Calculating operating cash flow: complete guide

Posted on August 25, 2023November 7, 2025 by stagiaire

Calculating operating cash flow: complete guide

As an entrepreneur, you know that cash flow is the lifeblood of your business. Positive cash flow can pave the way to success, while negative cash flow can quickly plunge you into a financial crisis. Let's talk about the importance of operational cash flow and how you can calculate and improve it.

What is cash flow and how do you calculate it?

Cash flow is the net change in cash of a company during a given period. It includes all income and expenses, both incoming and outgoing cash flows. You can calculate cash flow by subtracting total income from total expenses. However, how you calculate this cash flow depends on the type of cash flow you are interested in, such as operating, free, or other forms of cash flow.

How do you calculate operating cash flow?

To calculate operating cash flow, you can use several methods. A common formula is:

Operating cash flow = profit +- working capital + depreciation & amortisation

So this calculation takes into account both net income, depreciation and changes in working capital. Here, net income represents all income minus expenses. Depreciation is a cost that is included in profit but has no direct impact on the amount of cash. Working capital refers to current assets and liabilities; an increase in working capital is deducted because it means less cash available.

Are you looking for ways to improve your cash flow? Contact me and I will send the "Cash flow improver" with more than 40 tips to increase your peace of mind.

How can you improve operating cash flow?

1. Quick billing:

Make sure invoices are sent soon after delivering a product or service.

2. Efficient inventory management:

Minimise excess inventory to optimise your working capital.

3. Adjusting payment terms:

Negotiate longer payment terms with suppliers and offer customers discounts for prompt payments.

4. Good turnover management:

Increasing sales can also lead to a positive impact on operating cash flow.

5. Projections:

By making good forecasts, you can better estimate future cash flows and adjust your investments and spending accordingly.

Your company's liquidity and equity are strongly influenced by your operating cash flow. A strong operating cash flow provides more room for investment and reduces the need to raise debt, ultimately leading to a healthier financial future for your business.

What is the significance of this calculation?

Calculating and understanding your operating cash flow is crucial to the success and growth of your business. Conscious attention to factors affecting your cash flow, combined with proactive steps, can lead to financial stability and growth.

Want to regain control of your cash flow? Contact me and download the "Cashflow improver" guide

Kurt Vervloet

Kurt Vervloet is a business coach, blogger and speaker. Since 2017, he has been coaching businesses around the world, ranging from solo entrepreneurs, SME companies to executive management teams at large organisations. His clients choose to work with him because of my proven, no-nonsense approach to optimising and scaling businesses. By achieving great results with his clients, he has already been rewarded with several Awards.

How can I keep my staff in line?

Posted on August 5, 2023November 7, 2025 by webit

How can I keep my staff in line?

Retaining Your Employees:
The Art of Keeping Them Engaged and Motivated

In today's competitive job market, it is becoming increasingly essential for employers to find effective ways to retain their top talent. Losing valuable employees can not only be a blow to productivity and morale but can also result in significant financial costs for recruitment and training. Therefore, it is crucial for employers to focus on keeping their staff engaged and motivated. This article explores strategies to achieve this, ultimately helping you build a loyal and committed workforce.

Nurturing a Positive Work Culture: Strategies for Encouraging Employee Loyalty

Creating a positive work culture is the foundation for fostering employee loyalty. When employees feel valued and respected, they are more likely to develop a deeper sense of commitment towards their work and the organisation. One effective strategy is to promote open and transparent communication. Encouraging employees to voice their opinions and concerns can make them feel heard and valued. Regular team meetings, one-on-one check-ins, and suggestion boxes are great ways to facilitate this open dialogue.

Another crucial aspect of nurturing a positive work culture is recognising and rewarding employee contributions. Celebrating achievements, both big and small, can go a long way in boosting morale and making employees feel appreciated. Offering opportunities for professional growth and development is also essential. Providing training programmes, mentorship opportunities, and career advancement prospects can show employees that their growth and success are valued within the organisation. By fostering a positive work culture, you can create an environment where employees are more likely to stay engaged and loyal.

Boosting Employee Morale:
Uncovering Effective Techniques to Keep Your Staff Happy

Boosting employee morale is crucial for maintaining a motivated and productive workforce. One effective technique is to create a work-life balance. Encouraging flexible working hours, remote work options, or even implementing wellness programmes can help employees feel supported and reduce burnout. Additionally, promoting a sense of camaraderie and teamwork can significantly impact employee morale. Organising team-building activities, social events, or simply providing a space for employees to connect and collaborate can foster a positive and enjoyable work environment.

