Many a small business owner struggles with the commercial side of things - selling and cashflow. The issue is that many people start a business because they are competent at their chosen profession, but this does not mean they turn into a successful small business entrepreneur. In reality, to run a business involves a completely different skill set, and there’s no getting away from the fact that selling is a major part of the jigsaw.

A business lives and dies by the number of sales it makes and the profitability of each sale. I have known several businesses owners who have failed because they have not really worked out what the true cost of a sale actually is.

There are often surprise costs which are not taken into account. You only need to watch a couple of episodes of The Apprentice to see that this happens, and although we may all sit and laugh at the contestants from the safety of our arm chairs, the truth is that I know very few businesses who really know the true numbers. Yes, their accountants may give them a set of reports every yes, but that doesn’t mean they know how to interpret them, or can be bothered to, or sometimes they are just too scared to face them.

If any of this relates to you then you are putting your business, your home and your family’s financial security at risk and it is time to take action.

If you are a small business entrepreneur, then you will find more useful hints and tips at blog.brightdimension.co.uk.