{"componentChunkName":"component---src-templates-articles-index-jsx","path":"/articles/mastercard-cash-flow/","result":{"data":{"props":{"adsense":false,"adsenseMobile":null,"byLine":"","canonical":"https://staging.business.com/articles/mastercard-cash-flow/","content":"\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">While there are a lot of factors in a small business's success, cash flow is one of the most prominent. A positive cash flow can be the difference between just surviving and actually thriving.</span></p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Research shows that the vast majority of businesses that fail do so, at least in part, because of cash flow problems. Cash flow refers to the amount of money coming in and going out of your business. </span></p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">To be successful, you don't just need more coming in than going out; you need to make sure it is coming in when you need it to so that you have money on hand to pay your bills and employee salaries.</span></p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">As senior vice president for small business at <a href=\"http://www.mastercard.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external\"><span class=\"s2\">Mastercard</span></a>, Jay Singer knows just how important cash flow is to a small business's success. Singer has been with Mastercard for more than 20 years and served in a variety of roles, including as senior vice president and group head for North American commercial products and as senior vice president and group of U.S. commercial products. Prior to joining Mastercard, Singer was a senior manager at American Express.</span></p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">We recently had the chance to speak with Singer about cash flow, its importance and the steps you can take to boost it.</span></p>\r\n<h2 class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">The importance of cash flow</span></h2>\r\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><strong>Q: Why is having positive cash flow important for businesses?</strong></span></p>\r\n<p class=\"p3\"><strong>A:</strong> Positive cash flow means you have an opportunity to grow, make new investments in your business, innovate and ultimately continue doing what you've been doing – satisfying your customers.</p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">To get here, it's important for your business to have a tool that aggregates all of your financial data (e.g., account, balances, receivables, collections and invoices to pay) to provide a complete view of your business's financial position. Cash inflow is the lifeblood of every business, fueling all aspects of operations, from employee salaries to electricity; and for many business owners, keeping the lights on – literally – can be a juggling act.</span></p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><strong>Q: What can happen when a business doesn't have proper cash flow levels?</strong></span></p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><strong>A:</strong> Worst-case scenario, it can fail. In fact, research shows that <a href=\"https://www.businessinsider.com/why-small-businesses-fail-infographic-2017-8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external\"><span class=\"s2\">82% of businesses in the U.S. fail</span></a> due to cash flow issues. Low or negative cash flow scenarios put a business in serious jeopardy. </span></p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Even with a profitable, sound business model, small businesses need an effective cash flow management solution in place. Most small businesses in the U.S. have only 27 days of cash on hand. Improper cash flow levels can hinder a business's growth and impact the returns for the small business owner.</span></p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><strong>Q: How do you determine how much cash flow your business needs?</strong></span></p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><strong>A:</strong> To determine the amount of cash flow your business needs, you first need to analyze the current state of your business. It's important to understand how much cash you've been using and plan to use, as well as the length of time it will take to acquire more cash. </span></p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">While every business's needs are different, it would be wise to have enough cash on hand to cover up to six months of your average cash outflow.