Release Date: 4/27/26
Your P&L says you’re profitable, but your bank account tells a different story. Where did your cash go?
Cash is the fuel for your business and cash flow is the number one thing contractors typically struggle with. So we’re kicking off a six part series to help you manage it more effectively. Starting this week with ways to diagnose issues, so you can more accurately project and manage your cash flow.
In this episode, we break down exactly where cash goes that doesn’t show up on your profit and loss statement (e.g. loan payments, sales tax, payroll taxes, owner draws, equipment purchases, and customer deposits).
We also cover the operational habits that quietly drain cash: messy or broken books, delayed invoicing, jobs falling off the dispatch board, and running a business without a billing rhythm.
Coming up in this series:
Part 2 – Know Your Numbers Before You Take the Job (breakeven, overhead, and margins)
Part 3 – Getting Paid Faster (billing discipline, collections, deposits, and retainage)
Part 4 – Spending Smarter (vendor terms, job budgeting, and cash outflow timing)
Part 5 – Seasonal Cash Flow: Building the Bridge (peaks, valleys, and planning ahead)
Part 6 – Funding Growth Without Breaking Your Cash Flow (reserves, lines of credit, and working capital)
This series is built for HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and other service-trade owners and managers — residential and commercial — at any revenue level. Start here. Get your numbers right. Everything else builds on this.
Trade Finance in Ten is powered by MainStreet MEP™. New episodes every Monday.
Now available:
Weekly Friday financial dashboards (even if you’re not a Fractional CFO client) – $249 a month and listeners can use coupon code “numbers” to get $50 off setup. Visit https://myhvacoffice.com/weekly-flash-dashboard/ to learn more.
Or book a free consultation, or take a free assessment by reviewing our free resources links.