Regularly soliciting feedback and involving employees in decision-making processes can also boost morale. Employees feel more engaged and valued when they have a say in shaping the organisation's direction. Furthermore, implementing recognition programmes can create a sense of achievement and motivation. Acknowledging outstanding performance through awards, public recognition, or even small tokens of appreciation can make employees feel valued and motivated to excel. By focusing on boosting employee morale, you can create a workplace that employees are excited to be a part of.

Retaining employees is a critical challenge faced by organizations worldwide. By nurturing a positive work culture, implementing strategies to encourage employee loyalty, and boosting morale, employers can increase their chances of retaining their valuable staff. Remember, engaged and motivated employees are more likely to contribute to the success and growth of the organisation. By investing in your employees' well-being and showing them that their work is valued, you can build a dedicated and loyal workforce that will help your organisation thrive in the long run.

Kurt Vervloet

What is psychological pricing?

Posted on June 30, 2023November 7, 2025 by stagiaire

What is psychological pricing?

Psychological pricing is a method by which companies manipulate the perception of prices to boost sales. The concept of psychological pricing is based on the theory that certain prices have a greater psychological impact on consumers than others.

Why is psychological pricing important?

Psychological pricing is important because it can change the way consumers perceive the value of a product. If you start introducing psychological pricing, you will find that consumers are more likely to buy and spend more money.

Psychological pricing example

Let's look at an example of psychological pricing. Imagine a product priced at €9.99 instead of €10.00. Even though the price difference is barely noticeable, the lower price can make the product more attractive to potential customers. The consumer sees the first lower figure and subconsciously thinks it is a better deal.

What are the pricing strategies?

Price anchoring: Use a more expensive product as a comparison

By using a more expensive product or service as a reference, the perceived value can be increased. For example, a company can offer a 'premium' package with a higher price to make the standard package more attractive.

Product bundling: offering more for less money

By selling multiple products or services together at a lower price than the individual items, a company can increase perceived value. This can entice the consumer to buy more than originally planned. The psychological effect here is: suddenly, the customer is going to see many more benefits in buying.

Charm Pricing: rounding prices

We gave this example above and it is the standard example of a psychological price. Using prices ending in .99 or .95, such as €9.99 instead of a round €10, can create the feeling that the price is lower. This can increase the attractiveness of the product and encourage customers to buy.

Price differentiation

This is offering different price points for different segments of customers. Do you serve sole traders as well as larger companies? Then it might be an idea to provide lower prices for small sole traders.

Temporary offers

Creating a sense of urgency and scarcity through temporary discounts, limited offers or flash sales. This can encourage customers to buy faster and increase the perception of value.

Free product

Offering free products can also be part of psychological pricing strategies. Offering a free product with the purchase of another product can make consumers feel they are getting a good deal, which can influence their buying decision.

In doubt about a particular price?

In an increasingly competitive market, it is vital for companies to use their pricing strategies effectively to boost sales. Want to strategically increase your sales and sell more? I am happy to look at how we can make this happen and conduct my consumer research each time.

Kurt Vervloet

Inform customers announce price increase

Posted on June 1, 2023November 7, 2025 by stagiaire

Inform customers announce price increase

As a company, if you want to announce a price increase to your customers, it is important to inform them clearly. Honesty is key here. Customers also know that you do not announce price increases for your pleasure. Explain to them why the price increase is necessary and emphasise the benefits they will get, such as a larger product range or improved services. Also use the Unique Selling Propositions you have defined.

Use every conversation to your advantage

Customer is king, that's obvious. So take the time to address all your customers' questions and concerns. Announcing a price increase will often cause many customers to request a call. Use this to your advantage: emphasise how good your services are, take the time for each client, and possibly suggest new services to further increase revenue per client.

Defer price increase for existing customers

Communicate the increase in new, higher prices that apply immediately to new customers. For existing customers, in turn, you can say that they will get preferential treatment and the new prices will only take effect in 3 months. This way, existing customers actually get preferential treatment.

Personalise the message

Every contact likes to feel respected and appreciated. So if you send a generic message to every customer, it will come across worse than if you personalise the message. So use the contact's company name and first name in the message.

