How to Get Paid Faster With the Cash Timing Play

You'll see how much cash faster collections, leaner stock and better supplier terms would free up, tested on a copy before you change a single invoice.

Before You Start

• Where it is: "Plays" in the navbar, then "Start New". The Play is called "Cash Timing".
• What you need: the Cash Timing step filled in (step 1), and Plays unlocked by ending the Score Card's tour.
• Plan: a paid tier. Each run costs 1 credit. A free Custom Scenario can't change payment timing, so there's no by-hand version of this Play.

Steps

1. Fill in Cash Timing. In My Business, open "Cash Timing" under "Edit Financials" and click "Enter Cash Timing" (or "Edit" if it's already filled). Answer each part, then click "Save":
   • Getting Paid: "How long after invoicing do customers typically pay?"
   • Inventory: tick "I keep inventory" only if you hold stock.
   • Paying Others: "When do you typically pay your vendors?"
   • Annual Growth: last year's revenue, or 0 if you had no sales. Screenshot to come: Cash Timing step with the Getting Paid, Inventory and Paying Others sections (cash-timing-step.png)
2. Open the Play. On the Plays page, click "Start New". In "Start a New Play", pick "Cash Timing".
3. Mark what stays put. "Items to keep as-is" lists "Revenue Collection", "Vendor Payments" and, if you hold stock, "Held Inventory", each with your current answer. Tick any you can't change. Screenshot to come: Cash Timing intro listing Revenue Collection and Vendor Payments with their current selections (cash-timing-intro.png)
4. Add context. In "Additional context for Occam", say which clients would accept a deposit, who pays late regardless of terms, or when your slow season starts.
5. Click "Run Play". It costs 1 credit, charged only if the run succeeds.
6. Read the recommendations. Each area gets a badge: "Payment Timing" (Faster, Extended or No Change), "Inventory Days" (Leaner or More Stock). The top shows "Cash Freed" and "Cash Flow Impact". Screenshot to come: Cash Timing results showing Cash Freed and a Faster badge on Payment Timing (cash-timing-results.png)
7. Work the plan. "Implementation Plan" groups the tasks under Revenue Collection, Inventory and Vendor Payments.

Tips

• "Getting Paid" takes one answer for the whole business. If your terms are mixed (some customers pay at checkout, others 30 days after invoice), pick the answer that fits most of your invoices and describe the split in the notes.
• Results are yearly, with no month-by-month timing. To see a tight month play out, use a Blueprint's 24-month forecast.

Common Questions

What if I skipped Cash Timing during setup?
The Play has nothing to work on and the run fails without charging a credit. Fill in the step from "Edit Financials" first.

Does the Play change my invoices or terms?
No. It works on a copy of your business. You change your terms yourself, if the result holds up.

Can I see my cash timing without running a Play?
On a paid plan, the Financial Summary has a Cash Timing Deep Dive.