“I listen to the heads of company to get as close as possible to their cash flow problems and give them the best guidance.”

Christine PEREZ-PORCHER, SME correspondent at the Banque de France de l’Hérault

When can a head of company turn to the Banque de France’s SME correspondent?

We support any type of company: SMEs, micro-entrepreneurs, farmers, professionals on issues relating to financial difficulties and financing searches.

From the first worries about its cash flow, the Head of company can turn to the SME correspondent in his department. For the micro-entrepreneurs who are starting out, I invite them to think of themselves as “a boat captain” who must see far, and anticipate to the maximum, with a cash flow plan including all expected receipts and disbursements. Even from a simple Excel file, it can pinpoint when cash will run out. Templates of cash flow plans are available on “mesquestionsdentrepreneur.fr” for example.

I am thinking of a young leader who had not learned about his legal obligations before entering the business (Ursaf contributions, taxes, reporting thresholds). Management training, which have become optional, allow you to implement good practices from the beginning of your activity so as not to be surprised.

What are your main accompaniments?

When the Head of company questions his treasury, the Banque de France’s SME correspondent can:

• Listening to and looking outside at the company, recalling how to minimize risks: avoid relying on a single customer, diversify its clientele between the public and private sectors, for example, control its purchases through regular inventories, reduce unnecessary costs or anticipate energy costs that may slip.
• Encourage you to negotiate an overdraft with your bank in advance, even before you get into trouble: it is a reflex to have very quickly, before the first worries. For example, if a large customer is late in paying, it’s best to anticipate the impact on their cash flow right away. I can explain other short-term financing modalities such as factoring or the on-hand financing for companies with equipment.
• Assess the appropriateness of credit mediation with the head of company if the bank refuses and the company is not yet in too bad a situation (without default), i can refer the head of company to my colleagues in the credit mediation, who will do a thorough analysis of the case. This first exchange saves time to avoid any pointless steps.
• Detecting and relieving psychologic distress : during my exchanges, some heads of company spontaneously share a grave psychological distress. For others, it may appear during the interview when they say they have not slept for several weeks, suggesting health problems. I invite them to contact the APESA association to benefit from a prompt, free and confidential psychological support.

Do you have an example of a accompanied company?

Yes, I am thinking of the example of the head of company who was experiencing cash-flow difficulties linked to tax and social debts. Although it had been managed very well before, the sector in which its company operated was itself affected.

The analysis of the problem with the leader resulted in a triple solution : on the one hand a microcredit financing has been set up with Adie, on the other debt rescheduling Tax and social security funds were obtained from the Departmental Directorate of Public Finance and the Urssaf.

Finally, it became clear that the isolated leader needed a psychological supportSo we advised them to get closer to the APESA association. These different solutions helped the company bounce back, and the leader thanked us very much!

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