CH13. Managing Cash Flow Flashcards
Solid cash management enables a business owner to ________.
A) adequately meet the cash demands of the business
B) avoid retaining unnecessarily large cash balances
C) stretch the profit-generating power of each dollar the business owns
D) All of the above
D
Solid cash management enables a business owner to ________.
A) adequately meet the cash demands of the business
B) avoid retaining unnecessarily large cash balances
C) stretch the profit-generating power of each dollar the business owns
D) All of the above
B
Which of the following statements concerning cash management is false?
A) Cash is the most important, yet least productive, asset a small business owns.
B) Young companies tend to be “cash sponges,” soaking up every available dollar of cash.
C) Fast-growing businesses are least likely to experience shortages.
D) Cash management involves forecasting, collecting, disbursing, investing, and planning for a company’s cash needs.
C
The first step in managing cash more effectively is ________.
A) having an adequate cash reserve for emergency expenditures
B) rapid payment of accounts payable
C) speeding up payment of accounts receivable
D) understanding the company’s cash flow cycle
D
A common cause of business failures is that owners neglect to forecast how much cash their companies will need until they reach the point of generating positive cash flow.
TRUE
The objectives of cash management are to adequately meet the cash demands of the business, to avoid retaining unnecessarily large cash balances, and to stretch the profit-generating power of each dollar the business owns.
TRUE
The goal of cash management is to maintain as much cash as possible on hand to meet any unexpected circumstances that might arise.
FALSE
It is likely that young companies and rapidly growing companies will experience cash flow difficulties.
TRUE
The shorter a company’s cash flow cycle, the more likely it is to encounter a cash crisis.
FALSE
More companies fail for the lack of \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ than for the lack of \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. A) cash; profit B) profit; cash C) net revenue; gross revenue D) vision; profit
A
Which of the following measures a company's liquidity and its ability to pay its bills and other financial obligations on time? A) Cash budget B) Cash flow C) Cash management D) All of the above
B
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ typically lead(s) sales; \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ typically lag(s) sales. A) Production; receivables B) Collections; purchases C) Receipts; production D) Purchases; collections
D
A highly profitable company rarely experiences cash flow problems.
FALSE
Developing a cash forecast is essential for new businesses because early profit levels usually do not generate sufficient cash to keep the company afloat.
TRUE
A highly profitable business is a highly liquid business.
FALSE
Profit is the difference between a company’s total revenue and its total expenses.
TRUE
Compiling the total cash on hand, bank balance, summary of the day’s sales, summary of the day’s cash receipts, and a summary of accounts receivables collections into monthly summaries provides the basis for making reliable cash forecasts.
TRUE
A small company’s cash balance is the difference between total revenue and total expenses.
FALSE
A cash budget reveals important clues about how well a company ________.
A) balances its accounts receivable and accounts payable
B) controls inventory
C) finances its growth
D) All of the above
D
A firm’s cash budget should ________.
A) be prepared on a monthly basis for at least one year in advance and cover all seasonal fluctuations
B) cover a longer planning horizon when a firm’s pattern is highly variable
C) show the amount and timing of cash receipts and cash disbursements on an annual basis
D) show the amount and timing of cash receipts and cash disbursements on a quarterly basis
D
A cash budget ________.
A) is based on the cash method of accounting
B) is a “cash map,” showing the amount and the timing of cash flowing into and out of the business over a given period of time
C) will never be completely accurate since it is based on forecasts
D) All of the above
D
Which of the following is not a step in creating a cash budget?
A) Determining an adequate minimum cash balance.
B) Forecasting profits.
C) Forecasting cash receipts.
D) Forecasting cash disbursements.
B
A cash budget is based on the cash method of accounting, meaning that cash receipts and cash disbursements are recorded in the forecast only when \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ is expected to take place. A) the transaction is predicted B) a credit sale C) the cash transaction D) projections are
C
On March 10th, a business owner receives an invoice from a supplier for $416.27 with "Net 30" credit terms marked on it. On April 7th, the owner writes the supplier a check for $416.27 and mails it. When would this cash disbursement show up on the company's cash budget? A) March 10th B) March 30th C) April 7th D) April 10th
C
Jane is arguing with Joan about how much cash their small retail outlet needs as they prepare their cash budget. Jane feels that with the Christmas season coming, their busiest time, they need more cash available while Joan feels they do not because their sales volume will be up significantly. Jane and Joan are discussing which step of the cash budgeting process?
