Pulse Beat December 2011 by City of Paramount

PARAMOUNT

December 2011

Annual Thanksgiving Celebration Salutes Local Seniors

The City of Paramount held its 31st Annual Seniors Thanksgiving Dinner in November to honor the elders of our community.

The free event offered a day of entertainment and a great meal with all the trimmings for more than 600 guests at the festively decorated Paramount Park gym. It all began with pairs of active dancers bopping to the jazzy sounds of the Sugah Daddy band.

Then, as the meal was seamlessly served by the great kids of the Paramount High School Corsairs service club (and plated by an assembly line of Paramount Rotary Club members and City staff), Mayor Daryl Hofmeyer and the Paramount City Council welcomed the gathering and Pastor Larry Jameson of Lifegate Foursquare Church gave the invocation.

Along the way, a large number of rafﬂe prizes were handed out, and Bill Pellegrino of the Rotary Club led the group in a singa-long.

In fact, this year saw a very generous increase in the number of donors, with 33 local businesses giving money to help cover the cost of the event and nearly $1,500 worth of giveaway gifts.

As occurs each year at the celebration, some of the most senior members in the crowd were acknowledgement and given ﬂowers. Some of them talked with the Pulse Beat to share tips on living a long life.

Eugene Bumgarner, 95

Born in Missouri

Mr. Bumgarner left his home state in 1938 with $15, arrived in California with only a dollar, and went onto a career with the Shell Oil Co. “Avoid red meat and grease. My wife taught me how to cook, she never used grease because it plugs your veins up. I also do everything I want to do, take one drink if I want to, and don’t smoke.”

Antonia Martinez, 91

Born in Los Angeles

A homemaker whose key is the following: “Don’t worry. Take it easy. Do what you want to do, because you can do it. And pray a lot.”

Margo Campos, 89

Born in Long Beach

The homemaker attributed her longevity to one thing: “Dance. That’s the secret word. It takes care of everything. Your breathing, blood pressure, it’s just good exercise. I started 25 years ago taking lessons. My favorite dance was the tango. After my husband passed away, about 15 years later I met this fellow who danced so beautifully and we entered a lot of competitions. Sometimes we’d win and sometimes we didn’t, but it was the fun of participation.”

of Commerce PULSE BEAT

15357 Paramount Boulevard, Paramount, CA 90723

Ethel Hillyard, 91

Born in Germany

Former School Board member, current member of the City’s Senior Services Commission and longtime local historian and author of “The Story of Paramount.” “I take a walk every day, do exercises every day and eat well. And keep a positive outlook on life.”

Nicholas Photakis, 92

New Haven, Connecticut

During his service in the Air Force in World War II, the aviation engineer fell in love with Southern California and moved here in 1948. “I went back to get my honey and came out here, and bought a house when they were very reasonable compared to today. It’s important to stay away from sugar and salt, and walk, keep moving, because if you don’t keep moving, it’ll all catch up to you.”

Refugio Gomez, 95

Born in El Paso, Texas

A carpenter who landed on the beaches of D-Day and served as an Army engineer in World War II clearing mines and building bridges. “Walking is important, and I never smoked, never drank, I get along with everybody, and I eat whatever I want.”

Henry Ramey, 90

Born in Pocatello, Idaho

A cab driver for nearly 40 years, he ﬁrst came to California at the age of two. “I had caught polio and they said there were good doctors in Los Angeles. We got here and nobody knew anything about polio.” As far as living a good, long life? “Never say no to God when he asks you to do something. Accept your calling. “

Christmas Train Starts On December 5th

Continuing a decades-long tradition, The Santa Express Christmas Train will bring the holiday spirit to the kids of Paramount from December 5th through 8th beginning each day at 3:00 p.m. The engine, gingerbread-house boxcar, sleigh car and caboose will make stops throughout the City with Santa Claus and his team of elves handing out apples and candy canes and spreading good cheer.

An average of 25,000 kids and parents line the streets to see and talk with the man in red over the four days and nights. It’s a great experience that has delighted generations of Paramount children.

