You need to know where your company stands daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and annually. Are you making money, is your client base increasing or decreasing, do you have enough money in the bank to meet your obligations, are you meeting the goals you set for your business? Without this knowledge, you have little or no control over your business. You need to know how much inventory you have on hand, how much you need to order, when you need to order, the credit terms your suppliers offer, the balance in your bank account to cover your payments for running your business such as rent, utilities, office supplies, inventory, employees’ wages, and payroll taxes. Also, you are likely to be in non-compliance with local, state and federal regulations without proper controls on you finances. Keeping your books up-to-date and accurate is the best remedy for your business’ financial health. It allows you to efficiently manage your business cash flow and obtain the best prices from suppliers as well as the best interest rates from your lenders. The first items your lenders will ask for are updated financial statements and recent tax returns.