</span></p>\r\n<figure class=\"alignright thumb\"><picture><source srcset=\"/images/content/5cb/e768f9c658a7a188b456b/300_-420- 300w, /images/content/5cb/e768f9c658a7a188b456b/150_-210- 150w, /images/content/5cb/e768f9c658a7a188b456b/75_-105- 75w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 870px) 150px, (min-width: 400px) 38vw, 38%\"></source><img src=\"/images/content/5cb/e768f9c658a7a188b456b/2128-2980-\" alt=\"\" width=\"2128\" height=\"2980\" data-content-img-id=\"5cbe768f9c658a7a188b456b\"></picture><figcaption class=\"mceNonEditable\">Jay Singer, senior vice president for small business at Mastercard</figcaption></figure><p class=\"p3\"><strong>Q: Do certain types of business, or businesses in certain industries, require more cash flow than others?</strong></p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><strong>A:</strong> Every business's situation is unique, and there are two key factors at work here. The first is the stage of the business – startups or growing businesses generally need more cash to support their development and cover expenses such as inventory, infrastructure and employees, compared to more established businesses. </span></p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The type of business is also key. Factors such as seasonality and weather are impactful, and having cash is critical with labor-intensive businesses. We often find in agriculture or manufacturing that short-term financing in the form of a line of credit or credit card is critical to help the business owner bridge the period between the cash outlay and the sales receipts.</span></p>\r\n<h2 class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">Increasing cash flow</span></h2>\r\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><strong>Q: What are some tips for increasing your cash flow? </strong></span></p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><strong>A:</strong> One way small businesses can better manage cash flow is with AI-enabled solutions. They provide tools for small business owners to stay abreast of their cash position today and forecast it so they can take appropriate action. </span></p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The <a href=\"https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mastercard-and-strands-collaborate-to-empower-small-to-medium-enterprise-banking-with-ai-and-cutting-edge-payment-technology-300676336.html\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"s2\">Strands Business Financial Management (BFM) platform</span></a>, for example, contains a layer of AI and machine-learning models that can help manage accounts payables, receivables, budgets and provisions. It also delivers personalized notifications and highlights recommendations and solutions for a small business owner which will help mitigate these challenges.</span></p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Another way to increase cash flow is with a small business credit card that offers interest-free grace periods to support the short-term financing needs of many small businesses. Also, with transaction details of every purchase, credit cards can highlight opportunities to save, and many even come with innovative reporting options that illustrate spending trends to help business owners optimize their cash flow.</span></p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Ultimately, streamlining business processes is key to managing cash flow. Analyzing the current position of your business and processes in place will help you find efficiency gaps and areas where you might be able to invest in updated products or smarter solutions. </span></p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><strong>Q: What are the greatest challenges businesses face when trying to properly manage their cash flow?</strong> </span></p>\r\n<p class=\"p3\"><strong>A:</strong> Poor cash flow management is one of the top reasons small businesses fail, and many banking solutions don't address the unique requirements of small businesses. Our research found that small business owners globally cite <a href=\"https://www.smallbizdaily.com/achilles-heel-small-businesses-cash-flow-management/\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"s2\">cash flow projection</span></a> as the most challenging aspect of cash flow management.</p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Many small business owners don't have a clear reporting mechanism that provides a complete view of their financial accounts and forecasts of their inflows and outflows. To help solve for this, small business owners are increasingly looking to integrated platforms powered by artificial intelligence and big data.</span></p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Having the right cash flow management system in place that is simple and easy to use is particularly important. Most small business owners aren't professionally trained in accounting and finance and would rather spend their time following their passion or concentrating on what got them into business in the first place. Expending energy trying to educate themselves on how to manage their cash flow takes precious time away from practicing their craft.