5 Ways to Quickly Increase Cash Flow When Business Is Slow

Running a service-based business comes with its own set of challenges and opportunities. One of the biggest obstacles is consistently attracting new inquiries and clients. It is so common for business owners to fall into the feast & famine cycle. You’ll have loads of inquiries one month then crickets the next. But what if there are simple, impactful steps you can take to keep the inquiries rolling in?

In this blog, we will share some tips that will transform how your business operates. Not only will it help you get more organized & efficient, but also bring in some extra revenue too. By the end, you will have tangible tools to make the most of your time when business is slow.

P.S. Tired of feeling like there aren’t enough hours in the day? Let’s change that! Book a consultation today to learn how we can organize and simplify your business, so you can achieve your goals without having to sacrifice your personal life.

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Audit and Refine Systems

With things being slower, this is the perfect time to look at what is & isn’t working in your business systems. Start by evaluating your current processes for customer service, onboarding, marketing, content creation, bookkeeping, etc. It is an opportunity to see what is stalling your business growth & wasting your time. 

What Katie, my business partner, and I like to do is write out our process in a Google Doc. It is an easy place for us to map up each step and hyperlink any resources we need. Plus it gives us a bird eye’s view of what we can automate or simplify. Our goal is to make everything as simple as possible.

During these slow periods, you can set up yourself for success by:

• Automate Repetitive Tasks: This is how you can simplify your processes with ease. Yes it requires some time to set-up, but once it is set-up you’re golden! Pro Tip: Make sure to look at your software to see what automation features they have. 
• Update Outdated Processes (or create new ones): This is also an ideal time to finally get those System and Process (SOPs) in order. These give you step by instruction into how you run different aspects of your business. SOPs make your life easier and prepare you for when you’re ready to start building your team. 
• Optimize (or Remove) Softwares: With softwares updating daily, this is the perfect time to incorporate them into your daily routines. This ensures you get the biggest bang for your buck. Plus, you can use this time to cut expenses especially if there are tools you no longer use.

Each of these tips will save you time and reduce stress when business picks up. This gives you more time to focus on growth and providing better services to your clients.

Boost Your Marketing Efforts

Use slow periods to get ahead with your marketing. Something we see all the time is client marketing like crazy to then ghost their audiences once their books are full. This is often the catalyst to the feast or famine cycle. 

Instead, you can create a solid plan for content creation & marketing that is feasible no matter what season of business you’re in. 

Below are some tips to getting started:

• Create a Content Calendar: This will take the thinking out of creating! By having a calendar of what you want to post & when you ensure you stay consistent. Make sure you have it aligned with your goals for the biggest ROI!
• Schedule in Content Batching: With more time on your hands, this is the perfect to schedule out content batching days. When you do become in-demand again, you know you have time to create content & stay on top of your marketing.
• Incorporate a Scheduling Tool: This makes it 10x easier to be consistent! By having tools like Metricool, you can schedule content across numerous channels. Scheduling content is one less thing you have to worry about.
• Do Collaborative Lives: You can do this on YouTube, Instagram (the most common) or Facebook with those who have a similar industry to you. It is a chance to build relationships and provide value.
• Consider Going Live More (in general): This is the easiest way to engage with your audience! It is a chance to build that know-like-trust factor rapidly compared to a static Canva graphic.

By boosting your marketing efforts, you’re building your brand. This helps attract new clients and keeps your services top of mind when they need what you offer.

Reconnect with Your Network

Past clients can be a goldmine of opportunity. These are people who already know & trust you. By reconnecting with your network, you open the door to a referral relationship leading to potential clients. This is something you want to consistently nurture & when business is slow, this is the perfect time to do that!

The way you can begin to reconnect with your network is by:

• Follow Up with Past Clients: A simple “Thinking of you” email can go such a long way! We implemented this for a client and he has reactivated many leads who originally said, “no” to his coaching. The goal of this email is to reconnect, nurture, and convert if possible.
• Check-In with Leads: Go through your list of potential clients who expressed interest but never followed through. This is an opportunity to send them a follow-up, special offer, or updates on your services to re-ignite their interest. 
• Attend Networking Events: In this day & age, you can do in-person or virtual events. BNI is one of the largest organizations however you can find smaller, local groups on FB or LinkedIn. This is a great way to create a referral system that provides value to you and others. 

Staying connected with your network keeps you top of mind and opens doors for new opportunities. As you get busy, you can easily automate these follows up so your leads are always being nurtured & reduce how many networking events you go to.

Create a New Offer

Having a diverse product suite can ensure you always have revenue flowing. This is especially important if you offer services such as 1:1 coaching. These often require a high investment due to the nature of the offer. By having a low ticket sales funnel, you can make money as you sleep. 

The way you can start exploring this is by:

• Brainstorming Lower-Tier Options: This can be a mini course, masterclass replay, guide, etc that can be sold for $50 or less. Take a look at what you currently offer. Is there anything that can be extracted & packaged as a small offer? 
• Creating a Simple Tripwire: This is my favorite way to boost sales for clients! A great example of this is having a small offer trigger once someone doubles a freebie. This naturally warms them up to buying from you automatically. Here is an example of one we built for a client!
• Considering an Online Course or DIY program: Based on your 1:1 coaching, there are elements you use for every single client to get them results. Those elements can be turned into a course or DIY programs that are more affordable & can tap into a different aspect of your audience.

By adding in different offers, you keep your business flexible & accessible. This leads to consistent revenue overtime because it ensures you always have something to offer, no matter the season.

Final Thoughts

Growing your online business takes work, but it doesn’t need to take up every minute of your day. By taking the time to auditing and refining your systems, boosting your marketing efforts, reconnecting with your network, and creating new offers, you can significantly increase inquiries for your services. These steps will not only help you attract more clients but also make your business run smoother and more efficiently, even during slower seasons. 

Ready to reclaim your time and make your business work for you? Let’s make it happen. Book a consultation today, and let’s talk about how we can simplify your day-to-day so you can hit your goals and enjoy the life you’ve been working for.

P.S. If this blog was too long to read, here is the gist:

When business is slow, these five actions can help increase cash flow:

1. Audit & Refine Your Systems – Streamline and automate tasks to save time and reduce stress when business picks up. Update outdated processes and optimize your software for efficiency.
2. Boost Your Marketing – Use slower periods to set up a consistent, manageable content plan. Create a content calendar, schedule content batching days, use a scheduling tool, and engage with your audience through collaborative and solo live sessions to build trust and stay top of mind.
3. Reconnect with Your Network – Follow up with past clients and check in with leads. Attend virtual or in-person networking events to keep those relationships active and open the door to referrals.
4. Create a New Offer – Diversify with a low-ticket product like a mini-course or guide, or set up a tripwire offer. This keeps revenue flowing and appeals to clients who aren’t ready for higher-investment services.
5. Prepare for Growth – These steps will keep inquiries rolling in and set your business up to run smoothly and efficiently, even during busy seasons.

Ready to reclaim your time and streamline your business? Book a consultation today and let’s discuss how to make your business work for you.