One of the greatest sources of stress for small business owners is managing cash flow. 69% of business owners who have been kept up at night by concerns about cash flow.  More than half of U.S. businesses have lost $10,000 or more by foregoing a project or sales specifically due to issues created by insufficient cash flow.

This course shows you how to assess current and future cash flows. You learn techniques to increase cash flow and reduce dips in cash flow. I list critical sources of cash for businesses, along with the pros and cons of major sources.

I explain how to prepare a cash flow projection. You discover a company’s sustainable growth rate and how to increase it. I show you how leverage can increase growth, profit, and cash. Leverage also comes with risks and I explain how to manage those risks.

Course Key Concepts: Cash flow statement, Cash flow projection, Cash flow forecast, Working capital, Cash conversion cycle, Loans, Debt, Equity, EBITDA, Free cash flow.

Note: This course is also available in Text Based format:
https://www.illumeo.com/courses/managing-cash-flow-text-based-course

Learning Objectives
  • Explore ways to assess current and projected cash flows.
  • Discover methods to increase cash flow and reduce dips in cash flow.
  • Identify sources of cash for businesses.
Last updated/reviewed: March 17, 2024
98 Reviews (539 ratings)

Reviews

5
Anonymous Author
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5
Anonymous Author
This course provided a very good explanation of how to manage cash flows. The instructor was clear, and concise and kept it at a level where the student could absorb the content. Well done.

5
Anonymous Author
Very practical background information on how cash flow operates and strategies to use in the real world.

4
Anonymous Author
good overview, presenter was very good (not annoying), will watch more of his videos

5
Anonymous Author
Excellent course for everyone who is interested on the subject. Rob rocks!!!

5
Anonymous Author
I loved this course and it was great to be able to pause the course and think about what was being presented and how I could apply it in my current role. Some very good information. Usually cash flow management courses are pretty basic, but this was a very valuable cash management course.

5
Member's Profile
I really enjoyed Rob Stephens course on Managing Cash Flows. It seemed he covered all bases on how a company can improve and destroy its cash flow position by either effective or ineffective management. I too am a professional that manages the company's cash flow.

4
Anonymous Author
This course provided a detailed review of cash flow management strategies going beyond the basics of the cash flow statement and to CFO-level strategies. Very useful insight for those looking to understand financial management for small and medium-sized businesses.

5
Anonymous Author
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5
Member's Profile
Excellent course. The material was 1) presented at a quick pace, 2) useful in a practical way, and 3) presented in a logical and cohesive way. I appreciated the section on metrics. The presenter was a natural at video presentations.

5
Anonymous Author
This was an excellent course and an excellent presenter. However, I was overwhelmed by all the information and definitions. An example that comes to mind is the explanation of ex-div pref shares - to me that was just too much detail.

5
Member's Profile
The course is good and the instructor knowledgeable with good presentation skills. I found the information a little basic at times; however it is a broad and foundational course, so this is not unexpected.

5
Anonymous Author
Cash flow management is the cornerstone of keeping a company on track. Having the ability to draw down on a LOC is a strategy that smaller companies often overlook. This was a great course.

5
Anonymous Author
I was very impressed with this course. It gave a great overview of what cash management is, what metrics are useful, and what strategies are best for different situations. Highly recommend!

5
Anonymous Author
I really enjoyed this course and the instructor. There is a lot of content that I know that I will refer back to in the future. I plan to take some of this instructors other classes.

5
Anonymous Author
This might be the best CPE course I've ever taken, as it's highly informative and incredibly relevant to my line of work. If you are a Controller or VP of Finance, this is a must-take.

4
Member's Profile
This was excellent, great content and it was done in a reasonable amount of time. I passed the exam on the first try so I was obviously able to retain the information well. Thank you!

5
Anonymous Author
I was familiar with some of the material before (ratios, some concepts), but it was interesting to see it all put together, and I also learned some new things about cash management.

5
Member's Profile
Rob was extremely well spoken and the content was well thought out, organized and logical. This course was great affirmation of my current understanding of managing cash flow.

5
Anonymous Author
The course was expansive and was laid out in a very organized, simple manner. A great deal of material is covered, but is summarized well and is easy to digest.

5
Member's Profile
So far my favorite presenter. The course was easy to understand although complex and he brought in some humor during dry cash flow definitions. 10 out of 10!