</span></p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><strong>Q: What is the best piece of career advice you have ever been given?</strong></span></p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><strong>A: </strong>When I first started managing people, I had a mentor who shared with me two important pieces of advice when it comes to leading teams. First, learn how to trust and empower your team. As a first-time manager, the thought of ceding control and needing to know every little detail was – and I believe still is – a major challenge. Trusting and empowering my team has allowed me to take on the role of the leader rather than the doer. </span></p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">This ties well to my second thought, which is that diversity is critical, whether that's diversity of background, race, gender or thoughts. Openness to diversity provides much richer and broader perspectives and has helped me create and lead well-balanced and effective teams.</span></p>\n","docType":"article","guid":"articles_afb518ddfe2073f33578d3ef8a65e0b5","lastModified":"2019-04-23T23:00:00.000Z","published":"2019-04-23T23:00:00.000Z","structuredData":null,"subtitle":"Want to boost your cash flow? Mastercard exec Jay Singer shares how.","template":"legacy","title":"Talking Shop: Mastercard Exec Tells You Why Cash Flow Is King","type":"article","author":{"avatar":null,"bio":"Chad Brooks is a Chicago-based writer and editor who has spent more than 20 years in media. A 1998 journalism graduate of Indiana University, Chad began his career with Business News Daily in 2011 as a freelance writer. In 2014, he joined the staff full time as a senior writer. Before Business News Daily, Chad spent nearly a decade as a staff reporter for the Daily Herald in suburban Chicago, covering a wide array of topics including local and state government, crime, the legal system and education. Chad has also worked on the other side of the media industry, promoting small businesses throughout the United States for two years in a public relations role. His first book, How to Start a Home-Based App Development Business, was published in 2014.","name":"Chad Brooks","image":null,"slug":null,"social":{"facebook":"","linkedin":"https://www.linkedin.com/in/chad-brooks-6876b1148/","twitter":"https://twitter.com/cbrooks76","website":"https://www.business.com"},"status":"enabled","title":null,"type":"Staff","user":{"imagePath":"https://staging.business.com/images/uploads/user/profile/7e710e1e670b04265002ced80917e1db45e36.jpg","profile":{"company":"business.com","jobTitle":"Editor","website":"https://www.business.com"}}},"breadcrumbs":null,"channels":{"primary":{"name":"Business Basics","slug":"business-basics"},"sub":{"name":"Entrepreneurship","slug":"entrepreneurship"}},"meta":{"robots":"index, follow","description":"In a Q&A, Mastercard Senior Vice President Jay Singer discusses why positive cash flow plays such a vital role in the success of a small business.","title":"Mastercard's Singer Highlights Importance of Cash Flow - business.com"},"parsedContent":{"toc":[{"id":"the-importance-of-cash-flow","title":"The importance of cash flow"},{"id":"increasing-cash-flow","title":"Increasing cash flow"}],"json":[{"component":"p","props":{"className":"p1"},"children":[{"component":"span","props":{"className":"s1"},"children":["While there are a lot of factors in a small business's success, cash flow is one of the most prominent. A positive cash flow can be the difference between just surviving and actually thriving."]}]},{"component":"p","props":{"className":"p1"},"children":[{"component":"span","props":{"className":"s1"},"children":["Research shows that the vast majority of businesses that fail do so, at least in part, because of cash flow problems. Cash flow refers to the amount of money coming in and going out of your business. "]}]},{"component":"p","props":{"className":"p1"},"children":[{"component":"span","props":{"className":"s1"},"children":["To be successful, you don't just need more coming in than going out; you need to make sure it is coming in when you need it to so that you have money on hand to pay your bills and employee salaries."]}]},{"component":"p","props":{"className":"p1"},"children":[{"component":"span","props":{"className":"s1"},"children":["As senior vice president for small business at ",{"component":"a","props":{"href":"http://www.mastercard.com/","target":"_blank","rel":"noopener external"},"children":[{"component":"span","props":{"className":"s2"},"children":["Mastercard"]}]},", Jay Singer knows just how important cash flow is to a small business's success. Singer has been with Mastercard for more than 20 years and served in a variety of roles, including as senior vice president and group head for North American commercial products and as senior vice president and group of U.S. commercial products. Prior to joining Mastercard, Singer was a senior manager at American Express."]