Cash Flow

18 articles

Building a Summer Cash Buffer: Why May Is the Best Month to Stress-Test Your Working Capital
Cash Flow

Building a Summer Cash Buffer: Why May Is the Best Month to Stress-Test Your Working Capital

Many small businesses bleed cash from June through August. Rates are still high. Customers are paying slower. Here's how to model the summer dip in May, before it shows up in your bank account.

Tom Woolley, MBA 5/1/26 11 min read
How to Budget During Financial Uncertainty: A Business Owner's Guide
Cash Flow

How to Budget During Financial Uncertainty: A Business Owner's Guide

When the economy shifts and revenue becomes unpredictable, most business budgets fall apart. Learn how to build a flexible, scenario-based budget that protects your cash flow, preserves your team, and keeps you positioned to grow when conditions stabilize.

Tom Woolley, MBA 11/3/25 9 min read
Why Construction Companies Need a CFO: Job Costing, Cash Flow, and Growth
CFO Advisory

Why Construction Companies Need a CFO: Job Costing, Cash Flow, and Growth

Construction companies face unique financial risks. Learn how a CFO addresses job costing accuracy, WIP reporting, subcontractor management, and cash flow gaps.

Tom Woolley, MBA 11/3/25 8 min read
How to Cut Business Costs Without Cutting Corners: 6 Smart Strategies
Cash Flow

How to Cut Business Costs Without Cutting Corners: 6 Smart Strategies

Strategic cost reduction is not about slashing everything in sight, it is about finding waste, renegotiating what you can, and making smarter decisions about where you invest. Here are 6 proven strategies to reduce costs without compromising your business's ability to grow.

Tom Woolley, MBA 11/3/25 8 min read
How Outsourcing Accounting Improves Your Business Cash Flow
Cash Flow

How Outsourcing Accounting Improves Your Business Cash Flow

Outsourcing your accounting and bookkeeping functions can dramatically improve cash flow by reducing overhead costs, eliminating billing errors, and accelerating accounts receivable. Discover how small businesses are using outsourced accounting to free up working capital and grow.

Tom Woolley, MBA 11/3/25 8 min read
4 Business Financial Goals for 2026
CFO Advisory

4 Business Financial Goals for 2026

Set your business up for long-term financial success with these four key financial management goals for 2026. Learn how to budget smarter, reduce high-interest debt, manage cash flow, and invest in growth.

Tom Woolley, MBA 10/31/25 7 min read
8 Biggest Financial Mistakes Businesses Make (and How to Avoid Them)
CFO Advisory

8 Biggest Financial Mistakes Businesses Make (and How to Avoid Them)

From ignoring cash flow to mixing personal and business finances, these 8 financial mistakes destroy profitable businesses. Learn what they are and how to stop making them.

Tom Woolley, MBA 10/31/25 8 min read
6 Expert Tips for Managing Small Business Finances
CFO Advisory

6 Expert Tips for Managing Small Business Finances

Managing small business finances well requires more than tracking expenses. These 6 expert tips cover the habits, systems, and strategies that keep small businesses financially healthy and positioned for growth.

Tom Woolley, MBA 10/31/25 7 min read
How to Build a 13-Week Cash Flow Forecast (With Template)
CFO Advisory

How to Build a 13-Week Cash Flow Forecast (With Template)

Learn how to build a 13-week cash flow forecast that shows you exactly when cash gaps are coming, so you can fix them before they become emergencies. Step-by-step guide with template.

Tom Woolley, MBA 2/23/25 20 min read
The 3-6-12 Rule: How Much Cash Reserve Does Your Business Really Need?
Cash Flow

The 3-6-12 Rule: How Much Cash Reserve Does Your Business Really Need?

Stop guessing about your business cash reserves. The 3-6-12 Rule offers a simple, clear framework based on your industry and risk profile to help you stop worrying and start planning confidently.

Tom Woolley, MBA 2/23/25 20 min read
Why Profitable Contractors Run Out of Cash: Retainage, Growth, and the Gap Nobody Adds Up
Cash Flow

Why Profitable Contractors Run Out of Cash: Retainage, Growth, and the Gap Nobody Adds Up

Your WIP says the jobs are profitable. Your bank account disagrees. For a commercial contractor the gap between the two is usually retainage, underbillings, and the working capital that growth quietly consumes.

Tom Woolley, MBA 2/23/25 12 min read
The Contractor Who Lost $200K Because Nobody Tracked Job Costs
CFO Advisory

The Contractor Who Lost $200K Because Nobody Tracked Job Costs

A $2M construction company was bleeding cash despite full project schedules. The problem wasn't sales. It was job costing. Here's what we found and how we fixed it.

Tom Woolley, MBA 2/23/25 26 min read
How Contractors Get Paid Faster: Pay Applications, Retainage, and Who Makes the Call
Cash Flow

How Contractors Get Paid Faster: Pay Applications, Retainage, and Who Makes the Call

For a sub working under a GC, slow payment is not a collections problem. It is a pay application that does not tie to the schedule of values, retainage nobody added up, and a phone call you do not want to make.

Tom Woolley, MBA 2/23/25 10 min read
Line of Credit vs. Equity vs. Revenue-Based Financing: Choosing the Right Cash Flow Solution
Cash Flow

Line of Credit vs. Equity vs. Revenue-Based Financing: Choosing the Right Cash Flow Solution

You need capital to cover a cash gap, but should you get a line of credit, term loan, equity investment, or revenue-based financing? The wrong choice can cost you 10x what you borrowed. Here's how to decide.

Tom Woolley, MBA 2/23/25 22 min read
Managing Seasonal Cash Flow in Construction: The Contractor's Guide to Surviving Winter
Cash Flow

Managing Seasonal Cash Flow in Construction: The Contractor's Guide to Surviving Winter

Learn how to manage seasonal cash flow in construction. Build a 6-month cash reserve, smooth revenue through winter, and stop the feast-or-famine cycle that kills profitable contractors.

Tom Woolley, MBA 2/23/25 20 min read
When to Hire a Part-Time CFO: The Decision Framework for $1M-$5M Businesses
CFO Advisory

When to Hire a Part-Time CFO: The Decision Framework for $1M-$5M Businesses

Not sure when to hire a fractional CFO? Use this decision framework to know if your business is ready, before costly mistakes make the choice for you.

Tom Woolley, MBA 2/23/25 22 min read
Why Profitable Businesses Run Out of Cash: The Working Capital Gap Explained
CFO Advisory

Why Profitable Businesses Run Out of Cash: The Working Capital Gap Explained

Your P&L shows profit, but your bank account is empty. Here's why profitable businesses run out of cash, and what to do about the working capital gap.

Tom Woolley, MBA 2/23/25 22 min read
The Complete Guide to Cash Flow Planning: From Firefighting to Forecasting
Cash Flow

The Complete Guide to Cash Flow Planning: From Firefighting to Forecasting

Master business cash flow management with this comprehensive guide. Learn the 13-week cash flow forecast, improve receivables, survive cash crunches, and transform from reactive firefighting to proactive forecasting.

Tom Woolley, MBA 2/11/24 35 min read