Running a business isn't for the faint of heart. Especially during tough economic times, like recessions, your ability to stay afloat can depend on how well you've prepared yourself - and that includes maintaining a strong cash reserve. Having enough money saved in reserves allows you to survive financial hard knocks that come out of nowhere, such as unexpected costs, sudden drops in sales, and customer cancellations. Creating a smart cash cushion ahead of time is an essential part of running a successful business no matter what economic climate it may be facing. Here are some reasons why having a strong cash reserve is crucial for helping your business during a recession. 

What is a Cash Reserve?

Cash reserves are an important component of a business's risk management strategy. Businesses of all sizes should have a cash reserve to protect against unexpected costs and downturns in the economy.

A cash reserve is essentially an emergency fund that businesses can tap into during times of financial distress. Depending on the size and scope of operations, this can range from a few months' operating costs to a sizable corpus to withstand potential unforeseen market shocks. A strong cash reserve will also give businesses more breathing room during periods when capital may not be readily available and help them with liquidity when needed - making it an essential component of investment planning for any business.

How to Maintain Your Business’ Cash Reserve

So, how do you build up your cash reserve? Let’s explore the best ways to get started.

Create a Budget

The first step is to create a budget that accurately reflects your current income and expenses. This will give you an idea of how much money you can set aside each month for your cash reserve. In addition, it will also allow you to identify areas where you can cut costs or increase revenue if necessary. Once you have created your budget, you should begin saving as much money as possible each month into your cash reserve.

Diversify Your Investments

Another way to prepare for a recession is by diversifying your investments. Investing in stocks, bonds, real estate or other assets can help cushion the blow of an economic downturn and provide additional sources of income during difficult times. Additionally, investing in multiple markets can reduce risk and provide opportunities for growth even when one market is suffering from slow growth.

Purchase Insurance

Finally, it is important to protect yourself against risks such as lawsuits or natural disasters which could wipe out your entire savings if not properly managed or insured against. Small businesses should look into purchasing liability insurance or other forms of protection just in case something unexpected occurs that would otherwise put them at risk of financial ruin.

Looking for other ways that you can help protect your business during a recession? Check out our FREE eBook here!

And, if you’re interested in outsourcing your marketing to help you save cash and grow your business, be sure to contact us to learn more about our inbound marketing services.