End of January

Back from Christmas and a broken laptop - realised how much I use the laptop out of the office.
Still getting patchy stories out there - one company had their best month ever in January, another has this year's target turnover 70% booked already, another won 4 straight pitches as clients move from larger suppliers. However also heard of orders drying up in the space of a week and of course everyone is hanging on to their cash. Still no movement on the Government's secured lending to business which is not due until end of February but one bank I spoke to said it still did not mean that money would come easy, they would still want to see financials and a plan.

Key things to concentrate on - Cash of course - offer discounts for quick settlement, get people on standing orders where they pay regular fees. Look at your cashflow and budgets regularly and now of all times know your pipeline of business and set costs accordingly. re-do your business plan it needs to be a working tool.

Can you make your costs more flexible? - I have heard of companies reducing working hours and therefore pro-rata salaries, others changing to production linked pay - make sure you get good HR advice first. Above all keep your staff involved and let them know how things are, they might have some good ideas for you.

....and finally - look after those customers, call the ones you haven't spoken to in a while and don't forget to ask for more work.