Most new businesses in the UK do not last 3 years. Many fail within the first year. Not because of poor service or a poor product-they simply run out of cash. Cash is the life blood of any company and the test of any business is its ability to pay debts as and when they fall due-it is not profit, though that is important. 
Many businesses that fail are profitable-the problem is poor cash flow.
The measure of a successful business is its ability to generate cash consistently and sufficiently in order to meet its short-term debts and liabilities.Your business may have a positive balance sheet-showing that the value of its assets-stock, equipment, premises, machinery etc exceeds liabilities but in effect be insolvent if it cannot generate enough cash in the short term

Its all about cash flow if you are running a business. In fact , if you are not getting enough cash in on time to pay the business debts when they are due-then your business is insolvent and you could be found guilty  of wrongful trading. Wrongful trading-means your personal assets could be used to pay business debts