Ways small businesses can improve cash flow during COVID-19

How to improve liquidity (generally)

We’re going to offer some specific recommendations for getting your cash flow right, but nobody knows your business better than you, so there are likely other ways to approach the issue aside from what we outline below. To think about this problem at a high level, here are four ways to add cash to your coffers:

1. Borrow cash or extend a line of credit from a bank, the SBA, friends, or other colleagues.
2. Sell something of value, which could be anything from equipment to a partial ownership in your business.
3. Reduce or delay your costs by spending less on rent, your payroll, insurance, supplies, etc. This approach could also mean renegotiating debts or other obligations.
4. Improve sales by marketing your business more effectively.

Renegotiate contracts, leases, or other agreements

You’re not the only small business that’s experiencing liquidity issues amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Your suppliers, vendors, lenders and landlords know operations are being disrupted, and there’s a good chance they’ll work with you to help keep your obligations in good standing. The key: Be proactive and transparent. If you wait until you’re missing payments or defaulting, people will be less likely to work with you.

Negotiate with lenders: If you have a financial obligation with a lender — like a small business line of credit, for instance — you may be able to defer payments or even get a rate reduction. Communication is key, so it’s best to contact your lender directly as soon as possible to explain your current financial situation and work out a plan while you still have flexibility.

Contact credit card companies: Many credit card companies are willing to help. In fact, a number of financial institutions around the country are providing cardholders with temporary payment relief assistance, including waiving late fees and lower interest charges. Again, it is important to be proactive and contact them as soon as possible to keep your credit in good standing.

Covering your rent: If you’re worried that you won’t be able to make your commercial rent, it’s worth doing some research to see if your city or state has enacted new rules and regulations related to the pandemic. For example, New York State has issued a 90-day moratorium on any commercial (and residential) evictions, and San Francisco has issued a moratorium on commercial evictions for small businesses that are unable to pay rent as a result of coronavirus impacts.

If your city or state has no such legislation in place, reach out to your landlord directly to try and work out a deal.  And keep in mind that landlords are hurting, too. If they lose you, it’s unlikely that many will be able to find new tenants in the short term.

Communicate with vendors and suppliers: It’s always important to maintain good relationships with your vendors and suppliers — but even more so now. So, if you think you might miss some payments, contact them as soon as possible to explain your situation. You may be able to negotiate lower payments or longer terms for a period of time.

Switch to pay-as-you-go workers’ comp

You can free up some cash by taking advantage of pay-as-you-go workers’ comp.

Workers’ comp is a typically required insurance program that protects your business if an employee gets sick or is hurt on the job. Sick or hurt employees receive a certain portion of their wages while they are away from work to cover expenses like medical bills.

Here’s the challenge for employers: Coming up with a big, upfront lump sum for workers’ comp premiums can take a toll on the cash flow of your business — even in the best of economic times.

Enter pay-as-you-go workers’ comp.

Pay-as-you-go workers’ comp is an easy and cost-effective way for you to cover your employees because it allows you to make premium payments each time you run payroll — not in one huge payment to keep track of annually. Plus, your policy is automatically updated when you add or lay off an employee.

And if you need cash during the COVID-19 crisis, it’s likely any lump sum payments you’ve made for a traditional policy will be partially refunded when you switch to pay-as-you-go worker’s compensation.

Consider some other benefits of pay-as-you-go workers’ compensation:

• No premium due up front
• Premiums are calculated automatically
• Saves you time and money
• Minimizes costly audits
• Your payroll service provider streamlines everything so you can keep your back office organized

Take advantage of COVID-specific government programs

Through the Paycheck Protection Program, created with the CARES Act, you may be able to receive a forgivable loan. There are also other tax credits and rebates available under the FFCRA.

Find more details in our in-depth COVID-19 Resource Center for small businesses.

Here are basic details about the program entailed. We expect it (or something similar) to go back online, but no timeframe is set:

Bridge loans for small businesses

If one of the new financing options isn’t available to you, you may also want to consider a bridge loan. As the name suggests, these loans “bridge” the gap between an immediate need for cash and a more permanent solution like a long-term loan or future revenue.

They are a versatile cash flow solution that can be used to cover costs like rent, utilities, wages, etc. Plus, they are usually quicker to secure compared with a traditional long-term loan. In fact, in some instances, you can have cash in your bank account within 24 hours. That’s great when you’re facing a liquidity crunch.

When it comes to bridge loans, it is important to keep in mind that they are meant to provide you quick and immediate access to funds. They have a short repayment period and tend to have higher interest rates compared with long-term loans.

If you currently have a business relationship with an SBA Express Lender, you may want to consider an SBA Express Bridge Loan (EBL), which can offer your business a liquidity lifeline. Under the EBL program, small businesses who currently have a business relationship with an SBA Express Lender can quickly access up to $25,000 to help them overcome the temporary loss of revenue.

Originally launched in 2017, these expedited bridge loans are available to small businesses located in communities impacted by Presidentially-declared disasters. These loans are to be used by small businesses for disaster-related purposes while they apply for and await long-term financing.

Other steps small businesses can take

Finally, you can improve cash flow by increasing the amount of business you do, by selling items of value, or by reducing costs. It’s difficult to give specific advice because there are so many potential options and tradeoffs, but we recommend getting a professional opinion before taking the plunge on measures that could fundamentally alter the way you work or make it harder to get back up to speed. Talk to your legal or business advisors or your accountant.

These are uncertain times, but there is help out there for your business. Being proactive, keeping the lines of communication open, and doing your research can help you find ways to maintain liquidity and keep your business up and running.

For more information about how your small business can navigate payroll, HR, and benefits through COVID-19, please visit our Resource Center.

This article is for informational purposes only and should not be relied on for, tax, legal or accounting advice. You should consult your own tax, legal and accounting advisors for formal consultation.