#cash-flow
Track and optimize cash flow for better financial health and stability
Main street businesses are priced as Seller's Discretionary Earnings times a multiple — an all-sector average of 2.57x, ranging from 1.39x for dollar stores to 4.99x for car washes. Here is how SDE is calculated, which add-backs survive buyer diligence, why the multiple ladder moves, and how 2026 SBA lending rules reshape deal structure.
The Sloan ratio divides the gap between net income and operating cash flow by total assets to show how much reported profit is accruals rather than cash. Includes the formula, the ±10% caution bands, and a worked example of a profitable agency where only 40 cents of each profit dollar arrived as operating cash.
Business bankruptcies hit 24,737 filings in the year through December 2025 and Subchapter V cases jumped about 67% year-over-year in January 2026. This guide explains why filings are rising, how Subchapter V differs from traditional Chapter 11, what the $7.5 million versus $3 million debt limit fight means for eligibility, and the five-number dashboard that surfaces trouble months before a filing.
How wedding DJs and mobile entertainers should classify booking deposits and retainers under cash versus accrual accounting, depreciate sound and lighting gear under Section 179 or MACRS, track revenue and cost per event, issue 1099-NECs for second DJs, and survive the off-season cash crunch when most revenue compresses into a few months.
Tree service cash flow surges after storms and stalls in winter. Learn how to track storm vs. routine jobs, cost chipper and bucket truck time, and build a cash reserve for the slow season.
Landscaping earns in five months what must last twelve. Learn how to build a 12-month cash flow plan, reserve for winter fixed costs, track per-job profitability, and price annual contracts with deferred revenue the right way.
Annual budgets go stale by March. Learn why rolling 13-week cash forecasts outperform year-long budgets for small businesses, how to build one from your ledger, and the weekly routine that keeps cash surprises to a minimum.
Staffing agencies pay weekly but collect in 30–45 days. Learn how payroll funding and invoice factoring work, what they cost, and the bookkeeping that keeps the spread, reserve, and recourse liability visible.
Master accounts receivable aging, Days Sales Outstanding calculations, and collections workflows to recover the 10-15% of cash flow most small businesses lose through payment delays.
Consolidate business debt with a personal or business loan. Compare rates, terms, and tax implications, then follow a 7-step framework to actually save money and stop re-accumulating debt.
Childcare centers face a structural cash flow crisis as attendance-based subsidy reimbursement returns. Learn how to structure your books to survive volatile enrollment and delayed payments.
Seasonal attractions generate half a year's revenue in six weeks, then face twelve months of fixed expenses. Learn the bookkeeping practices that keep haunted houses solvent—cash reserve strategy, payroll compliance, cost stratification, and tax planning.