Example inform customers - announce price increase

"Dear [First name],

We value our cooperation and pride ourselves on the quality of our services. Our goal has always been to provide the best value and we obviously remain focused on that.

However, due to a number of factors, including rising operating costs, we find it necessary to make an adjustment to our pricing structure. This adjustment is a necessary step to maintain the quality and level of service you have come to expect from us.

We understand that a price increase is never pleasant news. Therefore, we have taken an approach that takes into account our loyal customers like [Company Name Customer] as much as possible. While the new prices will apply immediately to new customers, they will not take effect for you until three months from now.

We hope you understand that this price increase allows us to further invest in our services to even better meet your needs. Also in the future, we want to continue to surprise you with improvements in our product range and services.

We value your opinion immensely. If you have any questions or concerns, or would like to talk about how we can further help you get the most out of our products and services, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are always ready to answer any questions you may have.

Sincerely,

Kurt"

Kurt Vervloet

Financial plan example Excel

Posted on June 1, 2023July 22, 2025 by stagiaire

Financial plan example Excel

It is crucial for any business to have a well thought out financial plan. Your business will simply not succeed if there is no money and a clear revenue forecast. In fact, based on fixed and variable costs, you can start calculating how much turnover you need to turn over to break even. This way, you know in advance how much turnover you need to turn over each month to get out of costs. Our Excel financial plan example will help you with this.

Download our financial plan sample

You can access a Google Sheet of our financial plan example via the Google Drive link above. You can also copy this to your own Google Drive, share it with others or download it as Excel.

Download fincancial plan example excel

Why is it important to have a financial plan?

A financial plan ensures that you think about your costs, product and services. Based on this, you can also adjust your asking price to still break even. When starting a company or to get loans, it is often also mandatory to present a financial plan.

Why is breaking even a must?

The break-even point is the point at which total revenues equal total costs. In other words, it is the point at which you make no profit or loss. Calculating the break-even point is important to determine when a business will become profitable. In your financial plan, this calculation helps you set realistic goals and develop strategies to reach those goals.

What's in a financial plan?

A financial plan is divided into the following aspects:

Investments

Funding

Under the funding section, enter your own input. Can't get there with your own contribution? Then you can also take out a loan and mention this below.

Turnover forecast

In sales forecasting, you predict how much turnover you will make per product or service you offer. Try to base this on a normal year.

Break-even turnover

After all the previous steps, we have a view of the expected turnover and all the costs needed for your business. Our excel now simply calculates how much turnover you actually need to break even.

How does our excel example work?

You can use our 'financial plan excel example' here download with a simple click and start filling in.

If you would like help or advice on filling it out, you can always contact me without obligation.

Kurt Vervloet

How to recruit staff?

Posted on June 1, 2023November 7, 2025 by webit

How to recruit staff?

If you want to build a successful business, it is also essential to have an engaged and committed team. A motivated and passionate team will work more efficiently, ensure better results and therefore ensure satisfied customers. Below we describe some ways to recruit staff.

How to recruit staff in Flanders?

Use of job boards

You can consult the largest job board for free: that of the VDAB. Here you can publish your vacancy free of charge. In the vacancy text, try to highlight the enthusiasm, plus points and core values of your company in advance

LinkedIn is also popular as a job board, but did you know that on LinkedIn you can also just search for people with a particular job title? You can simply add them and send them a message. Beware: there is currently a limit on this, though. With the free version of LinkedIn, you can only invite about 100 people to connect each week.

Networking

Go to events and talk to like-minded souls - they can take your business to the next level too! Do you already have an extensive network? Contact them to ask if they know anyone for the job. You can also always post a job description via your LinkedIn or Facebook.

Recruitment and selection agencies

Does it involve a hard-to-find profile? It might be interesting to contact a recruitment agency specialising in your niche. In doing so, try to negotiate and pay the recruitment fee over several months: if the staff then end up not being suitable and leave after a few months, you will end up paying much less.

Many recruitment agencies also operate as employment agencies. This way, you can also test an employee to see if they ultimately meet your expectations.

Persuading trainees

How often do you hear that a student intern ends up working at their internship site? Maybe this is a good idea for your business too. This is a win-win situation: the intern learns from and also gets to know your company, and you know what kind of meat you have in the hen.

As you can see, there are several ways to recruit suitable staff. It can be a challenging process, but it is crucial for the growth of your business.