You can ﬁnd a full schedule of train stops in the back of this Pulse Beat on the CityScape page, or by visiting the City’s website at www.paramountcity.com. For any

other information, call (562) 220-2121.

Breakfast With Santa/Snow Day On December 10th

The City will also host Mr. Claus when Paramount Park is transformed into a winter wonderland on Saturday, December 10th from 8 a.m. till noon. You and the family will enjoy playing in the snow, making holiday crafts, winning great giveaways and enjoying the entertainment of this annual event.

The event itself is free, but you need to buy a ticket for the meal. A limited number of tickets will be available for purchase. The period for pre-sold tickets ended December 2nd. Any tickets left can be bought that morning for $5. Please note that breakfast will not be served after 11:00 a.m. so get there early if you’re eating.

You can, of course, take your own photos with Santa at the park. A professional photographer will also be taking pictures and will have packages available for purchase.

For more information, please call (562) 220-2121.

Recycle Your Christmas Tree

This holiday season, residents of Paramount who have Christmas trees can place them out for pickup by CalMet, the City’s refuse hauler. The trees will then be recycled into mulch, which is distributed to public agencies for water conservation use in landscaping.

CalMet will pick up trees at no charge

Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.

City Receives Excellence Award

The City of Paramountʼs Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) has been cited for excellence by the Government Finance Ofﬁcers Association. State law requires that every city write a CAFR each year as part of its budgeting process. Paramountʼs has been given the GFOA award for the last 31 years in a row. Kevin Pulliam, a partner in the accounting ﬁrm of Vavrinek, Trine, Day and Company and a GFOA member, presented the award to members of the Cityʼs Finance Department along with Mayor Daryl Hofmeyer at the Nov. 1 City Council meeting.

Paramount Chamber Donates $300 to PEP

Chamber Vice President Brenda Olmos presents a check for $300 to the Paramount City Council for PEP (Paramount Education Partnership). The money was raised through the Chamberʼs laser and ink cartridge recycling program. All proceeds beneﬁt Paramount student scholarships. (For more information about the recycling program please see ad on Page 10)

after Christmas from 12/26/11 through 1/13/12 for single-family residential accounts. Be sure to remove the stand as well as all the decorations, lights and tinsel. Do not wrap the tree or enclose it in a plastic bag. If the tree is four-feet-tall or less, you can put it in your green waste recycling barrel. For anything larger, set it curbside on your normal garbage collection day by 6:00 a.m. (Flocked trees will also be picked up.)

After 1/13/12, your tree can still be taken away by scheduling a bulky item pickup. For apartments or condominiums, if the trees are on the curb by 6:00 a.m. they will be taken away for free on regularly scheduled pickup days. If it’s necessary to drive onto the property there will be a $5.00 charge per tree. In these latter cases, the service must be ordered 24 hours before regular pickup day by the manager or owner who must have the account number for veriﬁcation.

If you have any questions, please call (562) 634-5420.

No Change In Trash Pickup This Season

During the upcoming holidays, both Christmas and New Year’s Day fall on Sunday. Consequently, there will be no changes in the garbage collection schedule this year.

If you have any questions, please call, CalMet Services at (562) 634-5420.

Thank You, Paramount Volunteers

As you know, our Halloween Carnival is huge every year, with upwards of 7,000 kids and parents in attendance. The successful event runs as smoothly as it does thanks to the fantastic work of our Recreation Depart-

ment staff members and by a large turnout of young volunteers. The recent carnival had over 100 such helpers giving back to their community.

Organizations from Paramount High School included the ROTC, the Corsairs, the track and ﬁeld team, PHS cheerleaders and leadership students, and ASB students from the West campus. There were also students from Cal State, Dominguez Hills on hand. Speaking of the Corsairs, the great kids who belong to this service club give generously of their time and energy throughout the holidays. They are among the servers for the Seniors Thanksgiving Dinner, and help ensure that the event goes very smoothly for the hundreds of diners. They also do a lot more for many other people in the community during the rest of the season.

