The final quarter of the year is almost here, making September a good time to take a closer look at your business finances.
A business can be making sales, taking on new customers, and staying busy while still feeling short on cash. One reason is simple: making a sale and actually receiving the money are not always happening at the same time.
Before Q4 begins, it’s worth knowing how much cash your business actually has available, how much is still tied up in unpaid invoices, and what expenses are coming next.
A quick cash flow check now can give you a clearer picture of where your business stands and help you spot potential gaps before they become a problem. Today, we’ll look at what every business needs to check before heading into Q4.
1. Know How Much Cash Is Actually Available
Sales are important, but selling a lot doesn’t mean you have access to all that money instantly.
If customers have received their products or services but haven’t paid their invoices yet, that money is part of your accounts receivable. It has been earned, but it isn’t cash your business can use yet.
That distinction matters when planning for the months ahead. Payroll, materials, inventory, fuel, rent, and other expenses may need to be paid before those customer payments arrive.
Start by looking at the cash currently available and comparing it with the money still sitting in unpaid invoices. This gives you a more realistic picture of what your business can actually use as you enter Q4.
2. Take a Closer Look at Unpaid Invoices
Knowing how much money is still waiting to be collected is just as important as knowing what’s already in the bank.
According to the 2026 QuickBooks Small Business Late Payments Report, 59% of surveyed U.S. small businesses had invoices that were more than 30 days overdue. The report also found that 39% said a late payment had made it difficult to cover payroll or bills during the previous year.
Before Q4, review your outstanding invoices and the payment terms you’ve agreed to with customers. Look at which invoices are coming due, which are already late, and how long you may have to wait for larger payments.
This can help you identify whether delayed payments could leave your business short on cash when upcoming expenses need to be covered.
3. Look at What’s Coming In and What’s Going Out
Once you know where your cash and unpaid invoices stand, look ahead at what your business will need to pay during Q4.
Start with expenses you already know are coming: payroll, rent, supplier payments, inventory, materials, fuel, insurance, and other regular operating costs. Then compare when those payments are due with when you expect money to come in.
This is where a simple cash-flow projection can help. It doesn’t have to be complicated. Estimating the money you expect to receive and the expenses you expect to pay can help you identify periods when cash may be tighter than usual.
Spotting those gaps ahead of time gives you more time to plan instead of reacting when a payment is already due.
4. Know Your Options Before You Need Them
If your review shows that cash coming in may not line up with upcoming expenses, that doesn’t necessarily mean the business is performing poorly. Sometimes, the timing of customer payments simply doesn’t match the timing of business expenses.
There are different ways to prepare for that gap. You might follow up on outstanding invoices, review payment terms with customers, use available cash reserves, or explore financing options.
For businesses that invoice other businesses, invoice factoring can also be an option. Instead of waiting for customers to pay their invoices, factoring allows a business to access cash tied up in eligible accounts receivable sooner.
The important part is knowing what options are available before a cash-flow gap starts affecting day-to-day operations.
Head Into Q4 with a Clearer Picture
Preparing for Q4 doesn’t mean predicting every expense or payment. It means understanding where your business stands before the quarter begins.
Knowing what cash is available, what invoices are still outstanding, and what expenses are ahead can help you make more informed decisions and prepare for potential gaps.
If a large part of your cash is tied up in unpaid invoices, you don’t have to wait for customers to pay. Quickpay Funding can help you access those funds sooner through invoice factoring.
Talk to a Specialist Today
And learn how invoice factoring could help your business prepare for Q4.