Kurt Vervloet

Selling a business: how to get started?

Posted on April 11, 2023November 7, 2025 by stagiaire

Selling a business: how to get started?

Do you want to sell your business sooner or later? Then it is best to prepare well. In this article, you will discover how to attract the right buyers for your business. We will show you how to make yourself redundant. That way, you are guaranteed to get more money when you sell your business.

Like most entrepreneurs, you probably have an emotional attachment to your business. Whether you founded it yourself, acquired it or grew it, it is and will always be your baby. And yet, sooner or later, you will have to say goodbye. By selling your business, it will live on and you will keep a nice sum. Ideal for your old (or still young) days.

But how do you get started? With the 5 tips below, you can easily sell your business for the highest possible price.

Selling business tips 1: Make yourself redundant

Most entrepreneurs are constantly busy with their business. Sales, marketing, HR, logistics, ... them
want to control everything themselves. That way, they can be sure that everything runs as it should. Does this sound recognisable? And
is that really why you became an entrepreneur: even more headaches and even less time for
yourself?

Fortunately, it can be done differently. By relinquishing control, you make yourself redundant to your
business. With the right people managing your company's crucial processes, you strengthen the
fundamentals of your business. This will make your business much more interesting to potential buyers.

Sell business tip 2: Create efficient business processes

To sell your business, it needs to work efficiently. Therefore, map and align all business processes. A visual flow chart helps to identify pitfalls and opportunities and set the right priorities.

Provide clearly defined job descriptions and roles. Create manuals that describe each role, position, team and department, including their duties and responsibilities. Then cross-train your employees so they can take over various tasks when needed. This will keep your business running, even in unforeseen circumstances.

Sell business tip 3: Keep innovating continuously

Want to showcase your business in a positive way? Then make sure it continuously evolves with the times. Therefore, regularly ask yourself the following questions:

Do our offers still meet the market?
What can we do to reach more customers?
How can we positively differentiate ourselves from our competitors?
What can we do to sell more?
How can we make our processes more efficient?
What can we do to cut costs?

Continuously innovating your business keeps it flexible and more resilient to unexpected market changes. This makes selling your business a lot easier.

Sell business tip 4: Build a super team

Your business, that's your people. Your team keeps your business running. Only with good teamwork, will you achieve good results. A team achieves so much more when it works well together than the individual members of this team achieve alone.

Want to get the most out of your team? Then first formulate a clear mission, vision and code of ethics. That way, all noses point in the same direction. When a team shares the company mission and vision with a common sense of ambition and passion, it gains clout and will achieve better results.

As an owner, you then no longer have to step on the field yourself. This is also very interesting for potential buyers of your business.

Sell business tip 5: Appoint someone as director

When your business structure is in place, your processes are efficient and your team knows perfectly well what needs to be done and can also execute it independently, you can take a step back as an entrepreneur. By appointing someone else as director, you can completely remove yourself from your business.

Thanks to the good functioning of your business with clear responsibilities, there is probably a good candidate to be found in your current team. Now everything is ready for a successful business sale.

By giving the reins to someone else, you achieve a higher level of personal pleasure and financial rewards. This is how you realise the power of true freedom.

Want to get your business ready for sale?

Want to sell your business so you can live the life of your dreams? ActionCOACH helps entrepreneurs and business owners how to get their business ready for sale. With our individual coaching and mentoring programmes, we help you tackle all the challenges successfully.

Kurt Vervloet

Recruiting staff - right talent for your business

Posted on April 11, 2023November 7, 2025 by webit

Recruiting staff - right talent for your business

Finding new employees, it remains one of the biggest challenges for many companies. Ideal staff are scarce and competition is fierce. So how do you still find the right talent for your business? In this article, we will tell you how to profile yourself as an attractive employer and what you need to do to recruit the right staff.

Do you want to find the best employees for your company? Then, first of all, make sure you are an attractive company for potential candidates. A promising job ad that makes people enthusiastic to apply for a job with you is indispensable for this. But, it is best to start at the beginning...

Staff recruitment tip 1: Make your mission, vision and values clear

More and more people are looking for an employer that promotes the same values as themselves. They find it important that a company pursues a positive mission. Therefore, as a company, it is important to define and communicate an inspiring mission, a clear vision and strong values. This way, you can attract new employees who identify with your company and are therefore extra motivated.

