Guides · Cash & Working Capital
Release cash without starving the business.
Methods, formulas and templates for the levers behind the cash conversion cycle, and for running cash as a weekly process. Every worked example is labelled illustrative, and every formula is shown in full so you can run it on your own ledger.
20 guides · 9 free calculators · 4 templates
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Run the numbers on your own figures first. No sign-up; calculations run in your browser.
DSO Calculator
Simple and count-back DSO, best possible DSO, average days delinquent, collection effectiveness index, and the cash one day of DSO is worth.
Cash Conversion Cycle Calculator
DSO, DIO and DPO from your balances or days, the cash value of each day, and a scenario for changing each lever.
Working Capital Calculator
Net and operating working capital as a percent of revenue, with cash release scenarios by lever.
13-Week Cash Flow Builder
Build a weekly cash forecast from receipt and disbursement lines, find the low-cash week, flag shortfalls and export CSV.
Covenant Headroom Calculator
Headroom on leverage, fixed charge coverage and liquidity covenants, and how far EBITDA can fall before a breach.
DPO Calculator
DPO on COGS, purchases and average AP, the cash value of a day, cash from extending terms, days beyond terms by supplier, and early-pay discount return.
Safety Stock Calculator
Safety stock, reorder point and carrying cost from demand and lead time variability and a service level, with a scenario comparison.
Working Capital Peg Estimator
Trailing 3, 6 and 12-month NWC averages, seasonality range and a proposed peg against closing NWC. A planning aid, not legal advice.
Customer Payment Terms Drift Check
Spot customers paying beyond terms or slower than their own pattern, and the cash each one holds. Paste customer rows; runs in your browser.
Working Capital
Methods, formulas, and templates for the three levers behind the cash conversion cycle. Every worked example is labelled illustrative, and every formula is shown in full so you can run it on your own ledger.
The Playbook
One program across receivables, inventory, and payables, with shared ownership, sequencing, and a 90-day plan.
Working Capital Playbook: Release Cash Across Receivables, Inventory, and Payables
Working capital playbook for operators: NWC, CCC, DSO, DIO and DPO formulas, a worked example, lever trade-offs, and a 90-day plan to release cash.
Working Capital: 3 Levers That Move Your Cash Cycle
Reduce your cash conversion cycle by fixing the coordination problem behind it -- real formula, benchmarks, and why one-lever fixes backfire.
Receivables
Measure DSO correctly, then collect in the order that releases the most cash for the least effort.
How to Reduce DSO: A 90-Day Collections Plan
Learn how to reduce DSO: the formulas (simple, count-back, best possible), a diagnostic, and a 90-day collections plan with owners and a worked example.
AR Aging Analysis and Collections Prioritization
AR aging analysis guide: read the aging report, rank collections by expected cash per hour, track roll rates and promises to pay, and set a reserve.
Payables
Extend terms and design the payment process without damaging the suppliers you depend on.
DPO: How to Extend Payables Without Damaging Suppliers
DPO explained: calculate days payable outstanding, audit supplier terms against actual payment days, cost early-pay discounts, and extend payables safely.
AP Process Design: Approval, Matching, and Payment Runs
AP process design guide: 2-way vs 3-way matching, approval matrices, payment run cadence, duplicate payment controls, and GRNI hygiene, with worked math.
Inventory
Turns, safety stock, and excess: cut cash tied up in stock without breaking service levels.
Inventory Optimization: Turns, Safety Stock, and Excess
Inventory optimization guide: calculate turns and DIO, segment SKUs with ABC/XYZ, set safety stock and reorder points by service level, and handle excess.
Inventory Valuation and Excess and Obsolete Reserves
Inventory valuation and excess and obsolete reserves: build an auditable E&O method, test net realizable value, and see what reserves do to covenants.
Cash Management
Forecasting, governance, covenant headroom, and triage for CFOs and operating partners. Every worked example is labelled illustrative, and every formula is shown in full.
Forecast and Govern
A weekly cash process with named owners, built on a 13-week forecast you can trust.
