A couple of weeks ago, I talked with a panicked client. Their biggest inventory order of the year was due, and they didn’t have the cash to cover it. They’d been planning this order for months — but never set the money aside.

The fix is a cash forecast that includes every major known expense — inventory orders, quarterly taxes, annual subscriptions, seasonal payroll spikes. When you can see these coming 8-12 weeks out, you have time to prepare. You transfer a little each week into a dedicated account. When the bill arrives, the money is already there. No panic, no scramble, no supplier relationship at risk.