Financial & invoicing terms explained

Cash flow

Cash flow measures cash in and out over a period. Profit follows accounting rules and may include non-cash items like depreciation.

Operating cash flow

Collecting AR faster improves operating cash flow even if revenue is flat. Slow AR is a top reason SMBs miss payroll.

Working capital

AR, AP, and inventory interact. Invoicing platforms that automate reminders tighten the AR piece.

Forecasting

Combine expected invoice dates with historical DSO to approximate incoming cash.

Cash flow — FAQ

Cash flow vs profit?
Profit includes non-cash items; cash flow tracks liquidity timing.
13-week cash model?
Common for SMBs to forecast near-term inflows/outflows.
Negative cash flow always bad?
Not if planned—for example inventory build before season.
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