}]},{"component":"p","props":{"className":"p1"},"children":[{"component":"span","props":{"className":"s1"},"children":["We recently had the chance to speak with Singer about cash flow, its importance and the steps you can take to boost it."]}]},{"component":"h2","props":{"className":"p2","id":"the-importance-of-cash-flow"},"children":[{"component":"span","props":{"className":"s1"},"children":["The importance of cash flow"]}]},{"component":"p","props":{"className":"p1"},"children":[{"component":"span","props":{"className":"s1"},"children":[{"component":"strong","children":["Q: Why is having positive cash flow important for businesses?"]}]}]},{"component":"p","props":{"className":"p3"},"children":[{"component":"strong","children":["A:"]}," Positive cash flow means you have an opportunity to grow, make new investments in your business, innovate and ultimately continue doing what you've been doing – satisfying your customers."]},{"component":"p","props":{"className":"p1"},"children":[{"component":"span","props":{"className":"s1"},"children":["To get here, it's important for your business to have a tool that aggregates all of your financial data (e.g., account, balances, receivables, collections and invoices to pay) to provide a complete view of your business's financial position. Cash inflow is the lifeblood of every business, fueling all aspects of operations, from employee salaries to electricity; and for many business owners, keeping the lights on – literally – can be a juggling act."]}]},{"component":"p","props":{"className":"p1"},"children":[{"component":"span","props":{"className":"s1"},"children":[{"component":"strong","children":["Q: What can happen when a business doesn't have proper cash flow levels?"]}]}]},{"component":"p","props":{"className":"p1"},"children":[{"component":"span","props":{"className":"s1"},"children":[{"component":"strong","children":["A:"]}," Worst-case scenario, it can fail. In fact, research shows that ",{"component":"a","props":{"href":"https://www.businessinsider.com/why-small-businesses-fail-infographic-2017-8","target":"_blank","rel":"noopener external"},"children":[{"component":"span","props":{"className":"s2"},"children":["82% of businesses in the U.S. fail"]}]}," due to cash flow issues. Low or negative cash flow scenarios put a business in serious jeopardy. "]}]},{"component":"p","props":{"className":"p1"},"children":[{"component":"span","props":{"className":"s1"},"children":["Even with a profitable, sound business model, small businesses need an effective cash flow management solution in place. Most small businesses in the U.S. have only 27 days of cash on hand. Improper cash flow levels can hinder a business's growth and impact the returns for the small business owner."]}]},{"component":"p","props":{"className":"p1"},"children":[{"component":"span","props":{"className":"s1"},"children":[{"component":"strong","children":["Q: How do you determine how much cash flow your business needs?"]}]}]},{"component":"p","props":{"className":"p1"},"children":[{"component":"span","props":{"className":"s1"},"children":[{"component":"strong","children":["A:"]}," To determine the amount of cash flow your business needs, you first need to analyze the current state of your business. It's important to understand how much cash you've been using and plan to use, as well as the length of time it will take to acquire more cash. "]}]},{"component":"p","props":{"className":"p1"},"children":[{"component":"span","props":{"className":"s1"},"children":["While every business's needs are different, it would be wise to have enough cash on hand to cover up to six months of your average cash outflow."]}]},{"component":"figure","props":{"className":"alignright thumb"},"children":[{"component":"picture","children":[{"component":"source","props":{"srcSet":"/images/content/5cb/e768f9c658a7a188b456b/300_-420- 300w, /images/content/5cb/e768f9c658a7a188b456b/150_-210- 150w, /images/content/5cb/e768f9c658a7a188b456b/75_-105- 75w","sizes":"(min-width: 870px) 150px, (min-width: 400px) 38vw, 38%"}},{"component":"img","props":{"src":"/images/content/5cb/e768f9c658a7a188b456b/2128-2980-","alt":"","width":"2128","height":"2980","data-content-img-id":"5cbe768f9c658a7a188b456b"}}]},{"component":"figcaption","props":{"className":"mceNonEditable"},"children":["Jay Singer, senior vice president for small business at Mastercard"]}]},{"component":"p","props":{"className":"p3"},"children":[{"component":"strong","children":["Q: Do certain types of business, or businesses in certain industries, require more cash flow than others?"]