Cash Flow Operating System: A Weekly Playbook
Build a cash flow operating system: weekly cash call, direct-method 13-week forecast, accuracy tracking, cash governance and a 90-day setup plan.
The 13-Week Cash Flow Forecast Template, Done Right
Most 13-week cash flow forecasts go stale by week 3 -- here's the real methodology and the variance benchmark that shows when your model is lying.
Forecasting Cash Receipts from AR
Forecasting cash receipts from AR: build a weekly collections forecast from invoice due dates, customer payment patterns, and tested promises, in steps.
Rolling Forecast vs. Annual Budget: Why Forecasts Stall
A rolling forecast is supposed to replace your budget's blind spots. Here's the real reason most of them stop working within months.
Lenders and Liquidity
Know your headroom before the lender does, and know what to do in the first days of a shortfall.
Covenant Compliance and Headroom Tracking
Covenant headroom tracking: leverage, fixed charge coverage and minimum liquidity formulas, forward testing, add-backs, cure rights and lender timing.
Revolver Borrowing Base Management
Revolver borrowing base management for operators: how availability is built, a weekly roll, ineligible assets and a worked example. Your agreement governs.
Liquidity Crisis Triage: The First 72 Hours and Two Weeks
Liquidity crisis triage for operators: build the daily cash view, sort payables, speed up receivables, brief lenders, and reach a 13-week forecast.
Turnaround 30-60-90 Playbook
A turnaround plan for a mid-market company in trouble: stabilize cash in 30 days, fix the operating causes by day 60, and set up growth by day 90.
Policy and Structure
Treasury policy and multi-entity cash, written as templates to adapt with your board and counsel.
Treasury Policy for Mid-Market Companies
A treasury policy template for mid-market companies: minimum liquidity, accounts, approvals, counterparty limits, and investments, to adapt with counsel.
Intercompany and Multi-Entity Cash Pooling
Intercompany cash pooling for mid-market operators: structures, a design diagnostic, sweep mechanics and a worked example. Not tax or legal advice.
Feeding the Forecast
The receipts, payments, and inventory levers that decide what the forecast says.
Working Capital Playbook: Release Cash Across Receivables, Inventory, and Payables
Working capital playbook for operators: NWC, CCC, DSO, DIO and DPO formulas, a worked example, lever trade-offs, and a 90-day plan to release cash.
How to Reduce DSO: A 90-Day Collections Plan
Learn how to reduce DSO: the formulas (simple, count-back, best possible), a diagnostic, and a 90-day collections plan with owners and a worked example.
AP Process Design: Approval, Matching, and Payment Runs
AP process design guide: 2-way vs 3-way matching, approval matrices, payment run cadence, duplicate payment controls, and GRNI hygiene, with worked math.
More Cash & Working Capital guides
Forecast Bias vs. Forecast Accuracy: Why a Good Score Can Hide a Lean
Forecast bias shows which way you miss. Accuracy shows by how much. How to calculate both, find a lean in cash, revenue or cost forecasts, and correct it.
Working Capital Peg in M&A
Working capital peg in M&A explained: how the peg is set from trailing net working capital, how adjustments work, and a worked example of the true-up.
Free templates
Working files that go with these guides, with the worked examples already filled in. Enter your name and work email and we send the file personally.
Free template · Excel workbook
Working Capital Diagnostic Workbook
DSO, DIO, DPO and cash conversion cycle from your balances, with the cash value of a day and a lever-by-lever release plan.
Free template · Excel workbook
Collections Log and AR Aging Workbook
Paste your AR aging, rank collections by expected cash per hour, and track promises to pay and roll rates.
Free template · Excel workbook
13-Week Cash Flow Forecast Workbook
A direct-method 13-week cash forecast with receipts and disbursement lines, minimum liquidity, and weekly variance tracking.
Free template · Excel workbook
Covenant Headroom and Forward Test Tracker
Test leverage, fixed charge coverage and minimum liquidity today and forward, with EBITDA cushion in dollars and percent.
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