The Month Cash Flow Nearly Took the Business Down
Three years into running her small design firm, Jenna thought she had things under control. Work was steady, clients were happy, and a few large invoices were due that would more than cover expenses.
Then two clients paid late, not a few days late, but six weeks late. Suddenly, she was staring at payroll, rent, and vendor bills with barely anything left in the bank. The math was brutal: she had maybe 12 days before the business would be in serious trouble.
She panicked for a moment, then got to work. Here’s what kept her afloat:
- Renegotiating payment terms with suppliers — not permanently, just for that month. Being upfront about the situation earned her an extra 15 days from most of them.
- Offering a 5% discount for early client payments — two clients paid immediately, injecting badly needed cash.
- Postponing a non-essential equipment purchase, keeping cash in the business instead of being tied up in assets.
- Switching to weekly cash flow projections gave her a clear view of potential trouble before it became a crisis.
It wasn’t smooth sailing. There were awkward conversations and late nights poring over spreadsheets. But it worked — the team got paid, the lights stayed on, and Jenna walked away with one lesson burned into her brain: cash flow isn’t something you manage when things get bad. It’s something you protect every week.
Now, Jenna uses Zumifi’s financial management services to stay ahead of the game. They help her forecast cash flow, accelerate receivables, and maintain the financial stability that allows her to focus on growing the business instead of fighting fires.
If cash flow problems are keeping you up at night, don’t wait for a crisis. Call Zumifi — they’ll help you put a plan in place so the next time a client pays late, it’s a hiccup, not a disaster.
“We’ve confidently referred businesses to Zumifi, and the feedback has been unanimously positive.”
– Mike Doherty: Founder, Understanding eCommerce.
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