Enterprise restructuring is a phrase that is no longer unfamiliar to the business world, especially in the current volatile economic context. However, not everyone clearly understands this process, as well as how to do it effectively.
Bizzi had the opportunity to meet and share with financial expert Le Trung Nam - who has many years of experience in the field of corporate restructuring in the first episode of the podcast series The CashfFlow - Decoding management secrets cash flow.
Through episode 1 - "Reviving" businesses thanks to restructuring solutions, Mr. Le Trung Nam will help us better understand the difficulties and challenges that businesses often encounter, as well as solutions to "revitalize" businesses. filter dirty blood, pump clean blood", helping businesses overcome crises and develop sustainably.
With vivid real-life examples and sharp analysis, expert Le Trung Nam will give us a comprehensive and in-depth view of the business restructuring process. This will be a useful source of information for business owners, managers, as well as those interested in the business field.
We invite you to follow this article to discover the secrets of business restructuring from expert Le Trung Nam!
A business with a capital of hundreds of billions "revives" after 6 months: It's a joke
The story of a joint venture enterprise with capital of hundreds of billions, which was at risk of collapse due to ineffective financial management, is a typical example showing the importance of cash flow management and the use of tools. appropriate management.
The fact that this business only relies on simple accounting software has left them without an overview of their financial situation, leading to the inability to control revenues and expenditures, liabilities... In short, the business has fallen into the situation of "the wind entering an empty house" due to poor financial management.
Expert Le Trung Nam began "rescuing" the business by setting up a temporary cash management system on Google Sheet for real-time management. Thereby, businesses have a clearer view of cash flow and make more accurate decisions. After only 6 months, the business has stabilized, controlled cash flow and started to grow. After 2 years, the business deployed the ERP system for more comprehensive management.
Big businesses, "giants" are vulnerable
Through the above story, expert Le Trung Nam pointed out that the larger the business, the greater the financial risk. As business scale increases, cash flow management becomes more complex and financial risks also increase. Dependence on large loans from banks, if not strictly managed, can become a "double-edged sword".
Another example is the case of a large real estate corporation in Vietnam. Due to rapid expansion, this group has borrowed thousands of billions of dong from banks. When the real estate market encountered difficulties, the group could not repay debt on time, leading to the bank confiscating its debt and having to sell off assets to "hold on".
He emphasized the importance of three main pillars in business: finance, customers and human resources. Finance is the "blood" of a business. Without blood, the business will not be healthy.
Watch full episode 1: Reviving businesses thanks to restructuring solutions | The CashFlow
Warning signs of weakened financial health - Don't let "lose a cow to build a barn"
A business with weak financial health will have clear signs such as lacking cash, having to manage to pay debts, losing credibility with partners and losing good personnel.
In particular, lack of cash is one of the clearest signs that a business's financial health is in trouble. However, many businesses only focus on book profits and ignore this important factor.
Expert Le Trung Nam shared: "Businesses are profitable, but the profits on the books are very high. In the end, because there was no money, to pay off due debts, assets had to be liquidated and almost all previous efforts became meaningless."
To avoid falling into a situation where businesses need to regularly monitor important financial indicators such as:
- High debt to equity ratio: shows that businesses are relying heavily on loans to finance business activities, increasing financial risks.
- Slow working capital turnover: This means that the business is having difficulty converting assets into cash to pay short-term debts.
- Reduced revenue and profits: The clearest sign that a company's business operations are facing difficulties.
This is like a regular health check, helping to detect abnormal signs early and take timely intervention measures.
Financial "doctor" - Not just "prescribing medicine"
The role of a financial consultant in the business restructuring process is not simply to provide financial solutions. They are also companions with businesses, helping businesses understand problems, find the root causes and build sustainable development strategies.
Financial advisors act as "doctors" to help businesses "cure" their financial illnesses. In this case, a good financial consultant not only has extensive professional knowledge, but also must be able to communicate, negotiate and persuade relevant parties. They help businesses handle numerical problems and negotiate with creditors, suppliers and banks to find the best solution for the business.
When should you "refuse treatment"?
Financial consultants cannot always "save" a business. There are cases where the "disease" is so severe that it is no longer possible to cure.
Expert Le Trung Nam said that he once rejected businesses that were at too late a stage, had no time left to process, or had a management structure that was too complicated, with no decisive decision-maker. When there is no consensus among stakeholders, restructuring becomes difficult.
The decision to refuse to restructure a business is not an easy one for any consultant. However, in some cases, refusal is necessary to avoid negative consequences for both parties.
Therefore, choosing the right time and seeking support from a financial advisor is very important. Don't wait until your "illness" has gotten worse to see a "doctor", by then it may be too late.
Seize the "golden time" to restructure your business
Time is an important factor in business restructuring. The earlier problems are detected and timely interventions are taken, the better the business's chance of recovery. However, this "golden time" does not have any specific criteria, but depends on the cash flow situation of each business.
Therefore, choosing the right time and seeking support from a financial advisor is very important. Don't wait until your "illness" has gotten worse to see a "doctor", by then it may be too late.
How to find the right "doctor" and avoid meeting "quacks"?
To find a suitable financial advisor, businesses should consult with experienced people, learn about the advisor's expertise and build trust through the process of contact and exchange.
Mr. Le Trung Nam advises businesses to find a "family doctor" even when they are healthy, so that when a problem arises, they can contact them immediately.
How does a business periodically check its financial health?
Regular financial health checks are like regular human health checks, helping to detect potential problems early and take timely corrective measures.
For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), hiring a separate CFO can be a cost burden. However, they can still monitor their own financial health by building a transparent, clear reporting system and separating the business owner's money from the company's money.
- Analyze financial statements: This is the simplest way for businesses to have an overview of their financial situation.
- Use financial indicators: Financial indicators such as debt-to-equity ratio, working capital turnover, profit margin... can help businesses evaluate business performance and detect potential problems.
In addition, SME businesses can also periodically seek advice from financial experts to have an objective and independent view of their financial situation.
The importance of data: "Guidelines" for business decisions
Data is the "life source" of businesses, the foundation for evaluating and making decisions in business restructuring. Therefore, building an accurate and complete data system is extremely important.
Mr. Le Trung Nam emphasized that the first step financial experts need to do is to get real data from the business. Everything the business has. And if they don't have a proper system with tracking records that still work well, the company should still build a standard system.
In short, building and managing an effective data system is an indispensable element for any business. Businesses can use management software, ERP or data analysis tools to collect, process and analyze data scientifically and effectively.
Epilogue
Business restructuring is a complex process and requires perseverance and effort from both businesses and financial advisors. However, with careful preparation, choosing the right "doctor" and seizing the "golden time", businesses can completely overcome difficulties and achieve success when managing cash flow effectively. .
The CashFlow - The first series on Cash Flow Management
The CashFlow is the first podcast series of Bizzi Vietnam. In each issue, The Cashflow will meet and chat with financial experts and business leaders, thereby sharing multi-dimensional perspectives and real-life experiences on topics surrounding Cash Flow Management. The CashFlow wishes to become an open, close connection space to provide useful information and strategies to businesses.
The CashFlow is available on all platforms:
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