In the process of growing a business, additional equipment and employees might be needed. Sometimes business people can’t fund this on their own and need to a loan. 

Loans are debts; if not managed well, they can do more harm to a business than good. Unmanaged business debts can cause cash flow problems in business; therefore, a business person will find it hard to reinvest. 

Check out the following five tips that will help a small business to reduce debt.

1. Know the debt details.

Get a list of all your debts and their details. Take inventory of the following:

• Who is the creditor?
• How much is the loan?
• How much is the interest rate?
• When is the due date?

This list will help you see which debt to clear first to avoid accumulation. According to experts, loans should be cleared starting with those with the highest interest rates.

2. Boost business sales.

Step one was about having strategies to pay the business debt. A plan will not pay off debts if the business does not produce enough money! 

Think of ways to help your business make additional money.

Here are some ideas that will help increase business sales:

• Advertising the business will increase business awareness among potential customers.
• Raising prices should be done wisely since a business could easily lose customers due to increased prices. Offer discounts along with the hiked prices to inspire loyalty.
• Offers and coupons are irresistible. Ensure you spread the word that your business is giving out deals. However, as you give them, ensure you have your math right! Offers should give you profits, not losses.

3. Adjust the business budget.

If your business has a problem with monthly payments, then you have a financial management problem. This calls for the need to revisit your business budget and see where you went wrong as a business owner.

A business budget should state all the income sources and expected monthly expenditures. Subdivide the expenses such that you ensure you have money set aside for the landlord, creditors and purchases.

4. Cut business expenses.

Get to know your operating costs. Identify the essentials and those that the business can do without. 

Your business is going through a financial crisis, and you cannot afford to risk it all! Start by cancelling unnecessary memberships and subscriptions.

Consider negotiating your rent with the landlord. Some building owners will give you a discount for paying yearly instead of monthly.

Always examine your monthly financial statements to pinpoint exactly where you have been extravagant.

5. Get someone to coach you.

Sometimes debts can be overwhelming. The pressure to clear debts might be too much, and making sound decisions can be difficult. 

There is nothing wrong with a business owner asking for financial management help from the outside. Specialists like financial advisors can be of great help since they advise from a neutral point of view.

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