Supplier notes
Cash triage when the float shrinks
What to cut, what to collect, what to pause.
Spot the shortfall ahead of time
In midwinter, when the rain comes sideways through Somerset West, I see plenty of founders staring down spreadsheets after hours. Cash dries up quicker than a Jozi pavement after a Highveld storm. My first rule: don’t wait until the float’s nearly empty. Track who really owes you as of day one and flag every big invoice over seven days late. I check our small business cash calendar every Friday and always have a printed list taped up by my kettle. If you need a tool, the Chaos Reset checklist helps you spot what’s coming next before it bites.
Prioritise collections like a stubborn taxi boss
When cash is tight, don’t wait until after the 25th to chase debtors. Phone, remind, insist, track. I learnt a lot from Adele at Knysna Print Shed. In March, she called every client who owed more than R1,000, starting with the three who pay via EFT, then calling the guys who only respond to WhatsApp. She shaved her overdue list from R40,000 to under R10,000 within ten days. She told me she’d rather sound like a parrot than run out of money for ink. Personal beats polite when the float’s shrinking.
Slash, pause or patch up expenses
Some costs you just can’t dodge (SARS, rent, wages). For everything else, ask: does this bring in sales, or just keep the lights on? For me, subscriptions and nice-to-haves get the chop first. If you’re not using that online tool, pause it. Can you run the workshop with a borrowed drill for a week? Delay that new batch of flyers. I’ve seen a Paarl jam maker sell off an unused fridge to plug a R5,000 gap. The Chaos Reset kit has a list for what to axe, what to pause and what to patch up for now.
- Cut non-essential software or memberships
- Sell or pawn unused kit (phones, fridges, tools)
- Pause any ad or print order you haven’t actioned
- Negotiate a break or payment plan on contracts
- Delay stock buys unless you’re out of raw material
Tough calls with suppliers and banks
Suppliers know the drill. Call and be upfront. I spoke to my own packaging supplier in Woodstock last month, Teboho, and simply asked for a short payment stretch (ten days instead of five). Saved my bacon and kept the relationship warm. Tell your bank manager what’s happening if you need a temporary overdraft. For landlords, ask early about a one-month relief or lower deposit if you’re about to sign. Don’t let pride trip you up. SARS and CIPC? File your returns, even if you can’t pay the full VAT201 or CIPC annual return, keep compliant to avoid fines or a locked account. See our resources or pop by a supplier hub if you want a referral to a tax pro.
Keep your rituals steady
When the float dips, routine is your friend. I tell clients to keep their weekly cash and invoice rituals religiously, even if you’re just a team of three. Reconcile bank slips by Tuesday, check outstanding invoices by tea break on Thursday, and update your list of who’s paid and who hasn’t. It may sound a bit boring but it’s saved my skin more than once. Find a pattern that fits your business. Drop into our weekly ops rituals for tried-and-tested South African checklists, or set up a handoff using the Chaos Reset handoff guide if you need others to help out. (I’ll admit I forget my own rule about reconciliations now and then, bad habit when you’re rushing.)