}]},{"component":"p","props":{"className":"p1"},"children":[{"component":"span","props":{"className":"s1"},"children":[{"component":"strong","children":["A:"]}," Every business's situation is unique, and there are two key factors at work here. The first is the stage of the business – startups or growing businesses generally need more cash to support their development and cover expenses such as inventory, infrastructure and employees, compared to more established businesses. "]}]},{"component":"p","props":{"className":"p1"},"children":[{"component":"span","props":{"className":"s1"},"children":["The type of business is also key. Factors such as seasonality and weather are impactful, and having cash is critical with labor-intensive businesses. We often find in agriculture or manufacturing that short-term financing in the form of a line of credit or credit card is critical to help the business owner bridge the period between the cash outlay and the sales receipts."]}]},{"component":"h2","props":{"className":"p2","id":"increasing-cash-flow"},"children":[{"component":"span","props":{"className":"s1"},"children":["Increasing cash flow"]}]},{"component":"p","props":{"className":"p1"},"children":[{"component":"span","props":{"className":"s1"},"children":[{"component":"strong","children":["Q: What are some tips for increasing your cash flow? "]}]}]},{"component":"p","props":{"className":"p1"},"children":[{"component":"span","props":{"className":"s1"},"children":[{"component":"strong","children":["A:"]}," One way small businesses can better manage cash flow is with AI-enabled solutions. They provide tools for small business owners to stay abreast of their cash position today and forecast it so they can take appropriate action. "]}]},{"component":"p","props":{"className":"p1"},"children":[{"component":"span","props":{"className":"s1"},"children":["The ",{"component":"a","props":{"href":"https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mastercard-and-strands-collaborate-to-empower-small-to-medium-enterprise-banking-with-ai-and-cutting-edge-payment-technology-300676336.html","target":"_blank"},"children":[{"component":"span","props":{"className":"s2"},"children":["Strands Business Financial Management (BFM) platform"]}]},", for example, contains a layer of AI and machine-learning models that can help manage accounts payables, receivables, budgets and provisions. It also delivers personalized notifications and highlights recommendations and solutions for a small business owner which will help mitigate these challenges."]}]},{"component":"p","props":{"className":"p1"},"children":[{"component":"span","props":{"className":"s1"},"children":["Another way to increase cash flow is with a small business credit card that offers interest-free grace periods to support the short-term financing needs of many small businesses. Also, with transaction details of every purchase, credit cards can highlight opportunities to save, and many even come with innovative reporting options that illustrate spending trends to help business owners optimize their cash flow."]}]},{"component":"p","props":{"className":"p1"},"children":[{"component":"span","props":{"className":"s1"},"children":["Ultimately, streamlining business processes is key to managing cash flow. Analyzing the current position of your business and processes in place will help you find efficiency gaps and areas where you might be able to invest in updated products or smarter solutions. "]}]},{"component":"p","props":{"className":"p1"},"children":[{"component":"span","props":{"className":"s1"},"children":[{"component":"strong","children":["Q: What are the greatest challenges businesses face when trying to properly manage their cash flow?"]}," "]}]},{"component":"p","props":{"className":"p3"},"children":[{"component":"strong","children":["A:"]}," Poor cash flow management is one of the top reasons small businesses fail, and many banking solutions don't address the unique requirements of small businesses. Our research found that small business owners globally cite ",{"component":"a","props":{"href":"https://www.smallbizdaily.com/achilles-heel-small-businesses-cash-flow-management/","target":"_blank"},"children":[{"component":"span","props":{"className":"s2"},"children":["cash flow projection"]}]}," as the most challenging aspect of cash flow management."]},{"component":"p","props":{"className":"p1"},"children":[{"component":"span","props":{"className":"s1"},"children":["Many small business owners don't have a clear reporting mechanism that provides a complete view of their financial accounts and forecasts of their inflows and outflows. To help solve for this, small business owners are increasingly looking to integrated platforms powered by artificial intelligence and big data."]