Are you paying for inventory or supplies at the time you receive them?

Has your business started to really take off, so you're buying more and more from your suppliers - but still paying the same price you were when you started out?

If you answered yes to either question, it's time to ask your suppliers a couple of questions. Namely, if they'll extend credit, and considering your sales volume can they do better on the price.

Getting suppliers to sell to you on credit helps with your cash flow. In effect, it's an interest-free short term loan. Depending on what you sell and how you sell, trade credit (credit from your suppliers) may enable you to collect money from your customers before you have to pay your suppliers. If that helps you avoid tapping into your bank line of credit or upping your credit card balance, you save a small amount on credit fees, too.

Asking for a better price - and asking in a way like you expect to get it - will help your bottom line. Suppliers and service providers often give bigger customers good discounts. If your business is growing and as a result you are buying more from your vendors, you may be able to get a discount - but only if you ask. If you don't ask, they probably won't offer you a lower price.

More >> 9 Ways to Fix Cash Flow Problems

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