Cash decisions made at the bench
Halvard Joinery builds kitchens, staircases and fitted furniture for homes and a few restaurants. Hardwood is its biggest cost after wages, and the timber yard gives a meaningful discount on a full truckload.
Tom never felt sure enough of the cash to take it. Customer deposits arrive at the start of a job and the balance at fitting, months apart, so he ordered timber job by job and spent most Friday afternoons on the phone with his bookkeeper.
One email, every Monday
Tom’s bookkeeper set Tarn up on the Starter plan with the business account, the job sheet they keep in Sheetwise and payroll. Tom only reads the Monday email, which states the lowest balance for the next thirteen weeks and whether there is room for a large purchase.
When the email says the room is there, he calls the timber yard. When it says wait, it says until when.
Room for the timber order until Nov 21
$84,300 is your lowest balance in the next 13 weeks, in the week of Dec 15. That is above your $60,000 floor.
A $28,000 timber order this week keeps every week above the floor. After Nov 21, wait until mid-January.
“It is the only finance thing I read. If it says go, I order the truckload. If it says wait two weeks, I wait two weeks.”
Tom HalvardOwner, Halvard JoineryBigger orders, fewer calls
Halvard now buys hardwood twice a year in full loads and saves about 8% on its largest material cost. Tom spends roughly five minutes a week on cash, and his bookkeeper moved their call from weekly to monthly.