}]},{"component":"p","props":{"className":"p1"},"children":[{"component":"span","props":{"className":"s1"},"children":["Having the right cash flow management system in place that is simple and easy to use is particularly important. Most small business owners aren't professionally trained in accounting and finance and would rather spend their time following their passion or concentrating on what got them into business in the first place. Expending energy trying to educate themselves on how to manage their cash flow takes precious time away from practicing their craft."]}]},{"component":"p","props":{"className":"p1"},"children":[{"component":"span","props":{"className":"s1"},"children":[{"component":"strong","children":["Q: What is the best piece of career advice you have ever been given?"]}]}]},{"component":"p","props":{"className":"p1"},"children":[{"component":"span","props":{"className":"s1"},"children":[{"component":"strong","children":["A: "]},"When I first started managing people, I had a mentor who shared with me two important pieces of advice when it comes to leading teams. First, learn how to trust and empower your team. As a first-time manager, the thought of ceding control and needing to know every little detail was – and I believe still is – a major challenge. Trusting and empowering my team has allowed me to take on the role of the leader rather than the doer. "]}]},{"component":"p","props":{"className":"p1"},"children":[{"component":"span","props":{"className":"s1"},"children":["This ties well to my second thought, which is that diversity is critical, whether that's diversity of background, race, gender or thoughts. Openness to diversity provides much richer and broader perspectives and has helped me create and lead well-balanced and effective teams."]}]}]},"resource":null,"sponsorship":null,"thumbnail":{"path":"https://staging.business.com/images/content/5cb/faf475a215e1e038b4567/1500-0-","caption":"PORTRAIT IMAGES ASIA BY NONWARIT/Shutterstock","isBlurred":true},"bestPicks":null},"related":{"relatedArticles":[{"title":"SBA Loan Default: A Complete Guide for 2020 and Beyond","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/sba-loan-default-guide/","slug":"sba-loan-default-guide","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/content/5dc/047af7b437483068b4572/1500-0-","dek":"Here's comprehensive guide to all your questions about SBA loan default, forgiveness and the SBA Offer In Compromise.","lastModified":"2019-11-04T15:00:00Z","published":"2019-11-04T15:00:00Z","sponsored":false},{"title":"The Biggest Business Financing Myths Out There","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/small-business-loan-myths/","slug":"small-business-loan-myths","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/content/5c0/005877b43740b578b456a/1500-0-","dek":"Don't believe these common myths about business loans.","lastModified":"2018-11-29T12:30:00Z","published":"2018-11-29T12:30:00Z","sponsored":false},{"title":"Small Business COVID-19 Diaries: Part 4","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/small-business-stories-covid-19-part-4/","slug":"small-business-stories-covid-19-part-4","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/content/5ee/286a05a215e445f8b456f/1500-0-","dek":"COVID-19 upended economic activity and disrupted small business owners' lives. Here are stories from real entrepreneurs about how the novel coronavirus pandemic is impacting them.","lastModified":"2020-06-12T11:00:00Z","published":"2020-06-12T11:00:00Z","sponsored":false},{"title":"How to Decide Which Type of Business Loan Is Right for You","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/4-types-of-business-loans-and-which-one-is-right-for-you/","slug":"4-types-of-business-loans-and-which-one-is-right-for-you","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/content/5e6/283325a215e2f118b4569/1500-0-","dek":"There are many types of business loans. Here's how to choose the right one for you.","lastModified":"2020-03-10T11:45:00Z","published":"2012-07-05T13:12:00Z","sponsored":false},{"title":"How to Ace Your Next Investor Briefing","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/ace-investor-briefing/","slug":"ace-investor-briefing","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/content/5e0/13ebc9c658af1458b456e/1500-0-","dek":"When trying to secure funding, you need to showcase your business to investors in the best possible light.","lastModified":"2019-12-31T13:00:00Z","published":"2019-12-31T13:00:00Z","sponsored":false},{"title":"How to Choose the Best Business Loan","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/how-to-choose-a-business-loan/","slug":"how-to-choose-a-business-loan","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/content/5db/c5c175a215e47798b456f/1500-0-","dek":"Small businesses have a lot of funding options, but choose wisely.","lastModified":"2020-02-04T14:25:00Z","published":"2020-02-04T14:25:00Z","sponsored":false},{"title":"Before