When large corporations bottom out and have to start from scratch, the road to recovery is long and tedious, but it's not impossible. In fact, in some cases, it can actually help a business refocus and find ways to improve. The first step in getting a large corporation back on its feet is stabilizing the company by making sure there is a solid staff in place and improving cash flow. Following through with the next steps can be the deciding factor in whether the large corporation can recover. Here is a list of things CEOs of large corporations should do on the road to recovery.

Collect from customers who still owe money
Businesses that are down in the dumps often have high accounts receivable. When trying to reestablish a culture of success within a large corporation, they must collect on invoices that are still in the hands of their customers. There are times when CEOs must take it upon themselves to call firms with delinquent invoices and demand their money. Cash flow is important to large corporations that are trying to recover, and CEOs can no longer be Mr. Nice Guy when they are owed money by their customers.

Be wary of expenses
When large corporations are thriving, there's more room for error when it comes to taking some business risks. But when times are tough, they must keep track of all expenditures with an eye toward saving as much as possible. All purchases need to be approved and, in some situations, CEOs of large corporations may have to let go a sizable amount of their staff. Keeping track of all expenses can give CEOs a better feel when cash flow forecasting. When they have more money at their disposal, CEOs can make the moves that will get their large corporations back on the right track.

Work with vendors to negotiate payments
Large corporations that have been working with vendors for years may be able to negotiate a deal with vendors when times are tough. Many large corporations in the past have found ways to delay payments to lower their non-payroll costs. Delaying payments acts as an interest-free permanent loan, and allows businesses to have more cash at their disposal. Getting vendors to understand when large corporations are in dire straits can improve the business relationship in  the long run.