Every dollar earned matters for your small business or startup. But let’s talk for a minute about dollars lost. These matter just as much – maybe even more. Securing new sources of revenue takes so much time, money, and effort, you can't afford to let valuable resources slip through your fingers after all that investment.

Still, the reality of running a busy startup leads to some of this potential income getting lost in the shuffle. According to MGI Research, 42% of businesses experience some form of revenue leakage, or lost revenue. In aggregate, this issue represents billions in vanished resources for companies each year.

42% of businesses experience some form of revenue leakage, or lost revenue.

This article takes a close look at the problem. We will explain what revenue leakage is and how it happens. In addition, we'll detail how it can be prevented, so you can take the necessary steps to plug the leaks in your organization.

What is revenue leakage?

Imagine that the money that comes into your company arrives through a pipeline. Instead of oil or water, streams of money pour into your organization from your various clients, giving you the resources you need to stay in business and invest in your future.

Now, picture small leaks in the pipeline. Little holes or imperfections along the way, letting tiny bits of cash disappear. These breaks might be too small to notice at first glance, but they mean that you aren't receiving the full amount you should.

These lost bits of incoming cash represent revenue leakage. The term refers to losses of revenue (often hard to perceive) that occur from inefficiencies or other imperfections in your operation. There's a certain revenue you should be obtaining — the difference between that amount and the funds you're currently receiving represent your revenue leakage.

What causes revenue leakage?

We should make something clear here. Leakage is different from not yet achieving market saturation. It's not about falling short of ambitious growth forecasts or taking longer than expected to capture market share. Rather, leakage comes from accidental, preventable imperfections in your processes that lead to operational missteps.

To clarify the situation, here are some potential examples:

• Billing Errors
• Snags in Contract Renewals
• Foreign Currency Exchange
• Unresponsive Customer Service

As you can see, some of these are more in your control than others. For instance, you won't be able to do much about foreign currency exchange rates. However, there are still steps you can take.

Let's stick with currency exchange as an example. You can't alter rates on your own, but you can shape your operations around these uncertainties. Limit your risk by moderating your reliance on overseas operations. Or enact hedging strategies to keep the impact of currency fluctuations within a manageable range.

Meanwhile, many common sources of revenue leakage are well within your areas of control. For these, tweaks in your operation can often bring the drain you experience down to near zero.

The specific causes of revenue leakage will depend on individual circumstances. Your company's potential vulnerabilities will be unique to your situation and structure. As such, you'll need to review your operations to identify places where you can tighten up.

That said, there are some broad categories to keep in mind. As you go about the review process, survey your operations for soft spots like these:

Communication Breakdowns

Are the various parts of your organization talking to each other effectively? Do you get the information you need from clients? Any snags in these areas can create potential leakage points.

Inaccurate Data

You need to know as much as possible about your operation and about your target markets. Any shortfall in this information will lead to inefficiencies. As such, you need accurate data to drive your decision-making.

Errors in Analysis

Data represents the first step. But you also need to derive accurate insights from the information you gather.

Inefficiencies in Your Sales Process

Don't let potential customers walk away because of a lack of communication or crossed signals. It's important to have a streamlined process to get prospects from first contact to close as efficiently as possible.

Suboptimal Productivity

Having imperfections in your production process doesn't just cut into your margins. It can impact top-line growth as well. An inability to fill orders on time or ramp up output at key moments can stymie your expansion prospects.

How to identify and stop revenue leaks

We've seen some of the areas that are primed for potential revenue leaks. But what can you do to spot the specific sources of weakness in your organization? Here are a few steps you can take:

• Build Reliable Revenue Models: Having an accurate estimate of what your revenue should be (both on a per-client basis and in total) lets you know whether you are reaching your potential.

• Implement Centralized Communication and Data Management Procedures: Don't let information get lost in the various parts of your organization. Have a central process for gathering data and keeping up communication internally.

• Have QA Effective Processes: Have a transparent process in place to track activities within your business. This will let you know that everything is being handled as efficiently as possible and will prevent things from falling through the cracks.

Discovering sources of revenue leaks represents a good start. Once you've located potential issues, you still need to take the necessary steps to improve the situation. With that in mind, here are a few steps you can take to stop revenue leakage:

Design Clear Workflows

Every aspect of your operation should have a transparent workflow. Don't leave anything to chance. Devise clear procedures for completing your various functions, so everyone knows the best practices for each task.

This process also makes it easier to oversee operations. At the same time, established procedures make it easier to cover for vacations or step in for departing employees.

Look for Ways to Automate

Many processes can be turned over to technology. By getting the appropriate software, you can streamline parts of your operation. You can eliminate the chances of human error and reduce timing gaps that can sometimes create leaks.

Of course, you still need proper oversight over these operations. After all, you don't want a computer glitch to create a different kind of problem. But within the right structure, leaning on automation can ensure that you capture as much revenue as possible.

Create Reliable Communication Structures

Optimize your lines of communication. This process starts with your internal interchanges. However, you should also make sure your dealings with the outside world remain as robust as possible.

Conduct Regular Reviews

Routinely look at each part of your operation, with an eye toward potential revenue leaks. This will let you locate problem areas before they cost you significant amounts. At the same time, this effort can identify opportunities for upgrades. Not only will you eliminate leaks — you'll get more efficient over time.

Plugging your revenue leaks

As a small business owner or startup founder, it's critical to capture any and all potential revenue. Even as you scramble to maximize growth, don't let unnecessary waste drain your resources. That's why stopping revenue leakage, and preventing it from happening in the future, is so important.

Use the information provided here to begin this process. This way, you can identify whether your business has any revenue leaks and take the necessary steps to stop them if they exist.