I want to tell you about something we call the squirrel fund. You know how squirrels spend all fall gathering and storing nuts? Not because they need them right now, but because they know winter is coming.

Every ecommerce business needs a squirrel fund — a dedicated cash reserve set aside for the unexpected. A supplier who raises prices. A platform that changes its fee structure. A slow Q1 after a strong Q4. An equipment failure. A key employee who leaves.

The question isn’t whether something unexpected will happen. It will. The question is whether you’ll have cash to handle it without derailing everything else.

How much? Aim for three months of operating expenses. That’s the target. Start with whatever you can. One month is better than nothing. Build from there.

Where does it come from? A small allocation from every disbursement cycle, before you pay anything else. Even 2–3% of revenue, set aside consistently, builds into a meaningful cushion over 6–12 months.

The squirrel fund won’t feel important until the day you need it. And when you need it, it’s everything.