Rent, salaries and VAT: build your business calendar

Most cash surprises are not surprises at all. The rent was due on the first, the salaries on the 27th, the VAT at the end of the month. They just were not written down in one place.

Start by listing everything that repeats: rent, salaries, subscriptions, loan payments, VAT. Add the day of the month each one lands and the amount.

Then add what you expect to receive: retainers, regular customers, big invoices. Once both sides are on the calendar, you can see which days are tight and which are comfortable.