Hiring staff tip 2: Invest in your company culture

Establishing your mission and vision is not enough. You need to ensure that everyone in your organisation knows them, feels them and lives them. Your employees need to be imbued with them. To achieve that, mere words are not enough.

To ensure that every individual in your organisation pursues the corporate mission, it is best to create culture points as a guide for good cooperation. Business leaders, managers and team leaders should lead by example and actively promote these culture points.

At ActionCOACH, we work according to 14 culture points, such as commitment, integrity, collaboration, excellence and gratitude.

Staff recruitment tip 3: Vacancy text that makes your mouth water

The job description can make or crack your recruitment process. If your vacancy text is unconvincing, the chances of finding the ideal candidate are slim. Conversely, if your job description appeals to and inspires people, the pool of applicants, and the chances of finding the ideal new colleague among them, will be a lot higher.

Tips for writing a successful job ad:

Describe the job content, desired profile, and expectations.
Tell enough about your business and make it inspiring with your mission and vision.
Let your corporate culture shine through in the text.
Write for your target audience and adjust your tone accordingly.
Be honest and clear.
Make your job posting stand out by adding playful or funny elements, for example.
If necessary, add a nice quote from an enthusiastic employee.
Set yourself up reachable for questions.
Clearly include instructions on how to apply and include your contact details.

Staff recruitment tip 4: Spread the rumour

A good job posting is one thing, but if nobody gets to see it, it is wasted effort. So make sure as many people as possible know that you are looking for a new colleague. Share your vacancy on your own website and social media channels, but also in groups where there are many potentially interesting candidates.

Also disseminate your vacancy through job platforms, such as Indeed, Stepstone and the VDAB website.

If necessary, also make a vacancy video in which you give candidates an immediate impression of your working environment or in which you also let colleagues speak.

Staff recruitment tip 5: Organise a trial day

Job applicants sometimes dare to hide the truth. Want to be sure what kind of meat you have in the barrel before hiring someone? Then invite the candidate to a trial day (or half-day). Let him work in your team and see how he cooperates with colleagues. Ask your team for feedback afterwards. That way you will immediately have a good idea about your future new employee.

Want more tips on how to grow your business?

Do you have ambitions with your business but could still use help to grow further? ActionCOACH helps entrepreneurs and business owners tackle all challenges successfully. We do this with individual coaching and guidance programmes tailored to your business.

Kurt Vervloet

Selling online - what others aren't telling you

Posted on April 11, 2023November 7, 2025 by stagiaire

Selling online - what others aren't telling you

Selling online, many see it as the Valhalla for their business, but is it. It is true that you can reach a large audience online, but there is also a lot of competition. That's why you need to be smart about your online sales. In this article, we will give you some tips on how to successfully sell online.

According to a research by Statistics Flanders among companies with at least 10 employees, 33% of total sales come from online sales. In large enterprises with at least 250 employees, it is as high as 59%. And that share will only grow in the future.

Download our financial plan sample

Why is it important to have a financial plan?

Why is breaking even a must?

Should I start selling online now?

YES... Because more and more consumers as well as businesses are making their purchases online. According to some studies, as much as 95% of all purchases will be made online by 2040. As a forward-looking and ambitious entrepreneur, you cannot ignore that. So you better start thinking sooner rather than later about how to sell your offering online.
NO... Because it's best to think it through first. Your online sales will only be successful if you do it the right way. That is: according to the right strategy and tailored to your business, your offer and your target audience.

Below, we give you lots of practical tips to make your online sales successful.

Selling online tip 1: Analyse your offer

Many entrepreneurs and businesses never start selling online because they think their offerings are not suitable for selling online. But is that really the case? We are all familiar with the idea of buying and selling physical items online. But, services like consulting, coaching and advice can also be sold perfectly online. So don't be too quick to say that your offering is not marketable online.

However, it is advisable to analyse your offer properly before offering it for sale online. Take a critical look at your products and services. Perhaps not all of them are suitable for selling online.

Selling online tip 2: Define your niche

Think about where your services fit in the market and how you differentiate yourself from the competition. If your company offers services, you may aim to reach as many potential customers as possible by offering a wide range of basic services at affordable prices. But, you can also choose to offer only higher-priced specialised services in a certain segment.

