A business can survive a slow month without sales. It can’t survive one without cash. The earlier you see a shortfall coming, the more options you have to deal with it.
Get paid faster
- Build deposits or progress payments into longer contracts rather than waiting until completion.
- Invoice the moment work is done — delayed invoicing is one of the most common, and most avoidable, causes of cash gaps.
- Offer a small early-payment discount where it makes sense.
Tighten your credit control
Check credit before extending it, set sensible limits per customer, and chase late payers methodically — largest debts first. None of this needs to feel aggressive; consistent, early follow-up is usually enough on its own.
Control what’s going out
Look for four common leaks: costs you don’t need at all, costs you’re paying too much for, inefficient manual processes, and missed volume or early-payment discounts from your own suppliers. A proper look through your expenses once a quarter usually turns up more than people expect.
Know your funding options before you need them
Overdrafts, invoice financing, and asset finance each suit different situations — the key is understanding which one fits your business before a crunch forces a rushed decision. We’re always happy to walk through your options and help you build a cash flow forecast that gives you real warning time, not just a monthly surprise.