We thank them all for their time and dedication.

City Wins Financial Award, Again

Part of the process in creating a budget for every City is writing a Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR), which is something required by state law. This report describes the city’s financial condition and undergoes a rigorous audit by an independent firm. The Government Finance Officers Association, a national organization, gives awards for quality CAFRs.

Now, for the 31st year in a row, Paramount’s CAFR has been recognized by the Association. Our Finance Department deserves great thanks for maintaining this amazing winning streak.

In this day and age of widespread economic difficulties, we’re very proud that Paramount has such a good reputation in the financial community and has been very responsible when it comes our finances and fiscal health.

Mayor, Daryl Hofmeyer

Peaceful Holiday Parties

The holidays are often ﬁlled with friendly parties and get-togethers. As we all know, though, parties can sometimes get out of hand and bother neighbors.

Paramount has a dedicated patrol deputy whose main job is to respond to complaints about loud parties. If a call for disturbing the peace comes into the Sheriff’s Station, there will be a visit to the location and a first-warning notice will be issued. If a return visit is made, the property owner will be liable for fines. For instance, a second visit within 30 days will produce a fine of $250. The third, fourth and fifth visits within 30 days of the first call will entail fines of $500, $750 and $1,000, respectively. In addition, the cost of extra resources involved (multiple deputies, helicopter, and so on) can be passed on. These fines, if not paid, can go to a collections agency.

If such disturbances come from the same location over an extended period of time, deputies will focus on solving the problem with those who are causing it.

If you’re planning a party, be sure to take your neighbors into consideration and refrain from playing loud music and making other intrusive noises into the early morning hours. Keep in mind, also, that deputies do not divulge the identity of any residents making complaint calls.

For more information, call the Paramount Sheriff’s Station at (562) 220-2002.

Keeping Streets Safe For Our Students

The City and the Paramount Uniﬁed School District communicate continually about student safety issues in town. The student population at Paramount High School is currently the largest it has ever been. This has produced both pedestrian and vehicle congestion issues.

As a result, the City has hired more crossing guards around the high school, the West Campus and Paramount Park School. The main purpose is to simply keep the kids from entering crosswalks and intersections during the yellow and red phases of the trafﬁc signals, which causes problems for motorists who are turning and creates more congestion. So far, the new guards have made a great positive impact on the situation.

The City has also successfully requested that the MTA move a bus stop at Downey and Rosecrans to help with trafﬁc ﬂow and pedestrian safety.

Vacation Home Checks

Here’s another reminder that if you are a Paramount resident and have plans to be out of town during any part of the holidays, you can contact the Sheriff’s Station for a vacation home check. The City’s Public Safety Ofﬁcers will periodically take a look around your home or property while you’re gone. (This service is available throughout the year, not just during the holidays.)

Call (562) 220-2002 for more information.

BUSINESS WORKSHOP

WRITING AN EFFECTIVE BUSINESS PLAN

Monday, December 19, 2011 * 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Learn how to put together a great business plan in this workshop. You will learn:

• How to state the purpose of your business

• How to analyze your market

• How to analyze your competitors • How to set out your overall strategy.

Fee: $20

Business Loans 101

Monday, January 23, 2012 * 10:00 am-12:00 pm

This class will teach what you need to know to secure a business loan. You will learn what documents and paperwork you will need to get a loan from major banks. We will also show you which banks are currently loaning money and what you will need to qualify. You will also learn why a business may need ﬁnancing, sources of credit, and what you should know about credit.

Fee: $20

McLulu Grand Opening

Chamber President Leonard Crespo presents a certiﬁcate of congratulations to Branch Manager Jorge Ruelas at the opening of Chase Bank inside Northgate market.

Chamber President Leonard Crespo presents McLuluʼs owners Sandra Espinoza, David Perry, and the restaurants namesake; their dog McLulu with a certiﬁcate of congratulations from the Chamber.

Chamber members, City staff, and friends of Sandra and David applaud the grand opening of McLuluʼs restaurant which can be found at 14800 Paramount Blvd.

Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Program

As discussed in the November 2011 citrus article, a pest known as the Asian Citrus Psyllid (ACP) has been found in your community. This pest can carry the deadly citrus tree disease Huanglongbing (HLB) aka Citrus Greening Disease. Fortunately, HLB has not been detected in California. However, even more Asian Citrus Psyllids have been found in Southern California since our last article. You are encouraged to be vigilant, as HLB will mean certain death to your family’s citrus trees. Prevention of HLB requires suppression of the ACP pest. Help save your citrus trees, as well as, all of California’s citrus.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

The Asian Citrus Psyllid is a very small insect, somewhat like an aphid, only about an 1⁄8th of an inch long with a rather mottled gray and black appearance. The adult flyer puts its tail end up at a 45° angle with its sucking mouthparts inserted into the soft green parts of the citrus tree. After the eggs hatch, the nymph stages stay attached to these same soft green parts of the tree. At this non-moving nymph stage you may see waxy tubules or white noodle like material being secreted, that ends in a bulb like structure. This material is usually sticky. It is suggested you look over your citrus trees at least once a month for the ACP – try checking the first of each month. To get more information about this insect and the disease, please go to the californiacitrusthreat.org website. You can also visit the Paramount Chamber office they

Chamber Happenings

have ACP and HLB bookmarks and ﬂyers.

FERTILIZING

Use a fertilizer labeled for “CITRUS” – like a balanced N-P-K fertilizer (e.g., 1515-15) with a good micronutrient package that includes iron, zinc and manganese. N = nitrogen, P = phosphorus & K = potassium. As long as the leaves are a nice dark green color as the tree matures, reduce % of nitrogen, to something like 3-12-12 plus those micros so that you get less plant /tree growth and more fruit. Apply per label instructions. Do not apply until after danger of frost is past. Wet soil ﬁrst, scatter fertilizer out about one foot from the trunk to drip-line, like pepper on eggs, then water into the soil well. Micronutrients are best absorbed by the plant through the leaves by liquid foliar feeding applied at any time, perhaps better when warm. Soil pH should be neutral (pH of 7) to acidic (less than pH 7, but not below pH of 5). Do not fertilize at time of planting – young, sensitive roots burn easily.

FUTURE TOPICS

Pruning, diseases and pests plus other helpful citrus information. Tom Shea Citrus Pest & Disease Prevention Program

Networking Breakfast

Chamber Senior Vice President, Dr. Max Martinez presents Debbie Jameson with a certiﬁcate of congratulations for being named Ambassador of the Quarter. Debbie earned the award by earning the most points in a quarter for her efforts on behalf of the Paramount Chamber.

Representing Rosecrans Mortuary are (L-R) Leticia Sandoval and Jennifer Almanza, they are joined by Ambassador Annina Tomjack who presented them with a $25 cash prize for the best networking breakfast table top display.

Mexican Restaurant

Since 1970 when the ﬁrst Casa Gamiño was opened, founder Cipriano Gamiño has strived to give all his customers good Mexican food with excellent service and good prices. In all our locations we continue to do the same for our customers. No gimmicks, just delicious food.

11:00 am - 10:00 pm

PEP Programs For Adults

The Paramount Education Partnership, or PEP, is an alliance between the City of Paramount, the Paramount Uniﬁed School District, and the Paramount Chamber of Commerce. It is dedicated to providing programs and services that improve academic skills for residents through programs for both young people and adults.

Its objectives are aimed at increasing achievement outcomes and opportunities for PUSD students and training and preparing our youth to enter wellpaid careers after graduating from high school and going onto college.

But PEP also offers resources for adults to increase their levels of education and their practical skills through adult education classes.

The adult programs include:

Adult Aerobics: Through this class, PEP promotes an active lifestyle by improving cardiovascular efﬁciency, muscular strength, endurance, flexibility, coordination and percentage of body fat.

ESL: The English as a Second Language class is designed for adults who have basic English language skills and need reinforcement in grammar, writing, speaking and reading.

