Separating personal and business expenses is vital. Putting personal expenses through the business can create difficulties down the line and make your company less attractive to investors or potential buyers. After your early-stage business has made some sales, it’s tempting to look at your bank balance and think you’re in a great position. However, even with healthy customer numbers and revenue, in a small and growing enterprise, things can get bumpy quickly if you don’t implement sound financial management measures. The key is to keep a continuous cash flow through those difficult early months and years until your business becomes more stable. Without such measures, many enterprises don’t make it to their second or third year. Having good financial management processes from day one will also make your business more attractive to potential investors and, ultimately, buyers. Read more here: ➡️ https://ow.ly/NIbZ50SYpS3 #FinancialWellbeing #TakeControl #MoneyMatters #BuildALegacy #WealthManagement #FinancialEmpowerment #LifePlanning #InvestmentPlanning #FinancialEducation #RetirementPlanning #IHTPlanning #Intergernationalwealth

There are many benefits to cash flow forecasting. For example, by mapping out your income and typical expenses through a cash forecast, you can allocate your funds responsibly and avoid overspending on things you don’t need. You can also use the information to evaluate investment opportunities and make strategic decisions about your future. The following article shares a step-by-step guide on how to forecast your cash flow. Click here to check it out: https://heyor.ca/4QeZ8E #CashFlowForecasting #FinancialPlanning #CashFlowManagement #BusinessStrategy

While rising interest rates present challenges, they also open doors for those who are prepared. By staying informed, planning strategically, and fostering innovation, small businesses can not only weather the storm but also position themselves for success in an ever-changing market. Let’s continue this conversation! How have rising interest rates impacted your business, and what steps are you taking to navigate these changes? Share your thoughts below and let’s empower one another to thrive in today’s dynamic business landscape! https://lnkd.in/gvE2-FXG #canada #consulting #finance #interestrates #smallbusiness

Understanding key financial metrics is crucial for the success of any business. In finance, this is called having strong financial skills. These skills are important for assessing a company's performance and making smart decisions. However, there's a common mistake. Many businesses focus only on revenue growth and ignore important ratios like liquidity and profitability, which can lead to financial problems. As per Febi.ai, strong financial skills are defined by two core principles: 1) Checking Profitability: Knowing your net profit margins to ensure you're growing sustainably. 2) Watching Liquidity: Keeping an eye on current ratios to stay financially healthy. Want to learn more about the essential financial ratios for your business? Check out our latest blog post :) #FinancialSkills #BusinessSuccess #FinanceTips #GrowthStrategy