5
Anonymous Author
Great course. Really made me think twice about how my company is managing our cash flow and how we can more effectively manage our cash conversion cycle.

5
Anonymous Author
This is an excellent course with practical and thorough tips to managing cash flow. The instructor is knowledgeable and entertaining. I learned a lot.

5
Anonymous Author
Course was informative and met the objectives. I learned a few things and some was a review. Instructor was knowledgable and easy to follow.

5
Member's Profile
The course was interesting and effective. The course met stated objectives. The course had a good practical application to cash management.

5
Anonymous Author
Great course and to the point. Lesson plan and slides were well put together and very informative. I would recommend this course to others.

4
Anonymous Author
I enjoyed this course. It was a bit outside my wheelhouse, but the trainer did a good job of trying to keep things at my level as well.

5
Anonymous Author
Outstanding course and a terrific instructor. He went through all of what you need to focus on to manage cash in your business.

5
Anonymous Author
Good insight into what a good cash flow analysis can do for a company. It can help with financing strategy and set objectives.

5
Anonymous Author
Good examples and nice flow of the presentation . Good idea for anyone who deals with cash flows or is looking to understand.

5
Anonymous Author
Good overview of cash management concepts for finance accounting minded business leaders and a good refresher for accountants

5
Anonymous Author
Rob does a great job in the Managing Cash Flow course in discussing practical steps to take for increasing cash flow.

5
Anonymous Author
This was a thorough overview of the entire cash flow process and I really appreciated the section on managing cash.

5
Member's Profile
This course was very easy to understand for someone who doesn't work in accounting. The topics were outlined well.

5
Anonymous Author
Great course! Helpful tips and I am going to use the ratios for analysis to our cash flow statement and forecasts.

5
Anonymous Author
Extremely helpful in making the connection between ratios and projections and how that affects business decisions.

5
Anonymous Author
This was a more interesting training. I felt the concepts were easy to understand and follow through the course.

5
Anonymous Author
I appreciated the detailed information on managing cash flow. The supporting material is also a great resource.

5
Member's Profile
Great instructor and overview of cash management. This sits somewhere between a broad overview and a deep dive.

5
Anonymous Author
This is an EXCELLENT course for a finance manager, controller, or CFO looking to navigate cash flow issues.

5
Member's Profile
Good content. Straightforward information. Clear exam. Details the benefits of monitoring cash flow.

5
Anonymous Author
A good balance of practical examples and theory introduced in the course. Very easy to follow and learn.

4
Anonymous Author
Thorough review of various metrics. Presenter was professional and helped to explain concepts in detail.

4
Anonymous Author
Great information. A little packed in there, but I'm glad they don't go into the formulas on the test.