Adult Computer Classes: This course is designed to teach basic skills for anyone to be able to use a PC com-

puter. The course looks at both the hardware aspect of working with a computer as well as a quick-typing class.

Parenting Classes: These are currently being provided by Helpline Youth Counseling, Inc. The 15-week program is offered at no cost.

Parent Workshops: Through Helpline Youth Counseling, Inc. PEP is offering a Loving Solutions workshop for parents that teaches families a new way of handle challenging behavior; setting clear limits; problem solving with young children, pre-teens and teens; and increasing positive family communication.

Plazas Comunitarias: This is an adult and youth education, work-force development, and lifelong learning initiative developed by Mexico’s National Institute for Adult Education. This program offers students instruction and self-paced learning in Spanish, ESL, math, science, social studies and GED preparation using print, multimedia and computers. It also provides them with accreditation and certiﬁcation of adult basic education, secondary and postsecondary education in Spanish.

For more information on these offerings, or anything related to PEP, please call (562) 220-2132 or e-mail Suleyma Rosales at srosales@paramountcity.com.

LOST DOG

Misty is a female grey schnauzer with black circles around her eyes She is 7 yrs old and was wearing a red collar when last seen. Misty is microchipped.

Lost on 10/23/11 around Weimer area in Paramount. Her brother was found near the high school.

IF FOUND, PLEASE CALL MARY ROGERS 562-634-1839

GREATER BELLFLOWER LITTLE LEAGUE 2012 SPRING REGISTRATIONS

BASEBALL FOR BOYS & GIRLS

AGES 3 1⁄2 TO 16 SOFTBALL FOR GIRLS

AGES 7 TO 16 NEW THIS YEAR!

Greater Bellﬂower Little League’s 57th Season Registration:

Saturday December 3rd, December 10th & December 31st, 10:30 – 1pm - Simms Park Room #6

Wednesday December 7th, January 4th & 11th, 6:30-8:30pm - Simms Park Room #6

Saturday January 7th, 9-4pm Simms Park West Field – Sign up & try out

Sunday January 8th, 12-4:30pm - Simms Park West Field – Sign up & try out

Saturday January 14th, 9-3pm - Simms Park West Field – Sign up & try out

Simms Park: 16614 Clark Ave., Bellﬂower - Moshier Field: 16702 Virginia Ave. Bellﬂower

Eligible Baseball Players Must Live in Paramount or Bellﬂower

Eligible Softball Players Must Live in Paramount, Bellﬂower, Greater Long Beach, North Long Beach or Lakewood Players Must Present Birth Certiﬁcate & Two Proofs of Residency at Signups

**For further information please call: Eula Cisneros (562) 630-5109 or Joanne Cisneros Baker (562) 529-2334

GREATER BELLFLOWER LITTLE LEAGUE HOSTS: “AMY’S WALK”

A Long time GBLL volunteer, Amy Hooper is undergoing treatment for Cancer and her family is going through extreme hardship with medical & living expenses. We are hosting a 3K, 5K, & 10K walk at Simms Park, Sunday December 4th. Check in time is 7am, race begins at 8am.

Participants: $20 pre-registration & $14 on day of the walk. Come out and join us in this great cause while interfacing with the community. T-shirts & goody bags for paticipants.

**For more information on Amy’s Walk call: Joey (562) 529-2334 or Eula Cisneros (562) 630-5109

Please log on to:

www.greaterbellﬂowerlittleleague.com for information and all forms.

PATHWAYS VOLUNTEER HOSPICE

HOSTS ANNUAL “LIGHT UP A LIFE” TREE LIGHTING CEREMONIES

Pathways Volunteer Hospice is again hosting “Light Up A Life” ceremonies for the upcoming holidays. The “Light Up A Life” tree lighting ceremonies are an opportunity to remember and honor those you love and those who have passed on. Each shining light represents a friend or loved one being honored or memorialized. A donation of $20 provides one light on the hospice trees and the name of the person being honored or memorialized is reﬂected on the “Light Up A Life” scroll displayed by the tree. This year, Pathways’ “Light Up a Life” holiday trees will be displayed at the Cerritos Library, Gateway Business Bank, the Lacoboni Library and the George Nye Library.

