you'd be surprised at how much you can drive down your variable costs by simply being savvy. 6. Prepare for downtime and inform creditors Unless you're a greetings card manufacturer or gifting business, then chances are you could face a slow-down over December and January. You should plan for this, not only in terms of business development, but also from a cashflow perspective. Use September as a chance to review a best and worst-case scenario. If you think you're going to be late paying creditors, let them know in advance. This is particularly important for credit cards, the tax office and loans -- it's always much better to be open and honest, and chances are they'll be more flexible than you might imagine. Christian Oey is founder and CEO of nobankruptcy.com.au , the only company of its kind in Australia specialising in a unique debt relief program for individuals and businesses.