Why Your Business Feels Broke (Even When You’re Making Money) — And 4 Moves to Fix It
You’re running hard, the revenue is coming in, and your calendar is booked… but your bank account is not telling that story.
Sound familiar? It should because it’s very common for small business owners.
Many small business owners hit this wall—especially in years 1–3—where the business looks successful, but cash is always tight. Here’s what’s likely happening and how to fix it using 4 powerful moves to improve cash flow.
📉 Meet Laurie: The Stressed-Out Solopreneur
Laurie runs a small event planning business. She's great at what she does—booked solid 3 months out. Her proposals are accepted quickly, and she’s growing a reputation fast.
But she’s got a problem. Every month, around the 20th, she’s scrambling to make payroll, pushing off vendor payments, and tapping into personal savings to float the business.
She’s asking the right question:
“Where’s all the money going if I’m working this hard?”
That’s the cash flow trap. Let’s break it down.
🔧 The 4 Moves Laurie Made to Take Back Control of Her Cash Flow
1. Raise Revenue — Without Working More
Laurie realized she was undercharging. She had set her prices a year ago and never adjusted, even though demand had increased.
She made this move by:
Bundling add-ons (custom signage, vendor coordination) into premium packages
Raising prices 15% for new clients without losing a single one
👉 What You Can Do:
Revisit your pricing every 6 months.
Look for “low-hanging fruit” offers that add value without adding hours.
2. Speed Up Receivables — Get Paid Sooner
Laurie was sending invoices after the event wrapped. That meant she was often waiting 30–45 days to collect, while paying deposits to vendors upfront. That’s a big gap. You send money out to vendors today, but it might take weeks to get it back from your client. Meanwhile, you’ve still got bills to pay — with cash that’s tied up and out of reach.
She made this move by:
Charging 50% upfront, 50% 7 days before the event
Setting clear payment terms and enforcing them
👉 What You Can Do:
Always charge a deposit (or full payment) before starting work.
Use automated invoice reminders and accept digital payments to speed up cash collection.
3. Cut Unnecessary Expenses — Trim the Fat
Laurie had signed up for every tool during her “build phase”: 3 CRMs, 2 email platforms, a high-end subscription she barely touched, and a Networking membership she hasn’t gotten anything out of.
She made this move by:
Cutting $600/month in tools she wasn’t using
Negotiating better rates with her top 3 vendors
Took a hard look at return on investment on memberships.
👉 What You Can Do:
Do a 30-minute “expense audit” monthly.
Ask: Is this tool helping me grow, or just a nice-to-have?
4. Tighten Your Sales Cycle — Shrink the Time Between Work & Pay
Laurie used to do a long intake process that delayed kickoff. It took weeks to turn a signed proposal into execution, slowing the pay cycle.
She made this move by:
Simplifying her onboarding steps to make it more efficient
Automating confirmations and timelines, so delivery started within 48 hours
👉 What You Can Do:
Map out how long it takes from first contact to paid service delivery.
Look for bottlenecks you can shorten with automation or delegation.
At the end of the day Profit ≠ Cash
You can be profitable on paper and still broke in practice. That’s because profit is a theory, but cash in the bank is reality.
Just like Laurie, your business can become a cash flow machine by making the right moves—intentionally and consistently.
Need help figuring out your next cash flow move?
Let’s jump on a call and walk through it. I’ll show you how to build a cash flow system that works in the real world. No fluff, just solutions.
