Cash is the lifeblood of any firm. If you run out of funds, your business will die. You can’t pay your debts or make payroll. Even if you’re not yet up and running and only intend to launch a new business, you’ll need to know how much money you’ll need to get started and stay in business during those initial few months. To avoid the nightmare scenario of running out of cash, you must first understand how cash flows into and out of your firm. Accounts payable is the total of bills that your company has but has not yet paid.

Accounts payable are classified as short-term debts. It includes monthly expenses such as business rent and electricity.

A cash flow statement depicts how cash flows into and out of your business over a specific time period, such as a month, quarter, or year. This statement is one of three important financial statements for any corporation, the other two being an income statement (commonly known as a profit and loss statement) and a balance sheet. These three statements provide you with a complete financial picture of your organization and indicate how well it is performing.

Account payable is an important metric in cash flow and balance sheets. Accounts payable refers to the amount of money you owe to vendors and suppliers. Essentially, it is the sum of all invoices that you have received but have not yet paid. Accounts payable will appear as a liability on your company’s balance sheet. Ideally, you should maintain your company’s financial records tidy and enter new bills into your accounting system as they arrive. This does not require you to pay your debts immediately away, but it does allow you to keep track of who you owe and what your liabilities are.

In general, having a lower accounts payable balance is advantageous. This indicates that you are paying your payments on schedule. Of course, when your company expands, so will your accounts payable, as you buy more materials and incur larger invoices. Don’t worry, however. This is normal. If your business is expanding, you should monitor what is known as the accounts payable turnover ratio to ensure that the percentage of accounts payable compared to total purchases remains relatively stable.

How can you lower your accounts payable?

If your accounts payable are expanding and you need help paying your bills, there are a few options to consider. This will help you cut or manage your AP better.

1. Negotiate with your suppliers.

Most suppliers would prefer that you pay your invoices rather than default and not pay at all. A simple call to your vendors to establish a payment plan will frequently alleviate the agony. This strategy can also help you maintain strong relationships with your suppliers, allowing you to continue doing business with them.

2. Encourage your consumers to pay quickly:

For most organizations, getting cash in the door from consumers is the most effective approach to pay invoices faster.

3. Open a business line of credit:

You should do this before you have an accounts payable issue, as banks are less willing to lend to you if you already have a lot of debt. This can assist alleviate the agony of particular periods of the month when you have less cash on hand. Just be careful not to overextend your firm and incur further debt. Instead, think of a line of credit as a short-term loan to help you pay your payments.

4. Lower your costs:

This is perhaps the most obvious technique to reduce your accounts payable, but it’s still worth mentioning. When you shop around for other vendors, you may be able to reduce your expenses and so cut your bills. It is always beneficial to be on the lookout for better prices for your company. So set aside some time every few months to review your expenses and identify areas where you may save money.