Forecasting cash flow 90 days out
Most shop cash crises are predictable 60 to 90 days in advance. Forecasts catch them while there's still time.
Roll a 90-day forecast every week
A simple spreadsheet: cash in (by week), cash out (by week), running balance. Updated weekly. Catches dips long before they become emergencies.
Be conservative on receivables
Assume customers pay 7 to 14 days later than promised. Optimistic AR forecasts are how 'profitable' shops still run out of cash.
Flag any week with negative balance
A red cell six weeks from now is a problem to solve today, not in six weeks. Act early, options are wider.
Take your version of this question further
This is one operator-tested angle on the question. Your shop, your size, your trade, and your team change the answer. Ask your specific version inside Ask a Shop Owner to get a response grounded in how owners like you actually handled it.