Protect Cash Timing Before You Promise the Work

A project can look affordable on paper and still strain delivery if cash goes out before customer payments arrive.

Before accepting a large custom scope, try a short cash-timing review alongside the delivery plan. Map when the work uses resources—such as materials, contractor time or support—and when invoices can be sent and payments are expected. Name who will monitor the gap and what should trigger a review if payment is delayed.

If the timing is uncertain, consider whether staged work or milestone billing is practical before committing the full scope. This won’t remove every uncertainty, but it can make the trade-off visible instead of quietly borrowing capacity from other promises.

The useful question is not only “Can we deliver?” but “Can we keep delivering while we wait to be paid?”