Good business advice is like a map for your business which gives you the goals, the measuring points along the way and the ability to make sure that you don't stray off track.

See a CA

The key to your success

The key to the success of any business is cash flow, not profits. This is sometimes difficult to understand but a CA will lead you through the maze, making sure that cash flow issues are raised and dealt with before they become major.

Finding out months after your year end that you are running out of cash because the bank is sending demanding letters is very stressful. You really need to be aware of all the issues as they arise, deal with them quickly and move back to running the business which is, after all, what you wanted to do in the first place.

Boring budgets

Budgets, cash forecasts and management accounts always sound pretty boring. They are however essential tools and a CA will help you develop whatever you need to run your business. It may be simple, it may be more sophisticated - it will be tailored to fit your needs, but definitely not boring.

Planning for the future

Most business take a relatively short term view, looking perhaps no more than two to three years ahead. Even the smallest of businesses, however, can benefit enormously from having a vision of the future.

The vision would obviously include where the business is likely to be in, say, three to five years, but it should also embrace a long term plan for succession and retirement.

In all these areas a CA can give you the best possible advice.

Planning for the future

In short, seeing a CA can make a major difference to your financial health both now and in the future.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland