Profit on paper does not give you the same freedom as cash in the bank. The real question is which decisions cash pressure is making for you.
One action to start with
List the next three important business decisions. Identify which are being delayed or rushed because of cash. Review the underlying causes with your finance adviser.
What this can look like
A business can be winning new work while paying for materials and wages long before customers pay. The order book grows but its options shrink.
Illustrative example. This is a short application guide to chapter 1, not the full chapter.
Bring it into the business
Ask your team where they see this pattern. Agree one decision, one owner and a date to review what has changed. Start small enough to act on what you learn.
Use the leadership meeting pack ↗Go deeper with SHIFFT
ArticleHow much flexibility does your cash really buy you?
Open the existing SHIFFT resource ↗
Want an outside perspective?
Work through the commercial priorities, owner dependence and recurring decisions that are holding the business back.
Read the full chapter
Chapter 1 starts on page 14 of The Questions You’re Not Asking.