A) Determining an adequate minimum cash balance
B) Forecasting sales
C) Forecasting cash receipts
D) Forecasting cash disbursements
A
A cash budget is only as accurate as the \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ forecast from which it is derived. A) profit B) receivables C) income D) sales
D
What factors can drastically affect a company's cash flow? A) Increased competition B) Economic swings C) Normal seasonal variations D) All of the above
D
Which of the following would be a potential source of information for preparing a sales forecast?
A) Past records
B) Trade associations and the Chamber of Commerce
C) Similar firms
D) All of the above
D
When a firm sells goods or services on credit, the owner needs to remember that for cash budgeting purposes ________.
A) the sale may be immediately posted as if it has been collected
B) the sale should be recorded in the month it was made
C) she/he must account for a delay between the sale and the actual collection of the proceeds
D) such a transaction counts as a cash disbursement
C
It is recommended that new business owners estimate cash disbursements as best they can and then add on another \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ percent. A) 3-4 B) 5-10 C) 10-25 D) 25-35
C
When estimating the firm’s end-of-month cash balance, the owner should first ________.
A) determine the cash balance at the beginning of the month
B) add up total cash receipts and subtract cash on hand
C) review the accounts receivable
D) make a daily list of cash disbursements
A
The fact that the cash budget illustrates the flow of cash in a business helps the owner to ________.
A) accelerate accounts payable payments
B) get a seasonal line of credit rather than an annual line of credit
C) slow accounts receivable payments
D) track the effects of depreciation and bad debts
B
39) A cash budget allows a small business owner to anticipate cash shortages and cash surpluses and gives her/him time to handle, or even avoid, approaching problems.
TRUE
40) Typically, small business owners should prepare a projected weekly cash budget for at least six months and quarterly estimates for the remainder of the year, being careful to cover all seasonal sales fluctuations.
FALSE
41) A small business whose sales are highly variable, such as a seasonal business, should use a short cash planning horizon.
TRUE
42) The primary problem with cash management tools is that they are too complex and time-consuming for small business owners to use practically.
FALSE
43) In a cash budget, credit sales to customers are recorded at the time the sale is made.
FALSE
44) Depreciation and debt expenses are often left off the cash budget but need to be included to accurately forecast cash requirements for running the business.
FALSE
45) The cash budget is nothing more than a forecast of the firm’s cash inflows and outflows for a specific time period, and it will never be completely accurate.
TRUE
46) The first step in preparing a cash budget is to forecast sales.
FALSE
47) The most reliable method of determining an adequate minimum cash balance is using estimates of similar businesses from trade literature.
FALSE
48) A small firm’s minimum cash balance should be two times its average weekly sales.
FALSE
49) A small company’s ideal minimum cash balance is one month’s sales.
FALSE
50) Because the heart of the cash budget is the sales forecast, the cash budget is only as accurate as the sales forecast on which it is based.
TRUE
51) Since even the best sales forecast will be wrong, the small business owner should prepare three forecasts — optimistic, pessimistic, and most likely.
TRUE
52) A sale to a customer is not really a sale until the business owner actually collects the money from it.
TRUE
53) To project cash receipts, an entrepreneur must analyze accounts receivable to determine the company’s collection pattern.
TRUE
54) The key factor in forecasting cash disbursements for a cash budget is to record them in the month when they are incurred, not when they are paid.
FALSE
55) Some financial analysts recommend that new owners estimate cash disbursements as best they can and then add another 25 to 50 percent of the total.
TRUE
58) By planning cash needs ahead of time, a small business is able to achieve all but which of the following?
A) Make the most efficient use of available cash.
B) Provide the opportunity to forgo quantity and cash discounts.
C) Finance seasonal business needs.
D) Provide funds for expansion.
B
59) The “big three” of cash management include ________.
A) accounts receivable, overhead, and inventory
B) accounts payable, accounts receivable, and taxes
C) accounts receivable, accounts payable, and inventory
D) accounts receivable, prices, and expenses
C
60) Experts estimate that \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ percent of industrial and wholesale sales are on credit, while \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ percent of retail sales are on credit. A) 20; 40 B) 40; 20 C) 60; 30 D) 90; 40
D