5
Member's Profile
Great course - easy to follow and understand with great refreshers on critically important concepts.

5
Anonymous Author
This was one of the better courses I have taken so far on Illumeo. Very well done and informative.

5
Member's Profile
This course included all the essential components of good cash flow management and forecasting.

5
Anonymous Author
I enjoyed this wedinar and learned a lot for my business. Thank you for putting this together.

5
Member's Profile
Very knowledgeable instructor. Provides clear, simplistic approach to understanding cash flow.

5
Anonymous Author
The whole course was helpful. I especially appreciated the "Art of Managing Cash" section.

5
Anonymous Author
This course is a great refresher and tool to have for setting up your cash management tools.

5
Member's Profile
Great primer, great deck, well laid out. Here are extra characters to make it to the 50 min.

4
Anonymous Author
Easy review course worth taking. Need to find some more advanced courses in cash management

5
Anonymous Author
Great review of cash management. Thorough review of effects of lending and equity on cash.

4
Member's Profile
Very good rehash of elemental information and knowledge. Very useful for small businesses.

5
Anonymous Author
Useful course for those working in or with small businesses. Thank you to the presenter.

5
Anonymous Author
This is a great and detailed course for beginners on how to manage cash flow effectively.

5
Anonymous Author
I would recommend this to anyone trying to learn more about cash flow. Very informative

3
Member's Profile
The videos are extremely dense with material and really should be a much longer course.

4
Anonymous Author
A lot of "not" questions in the exam makes it unnecessarily difficult to work through.

5
Anonymous Author
Not a bad course, moves to different topics quickly and a lot of notes to be taken.

5
Anonymous Author
Really great course. Applicable to almost all businesses. Good instructional flow.

5
Anonymous Author
Very informative and the slides were very detailed. Very thorough with the basics.

4
Anonymous Author
Great course offering perspective on the lifeblood of a business--cash. Thanks!

5
Anonymous Author
very interesting course by a very good trainer. I recommend taking this course.

5
Anonymous Author
Speaker speaks in a very clear cadence. Examples are very good. Exam is fair.

5
Member's Profile
I work with cash flow projections on a regular basis and this was a nice recap

4
Anonymous Author
it was a good refresher course on cash flows and the statement of cash flows

5
Anonymous Author
Good course for small and growing businesses. Instructor felt really engaged.

5
Member's Profile
This webinar is very educational. Thank you for the opportunity to view it.

5
Anonymous Author
Great course, clear and concise, would recommend others to take this course

5
Anonymous Author
Good cash flow management course with a number of good real life examples.

5
Member's Profile
Thanks. I would love to have a PDF of the Formulas used in the class.

5
Member's Profile
Very good explanations. Clear ans simple even for a non-native speaker!

5
Anonymous Author
Very interesting course. Rob was a good speaker and had great examples.

5
Anonymous Author
This is a good course for accountants to understand corporate finance.

4
Member's Profile
Good overview of the subject material. Covered all the major points.

5
Anonymous Author
Very good, lots of good info. I plan on rewatching this at some point

5
Anonymous Author
Great class. Highly relevant and useful tools for future reference.

5
Anonymous Author
I really liked the flow of the training and the slides. Thank you!

5
Member's Profile
Great course. Went by quickly and had a lot of useful information.

5
Member's Profile
Excellent presenter. The banking viewpoint was especially helpful.

4
Anonymous Author
This was a comprehensive overview that was definitely helpful.

5
Anonymous Author
Really good overview of this topic, with very useful tidbits.

5
Member's Profile
This course was a really good refresher on cashflow concepts!

5
Anonymous Author
Engaging and informative. Great tools and good presentation.

3
Anonymous Author
I learned alot from this course. It was very informative.

5
Member's Profile
Most of this was common sense and it was a good refresher.

5
Member's Profile
Good course on cash management and everything it entails.

5
Anonymous Author
Comprehensive coverage of topic on cash flow management.

5
Anonymous Author
Great class - lots of valuable information for non CFOs.

5
Anonymous Author
great refresher course about the importance of cash flows

4
Member's Profile
Excellent content this will be so helpful for my clients

5
Member's Profile
nice summaries that are simple and easy to understand.

5
Anonymous Author
Well explained and supported with real world examples.

5
Anonymous Author
This course provides a good intro to cash management.

5
Anonymous Author
Great course on cash flow management. Would recommend

5
Anonymous Author
The course was easy to follow and to understand.

Prerequisites
Course Complexity: Intermediate

No advanced preparation or prerequisites are required for this course.

Education Provider Information
Company: Illumeo, Inc., 75 East Santa Clara St., Suite 1215, San Jose, CA 95113
Contact: For more information regarding this course, including complaint and cancellation policies, please contact our offices at (408) 400- 3993 or send an e-mail to .
Instructor for this course
Course Syllabus
INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW
  Introduction to Managing Cash Flow4:50
  Cash Flow Basics8:57
WHERE BUSINESS GET CASH
  Where Businesses get Cash3:51
  Cash Conversion Cycle6:00
  The Three Tanks of Cash2:31
ANALYZING PAST CASH FLOW
  Statement of Cash Flows5:06
  Metrics: Working Capital and Cash Conversion Cycle6:28
  Metrics: EBITDA and Free Cash Flows5:28
  Tips on Monitoring Cash5:30
DEBT AND EQUITY FUNDING
  Loans10:11
  Other Types of Debt5:10
  Equity4:52
  Everything in Between3:41
THE ART OF MANAGING CASH
  Benefits of Cash Flow Forecasts and Projection6:42
  Creating a Cash Flow Projection4:24
  Speed Up Cash Inflows8:51
  Slow Down Cash Outflows7:02
  Managing Debt and Equity8:28
  Managing Excess Cash9:39
  Cash and Growth6:59
  Conclusion4:24
CONTINUOUS PLAY
  Managing Cash Flow2:08:56
SUPPORTING MATERIAL
  Slides: Managing Cash FlowPDF
  Managing Cash Flow Glossary/ IndexPDF
REVIEW AND TEST
  REVIEW QUESTIONSquiz
 FINAL EXAMexam