Selling online tip 3: Know your target audience

To reach your ideal clients, you first need to know who they are. That is why it is important to define your ideal customer very precisely. That way, you can be much more responsive to their needs.

The goal is to make your ideal buyer as human as possible. You have to present him as a real person. Therefore, define the following characteristics:

Age
Gender
Relationship status
Number of children
Monthly income
Education level
Hobbies and interests
Books and magazines he reads
Brands or influencers he follows
Problems, frustrations and fears (regarding your offer)
Dreams and goals
Places where he often attends and obtains information (blogs, seminars, books, forums, ...)
Preferred communication channels
Specific language and words he uses
...

This list is not exhaustive and depends on the ideal buyer himself. The representation of your ideal buyer should become super specific.

Selling online tip 4: Define your strategy

People often mistakenly think that they can only sell online with their own webshop. However, there are several ways to sell online. We list the main sales opportunities:

Own webshop/website

Many companies have their own webshop. Sometimes it is part of their website, but it can also be completely separate. With your own webshop, you are completely free to sell online the way you want. A major disadvantage of having your own webshop is the cost of development and maintenance.

Online marketplaces

There are a lot of online marketplaces such as eBay, Amazon, Alibaba, Etsy or Stream. Many companies sell exclusively through these channels. It costs you nothing in terms of development or maintenance. On the other hand, you have much less freedom in terms of design and user experience.

DIY e-commerce platforms

There are also e-commerce platforms like Shopify and BigCommerce, which let you quickly and easily create an online shop on their domain. So you don't have to pay to develop an expensive website yourself, and you can usually customise the design and branding.

Social networks

Nowadays, you can also sell online via social networks. With Facebook Shop, you can quickly create a Facebook shop page to sell your products. You don't even need to have an existing online shop. You can also sell online via other social networks such as Twitter and Instagram.

Online selling tip 5: Deploy multiple marketing channels

Once your online shop is ready, you need to bring your offer to the attention of your target audience. Time for marketing, then. We always recommend using several marketing channels at the same time. That way, you reach many more people and people will see your message several times. And the power of repetition also works in marketing.

Choose the marketing channels that best suit your brand and your ideal customer:

SEO

Most people start any purchase on the internet. Through search engines like Google, they are directed to websites that best match their search term. With search engine optimisation (SEO), your webshop ends up high in the search results. This is how you attract more visitors.

Social media

Facebook, LinkedIn, Snapchat, Twitter, Instagram, ... Social platforms are ideal for reaching many people at once. Build your own community with hashtags and boost your organic reach.

Paid ads on social media

Social ads on Facebook, Instagram or other social media are ideal for attracting new customers, encouraging people to download an application and for remarketing. With social ads, you also have a wide range of targeting options. Because social platforms hold a lot of information about their users, you can target your ads very specifically.

Google ads

With ads in Google, you are immediately visible to customers who are specifically looking for your offer.

Content marketing

With blogs, podcasts and YouTube videos, profile yourself as an expert in your field. Make your voice heard and share your expertise. Then make people curious about your offerings.

Word of mouth

Encourage customers to share their experience with your brand with their network.

Even more (online) sales?

Starting to sell online is just one way to make your business even more successful. Do you want to get the most out of your business? At ActionCOACH, we help entrepreneurs and companies build an organisation that will remain successful in the long run.

Kurt Vervloet

Structure in your business - How do you do it?

Posted on April 11, 2023November 7, 2025 by webit

Structure in your business - How do you do it?

Setting up a good organisational structure, it is the beginning of an efficient business operation. Yet for many entrepreneurs, it often remains in the background... until it is too late. In this article, you will discover how you can create a streamlined organisation with a better business structure.

Busy, busy, busy. That's how it goes for entrepreneurs. Is time also your biggest obstacle? Or do things sometimes go haywire because of a communication error? Good organisation solves more than a chaotic work environment: you save time, intercept mistakes in time and create a worry-free workplace for your employees.

Structure your business tip 1: Start right away

To focus on what matters right now, start-ups like to put their organisation on the back burner. The moment you are well and truly gone, you then have no time left to take care of your internal operations. While your company is growing, make sure it is structured right away. This preparation will bring a lot of benefits when you need it most.

A handy start is a shared planner. In it, you not only keep track of your own calendar, but also see your staff's availabilities and vice versa. Your employees know when they can disturb you or schedule appointments. It's a first step towards transparent communication.

