- "In the last 20 years our business has changed considerably…and as the focus of our business has changed, Bird Luckin have moved with us."
Alex Tanner, George Tanner (Shalford) Ltd - "Bird Luckin has looked after us incredibly well for over 60 years, they are pro-active and innovational - meeting all our needs to help us achieve our aims."
Richard Stubbings, Cliffords Limited - "I can honestly say that Bird Luckin are the best firm of accountants and auditors I have ever dealt with - and I don't say that lightly!"
Colin Webb, Walthamstow Stadium - "It's important for us to know that we will always be able to contact the right people to give us the right advice and support."
Jane Bennett, Bennetts Funeral Directors - "Although we deal mainly with one Partner … we also know that if we need to contact someone else who is a specialist in another area, we can get the advice we need quickly and easily"
Jeremy Ruggles, J.S. Wright & Sons Ltd - "Bird Luckin got us to a stage which would have taken us months - if not years - to reach on our own, and they got us there in a matter of weeks"
Matthew Sullivan, SNC Ltd - "You can be a good accountant, but if you don't have an understanding of the industry it can be very difficult. "There are two or three people we have regular contact with at Bird Luckin who know our business well, and it makes a difference.""
Robert Church, W A Church (Bures) Ltd - "The work which Bird Luckin has done for Boddingtons over the past few months has helped shape our future direction for the better."
John Warner, Chief Executive, Boddingtons Ltd - "Bird Luckin has acted for us since our inception 10 years ago. They have a very 'can do' yet highly professional attitude - we are very appreciative of their support and advice over the years."
Marlon Fox, Outlook Property Ltd
Cashflow forecasting
Even during the best of economic times, cashflow can be critical for many smaller businesses.
One way of making sure a business has as much control as possible over the money that moves in and out of its bank account is to put together a cashflow forecast.
Putting together a cashflow forecast allows a business to anticipate high and low points in its cash balance.
A cashflow forecast works by charting how much money is to be paid in to a business over a fixed period of time and how much money the business will pay out during the same period. It must cover only the actual sums of money received and paid out - not invoices issued and received.
The fixed period covered by a cashflow forecast can vary from a quarter to an entire year. It is usually divided into smaller sub-periods such as months or weeks or even days. The forecast will show: monies paid in; monies paid out (including such overheads as wages); the difference between the two (whether it is positive or negative); the bank balance at the start of the period; and the bank balance at the close of the period.
Forecasts usually include an estimate of the amounts of cash a business expects to receive and pay out as well as actual amounts. For established firms, this is done by setting growth predictions for the coming period alongside cashflow figures from the previous period.
Cashflow forecasts change according to trading conditions, business activity and market trends. For this reason, they must be adjusted and updated on a regular basis.
The advantage of a cashflow forecast is that it provides a business with a useful way of anticipating any downturns in its cash balance. It also helps a business decide when it is ready (or not ready) to take on additional financial commitments.
Another benefit of a regularly reviewed cashflow forecast is that it makes it easier to plot steady, sustainable business growth and to avoid the dangers of overtrading.