the Business Loan: Questions That Must Be Asked","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/before-the-business-loan-questions-that-must-be-asked/","slug":"before-the-business-loan-questions-that-must-be-asked","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/channel/finance.jpg","dek":"The key to a great borrower-lender relationship is communication and proper funding. Here are 5 questions your lender should ask you.","lastModified":"2015-02-18T18:00:00Z","published":"2015-02-18T18:00:00Z","sponsored":false},{"title":"Will Work for Funding: 7 Ways to Finance Your First Small Business","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/7-ways-to-finance-your-first-small-business/","slug":"7-ways-to-finance-your-first-small-business","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/channel/finance.jpg","dek":"When it comes to financing your new business, today's options are virtually limitless. But which one is right for you?","lastModified":"2015-10-14T14:00:00Z","published":"2015-10-14T14:00:00Z","sponsored":false},{"title":"5 Money-Saving Ideas for Your Newly-Funded Business","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/money-saving-ideas-for-startups/","slug":"money-saving-ideas-for-startups","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/content/5d3/2156d5a215e844e8b4571/1500-0-","dek":"These money-saving tips will help your small business run efficiently and profitably.","lastModified":"2019-07-23T17:00:00Z","published":"2019-07-23T17:00:00Z","sponsored":false},{"title":"How CEO Scott Fischer Turned Dippin' Dots Fortune Around","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/dippin-dots-ceo-financial-hardships/","slug":"dippin-dots-ceo-financial-hardships","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/content/5a7/21fd951ee47f9618b4567/1500-0-","dek":"It's no simple thing to turn around a company facing financial ruin.","lastModified":"2018-01-31T19:00:00Z","published":"2018-01-31T19:00:00Z","sponsored":false},{"title":"Is Your Company Bankable? How to Improve Your Chances of Being Approved for a Loan","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/is-your-company-bankable/","slug":"is-your-company-bankable","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/content/5c7/42e3d7b43743d238b4581/1500-0-","dek":"Banks aren't just interested in your company's financials.","lastModified":"2019-03-04T13:00:00Z","published":"2019-03-04T13:00:00Z","sponsored":false},{"title":"Tips on Getting a Business Loan If You Have Bad Credit","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/how-to-get-a-business-loan-with-bad-credit/","slug":"how-to-get-a-business-loan-with-bad-credit","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/content/5eb/5a1197b4374225f8b457e/1500-0-","dek":"Don't let bad credit hold you back from obtaining funding for your business.","lastModified":"2020-05-12T08:58:00Z","published":"2018-10-25T07:00:00Z","sponsored":false}],"relatedReviews":[{"doc_type":"category","thumbnail":"https://staging.business.com/images/rz/5db752e25a215e277d8b4588/Invoicing_AndreyPopov_BDC.png","canonical":"https://staging.business.com/categories/best-collections-agency-services/","title":"The Best Collection Agency Services of 2021","dek":"We've reviewed the best collection agency services for 2021. See up-to-date comparisons on features and the best prices for the top-rated agencies.","slug":"best-collections-agency-services","lastModified":"2021-03-17T16:34:00Z"},{"doc_type":"category","thumbnail":"https://staging.business.com/images/rz/5e4edd837b437442548b456d/cash_Dutko_getty.jpg","canonical":"https://staging.business.com/categories/small-business-loans-and-financing-options/","title":"The Best Business Loan and Financing Options of 2021","dek":"Many small businesses need funding to get started. Learn about the different financing options to decide which would work best for your small business.","slug":"small-business-loans-and-financing-options","lastModified":"2021-03-11T17:24:00Z"},{"doc_type":"category","thumbnail":"https://staging.business.com/images/rz/5d4c65367b43741a258b4572/Laptop_Sfio_Cracho.png","canonical":"https://staging.business.com/categories/crm-software/","title":"The Best CRM Software of 2021","dek":"Looking for the best CRM software? We have easy-to-read, expert unbiased reviews and feature comparisons of the best and cheapest programs.","slug":"crm-software","lastModified":"2021-02-24T14:09:00Z"}],"relatedSponsoredArticles":null}},"pageContext":{"displayModified":"2019-04-23T23:00:00.000Z","template":"legacy","title":"Talking Shop: Mastercard Exec Tells You Why Cash Flow Is King","meta":{"robots":"index, follow"},"docType":"articles","slug":"mastercard-cash-flow","canonical":"https://staging.business.com/articles/mastercard-cash-flow/","skipTOC":false}},"staticQueryHashes":[]}