Structure your business tip 2: Work in pieces

Already passed Step 1? Then you probably don't have much time to tackle your entire business structure at once. Fortunately, structuring can also be done step by step. Look at which parts of your work process are most in need of reorganisation and how you can take care of them: automate? Outsource? Or shorten the chain?

Always define a concrete objective for each item. Don't say "I want orderly administration", but "by Friday I want to process all the invoices for that week". Then choose the solution that best achieves that goal, for example an invoicing programme that automatically reminds you of that task.

Structure your business tip 3: Give yourself time

The time-honoured expression 'time is money' does not mean never sitting still, but reminds you to use your time as efficiently as possible. Structuring requires time to scrutinise the workings of your business, devise solutions and implement changes. The time you spend doing this may seem like a waste in the short term, but you'll win it back twice over in the long run.

Moreover, quality over quantity. Entrepreneurs often tend to add more and more, whereas improving what you already have is a more cost-effective solution. It ensures that you are not doing half a job, but delivering quality - even when you do decide to expand your business.

Structure your business tip 4: Trust your people

Smooth operations start with driven staff. If you put the right people in the right places, you will automatically create an efficient shop floor. Capitalise on your employees' strengths and listen to them. Maybe your administrative assistant is full of ideas to improve your communication with automated mailing... Give your people the chance to develop their skills, so you can use them in multiple areas.

Structure your business tip 5: Be prepared to change

A good organisational structure does not emerge automatically, especially if your business has been running for a while. You might not find the solution right away and might have to abandon familiar habits to explore alternative processes. Is a shared planner not for you? Then try a weekly meeting with your colleagues where you share agendas together. Be daring and make time to try different things. If you are willing to change, so are your employees.

Structure in your business: the ultimate test

Structuring your business is a long-term job, but achievable for any entrepreneur. Decide what the priorities are for your business and tackle them step by step. Every little bit helps and together build a cohesive whole. When have you succeeded in your set-up? When the business keeps running even without you, you have taken the most important step towards greater efficiency. After that, you can fine-tune.

Want more tips on how to structure your business?

Are you ready for a more efficient operation, but could use some help? ActionCOACH helps entrepreneurs and companies bring more structure to their processes. With individual coaching individual coaching and assistance programmes customised, you will turn your company into a streamlined organisation.

Calculating operating cash flow: complete guide

What is cash flow and how do you calculate it?

How do you calculate operating cash flow?

How can you improve operating cash flow?

What is the significance of this calculation?

Kurt Vervloet

How can I keep my staff in line?

Nurturing a Positive Work Culture: Strategies for Encouraging Employee Loyalty

Boosting Employee Morale: Uncovering Effective Techniques to Keep Your Staff Happy

Kurt Vervloet

What is psychological pricing?

Why is psychological pricing important?

Psychological pricing example

What are the pricing strategies?

In doubt about a particular price?

Kurt Vervloet

Inform customers announce price increase

Use every conversation to your advantage

Defer price increase for existing customers

Personalise the message

Example inform customers - announce price increase

Kurt Vervloet

Financial plan example Excel

Download our financial plan sample

Why is it important to have a financial plan?

Why is breaking even a must?

What's in a financial plan?

How does our excel example work?

Kurt Vervloet

How to recruit staff?

How to recruit staff in Flanders?

Kurt Vervloet

Selling a business: how to get started?

Selling business tips 1: Make yourself redundant

Sell business tip 2: Create efficient business processes

Sell business tip 3: Keep innovating continuously

Sell business tip 4: Build a super team

Sell business tip 5: Appoint someone as director

Want to get your business ready for sale?

Kurt Vervloet

Recruiting staff - right talent for your business

Want more tips on how to grow your business?

Kurt Vervloet

Selling online - what others aren't telling you

Download our financial plan sample

Why is it important to have a financial plan?

Why is breaking even a must?

Should I start selling online now?

Selling online tip 1: Analyse your offer

Selling online tip 2: Define your niche

Selling online tip 3: Know your target audience

Selling online tip 4: Define your strategy

Online selling tip 5: Deploy multiple marketing channels

Even more (online) sales?

Kurt Vervloet

Structure in your business - How do you do it?

Structure in your business: the ultimate test

Want more tips on how to structure your business?

Kurt Vervloet

Boosting Employee Morale:
Uncovering Effective Techniques to Keep Your Staff Happy