Strategies for Bouncing Back During Tough Times
It’s no secret that the economy can be tough on businesses. If your company has found itself struggling to recover from previous recessions or if you simply want to prepare in case of one in the future, you’re not alone. Many businesses find it difficult to bounce back from recessions. But with the right strategies, it is possible to recover and thrive during these tumultuous times. In this blog article, you will learn some of the best ways to get your business back on track.
What Is a Recession?
A recession is a period of economic decline during which trade and commerce are reduced. In general, recessions are identified by a fall in the gross domestic product (GDP) for two successive quarters. Recessions can be the result of many factors, including a decrease in consumer spending, an increase in interest rates, or a steep dive in the stock market. During a recession, businesses may experience a decrease in revenue and profit, which can lead to layoffs, reduced hours, and a variety of cost-cutting measures.
Related: How to Recession-Proof Your Business
Why Are Recessions Bad for Businesses?
Recessions are bad for businesses because they can lead to a decrease in revenue and profit. This is because people tend to spend less money during a recession resulting in less sales. Businesses may have to lay off employees or cut costs in order to survive. And, companies are less likely to invest in new products during a recession.
Besides this, recessions are the leading cause of business bankruptcies. During a recession, businesses may also find it difficult to get loans from banks or investors.
5 Tips for Bouncing Back from a Recession
If you are a business owner trying to bounce back or prepare for a recession, read on to learn some helpful tips.
1. Diversify Your Income Streams
One of the best ways to protect your business during a recession is to diversify your income streams. This means having multiple sources of revenue so that if one area suffers, you will still have other areas to rely on. For example, if you are a retail store, you may want to diversify by also selling products online. Or if you are a service-based business, you may want to offer additional services that can be sold as a package deal.
2. Reduce Your Expenses
One of the best ways to weather a recession is to reduce your expenses. This may mean cutting back on advertising, travel, or other non-essential costs. You may also want to renegotiate contracts with vendors or suppliers. Although expenses are inevitable when running a business, certain expenses can be held off until your business is in a better financial position. By reducing your expenses, you can free up more cash flow that can be used to keep your business afloat during tough times.
Related: How to Cut Business Costs
3. Get Creative
Another way to bounce back from a recession is to think outside the box. This means being creative and coming up with new ways to market your business or generate revenue. If you are struggling to come up with ideas, try brainstorming with your employees or customers. They may have some great suggestions that you never would have thought of on your own.
4. Offer Discounts or Deals
Another way to generate revenue during a recession is to offer discounts or deals. This can be a great way to attract new customers or encourage existing customers to spend more. For example, you could offer a discount on a product if it’s purchased with another item. Or you could create a package deal that includes several of your products or services at a discounted price.
Although offering large discounts may not be a viable option for your company during a recession, even slight discounts can help to increase sales and revenue since buyers will be on the lookout for deals.
5. Consider Accounts Receivable Financing
You will undoubtedly be aware that staying on top of your accounts receivable is crucial for maintaining healthy cash flow during difficult times. However, reviewing your receivables and making collection calls takes a lot of time. Even so, you also want to get the cash owed to you into your bank account as fast as possible. One way to ease the burden of collections and get paid faster is to factor your sales invoices. Even though you get paid in advance for your sales invoices, accounts receivable financing or invoice factoring is not a loan.
The Bottom Line
These are just a few tips for bouncing back from a recession. By diversifying your income streams, thinking outside the box, reducing expenses, seeking alternative financing, and offering discounts or deals, you can push through the difficult times and come out stronger on the other side. A number of programs and loans are available that can help businesses during tough times.
Your Questions Answered Quickly
Whether your business is thriving and you can’t keep up, or you are waiting on clients to pay, Universal Funding can help your growing company. Call us at 800.405.6035 or complete our rate form today to learn more about invoice factoring and how it can improve your company’s cash flow.
About Universal Funding
Universal Funding is a nationwide invoice factoring solutions leader, supporting growth-focused businesses with scalable factoring solutions. With its invoice factoring, payroll funding, and purchase order financing services, Universal Funding provides clients with the working capital needed to grow and support their businesses without taking on new debt. Ranked as one of the nation’s top invoice factoring companies, Universal Funding provides cash flow financing for businesses all across the United States.
