The success of a business depends on how well assets and workers are managed. Proper management will increase a business's chances of remaining competitive in the marketplace. One key to managing assets within a business is keeping extensive, detailed records of all elements relating to the business. All successful businesses have good record management practices and use this information to make calculated decisions to remain competitive. Here are some symptoms of a business with poor record management.

Tracing Money Flow

One of the biggest symptoms of poor record management is the inability to trace the flow of money. The flow includes purchases for the business, sales of products and sometimes payments to employees. All these elements are needed to assess areas of the business where changes need to be made. A successful business needs to be able to balance and weigh the financial needs of certain areas as well as expenses that can be cut out of the process. If a business is unable to balance its financial records, then that is a clear sign of poor record management.

Vague Business Objectives

A successful business will set goals and objectives that will challenge the business to grow. Businesses with poor record management practices are unable to set realistic goals because they have no idea what areas the business is excelling in and where changes need to be made. A clear sign of a business with poor record management skills is one with vague marketplace objectives or unrealistic expectations for company growth. One example is setting sales goals but not being able to distribute the product on time. A successful business with good records will set realistic goals every year and achieve most of them.

Government Fines or Penalties

Businesses that keep poor records often run into legal trouble with government agencies that deal with business licensing. Records are essential for governing the running of a business and need to be kept up to date. Governmental agencies will request to see business records when auditing or assessing a business. If the company is unable to display accurate, up-to-date records, then it can be fined or the business may be temporarily shut down. Repetitive sanctions on a business for numerous violations is another sign that the company is having trouble keeping track of its actions and needs to make changes to its record keeping habits.