What kills more businesses than bad sales? Running out of cash. Profit on a spreadsheet does not pay staff on Friday.
How do you see trouble early?
Forecast 13 weeks ahead: money in, money out, every Friday. Include GST, tax, rent, and what you take home. Surprises should be rare.
How do you get paid faster?
- Invoice the day the job is done — not end of month.
- Take deposits on custom work.
- Chase overdue accounts politely but quickly.
How do you slow money going out?
Negotiate supplier terms. Do not over-stock. Keep tax money in an account you do not touch for treats.
What one habit saved a Christchurch tradie I interviewed?
Twelve months of GST and PAYE saved in a separate account. June was quiet. Wages still cleared. Boring — until it was heroic.
When should you talk to the bank?
Before you miss a payment — not after. Banks can extend overdrafts or restructure loans when you show a forecast, not when you show panic.
Why does a separate tax account matter?
GST and PAYE are not your money to spend. One Christchurch owner told me that habit saved his team when June went quiet. Boring saved real jobs.