Ceremonies will feature guest emcees, holiday entertainment and an overview of the Spirit of Pathways.

Pathways Volunteer Hospice is a 501(c)3 non-proﬁt that provides compassionate care to families living with illness and loss. For more information about Pathways, visit www.pathwayshospice.org.

“Light Up A Life” Tree Lighting Ceremonies:

Monday, December 5, 2011 Wednesday, December 7, 2011 7:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m.

Centre at Sycamore Plaza The Home of Jim & Melanie Choura 5000 Clark Ave., Lakewood 4148 Lakewood Dr., Lakewood

HELP WANTED

Help Wanted @ P Dogs: CASHIER’S & COOKS Late evenings early mornings please walk in for application. 13610 Garﬁeld Ave. South Gate, 90280

INSURANCE SALES – Growing company seeking dynamic self-starters, hardworking, energetic, bilingual (Spanish/English), and sales oriented individuals with a strong interest in educating the community about Insurance and Financial Products. A positive attitude and commitment to providing exceptional customer service are required. Insurance experience is a bonus but not a necessity. More importantly, we are looking for ambitious quick learners who are excited about determining their own salary and want to be an integral part of a growing company. Email resume to maria@galliagency.com or fax resume to 562-817-5621.

Mark Your Calendars

State of City Address

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Quality Claims Service Makes a Difference!

By Maria F. Galli State Farm Insurance

562-817-5620

Headaches, hassles, and unnecessary strain in life can be reduced by researching the quality of claims service a company offers before purchasing an auto insurance policy. There are a few key areas to research when grading the quality of claim service provided by an auto insurer: customer satisfaction ratings, customer choices and professionalism of claim representatives. Quality claim service means prompt response and payment for what is owed for damage and quality repair work. But after an auto crash, some other intangibles can make the claims process much less stressful. Some questions to ask when shopping for auto insurance include:

• Is the person who sells me the policy, the same person I can trust to report a claim?

• Will there be someone who can answer my questions if I have one?

• Will I have my choice of body shops to repair my vehicle?

Another measure of quality claim service is customer choice. Not only choosing the auto body repair shop, but even the choices you have in communi-

cating with the company. With today’s hectic lifestyles, some companies offer options to report claims in person, on the phone or even online, 24 hours a day. Once the claim has been reported, you want to be kept informed and updated on the claim process. These multiple choice options for communicating can go a long way to making sure the claims process is as quick and easy as possible Finally, professional claim handling can eliminate the unnecessary stresses related to an auto crash. Professional claim handling requires special skills. Claim adjusters need to empathize with the client’s situation to establish good communication and assist them in making a claim—the professional needs to turn the anxiety of a customer not knowing what to expect into conﬁdence that the claim will be handled fairly and quickly.

A car crash is already a stressful time in anyone’s life. But the quality of claim service can differentiate insurance company A from company B. Knowing that you’ve researched this before buying an auto insurance policy will give you an added conﬁdence when the unexpected happens. Start by asking your local insurance agent about quality claim service.

Recipe of the Month Pumpkin Treats

Stir together ﬁrst ﬁve ingredients, poor into lightly greased 13” X 9” pan. Sprinkle cake mix over mixture, top with nuts, drizzle melted butter over all. Bake at 350° for 1 hour, cool and serve.

Seniors

Farmers Market Long Beach

Date: Friday, December 2, 2011

Price: FREE Depart: 10:00 A.M. Return: 2:00 P.M. Laughlin

Date: December 5-7, 2011

Price Single Occupant $115.00

Double Occupant $95.00

Depart on Monday, December 5 at 9:00 A.M.

Return on Wednesday, December 7, at 5:30 P.M.

Cabazon Outlet

Date: December 13, 2011

Price: Free Depart: 9:30 A.M. Return: 4:00 P.M.

Holiday Party

Date: December 15, 2011

Price: $2 per person

Doors Open: 10:00 A.M. Lunch Served: 12:00 P.M.

New Year’s Celebration Date: December 30, 2011

Price: $ 3 per person

Doors Open: 3:00 P.M. Dancing: 4:00 P.M - 6:00 P.M. Dinner Served: 6:00 P.M. New Years

Understanding and Monitoring Your Business’s Cash FlowSales

BY RIEVA LESONSKY

Cash ﬂow is often referred to as the lifeblood of a business. But too many small business owners know far too little about this crucial measure of a business’s vitality.

What is cash ﬂow, and how can you keep your ﬁnger on its pulse?

Simply put, “Cash flow is the ebb and ﬂow of money in and out of a business,” explains SBDC Business Advisor Bruce Sparks. “This differs from proﬁtability in that many businesses get payment terms from their vendors or collect deposits from their customers that are not timed the same as the completion of business.”

What problems can arise if you don’t stay on top of your cash ﬂow?

First, you’ll find yourself unable to pay creditors or employees on time. You might need to borrow money, which is costly and difficult. And if you are making payments late, your business credit rating will suffer, making it even harder to find financing and sending your business into a downward spiral.

What’s the worst that can happen?

“Poor cash flow management can [ultimately] drive a proﬁtable business into bankruptcy,” Sparks warns. He uses the example of a small company that gets the opportunity to take a large order from a customer that expects to pay 30 days after the products are shipped. “If the small company doesn’t make sure they have the cash to produce and ship the order and wait to get paid,” Sparks explains, “then their creditor could shut them down.”

How can good cash-ﬂow management benefit your business?

“It enables the business owner to make key decisions regarding debt management or investments, including investments to expand the business,” says SBDC Business Advisor Nate Jemison. If you end up with a surplus of cash, adds Sparks, “[you] can project how long that surplus is likely to last and put the money to work earning interest for that period of time.”

How can you make sure your cash is ﬂowing nicely?

Ideally, Jemison recommends daily review of your sales and expense receipt journal reports. At a minimum, monitor your checking account, accounts payable and accounts receivable weekly, and reconcile your records with your bank statements monthly. “[Also] keep careful track of

projected sales and inventory needs,” advises Sparks. “Construct regular, updated projections and budgets, taking into account trends in the market, average collection times and availability of money from other sources.”

Are there tools to help you?

Software such as QuickBooks makes cash ﬂow management easy, says Sparks. If your needs are more complex, you can have your accountant create custom spreadsheets. Remember, cash ﬂows both ways, so keep your eye out for warn-

ing signs such as slow-paying customers and take steps to speed their payments. On the payables side, “take advantage of supplier discounts and pay creditors in advance of the due date, if possible, to reduce your ﬁnance costs,” says Jemison.

Once you’ve got a grip on cash ﬂow, what long-term steps should you take?

Projecting cash ﬂow at least quarterly will help you predict when you may need extra money to handle a slow period or a large project. Sparks recommends planning ahead by identifying alternative sources

of capital, such as savings or lines of credit, that will keep your ﬁnance costs down. Last, but not least, if you’ve got excess cash flow, “invest it wisely,” says Jemison. Yes, if you manage cash ﬂow right, deciding what to do with your excess cash could be the biggest business challenge you face. Wouldn’t that be nice?

Rieva Lesonsky is CEO of GrowBiz Media, a content and consulting company that helps entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses. Before launching her business, she

was Editorial Director of Entrepreneur Magazine. Rieva Lesonsky also works with the Los Angeles Regional Small Business Development Center Network. The SBDC is a group of successful small business owners helping fellow entrepreneurs start, sustain, and grow their business through low-cost workshops and free one-on-one consulting in business planning, ﬁnance, marketing, and various other specialty areas (Spanish speaking consultants available). To make an appointment call: (562) 938-5100, or email: sbdcinfo@lbcc.edu.