🧠 You don’t have a cash flow problem. You have a timing problem.

Welcome back to the 88th edition of Nord Media

Before we get started, is there anything specific you want to learn about? Let me know, as always, I appreciate all of you who reply each week and share feedback with me.

Even high cash-flow brands are feeling the pressure right now.

With new tariffs hitting imports and supply chain costs creeping back up, strong revenue and healthy margins aren’t enough to stay comfortable.

Everyone says cash is king, but plenty of brands with strong revenue and healthy margins are still projected to struggle. 

The problem usually isn’t cash. It’s timing. When money comes in, when it goes out, and how much control you have over that gap.

Founders who understand this don’t scale with more money. They scale by using time as a lever, shifting billing cycles, ad spend pacing, and expense timing to free up cash without slowing growth.

Today, I’m breaking down the simple but overlooked decisions that give you more flexibility. 

These are levers you can pull this quarter to reduce pressure, gain control, and scale without constantly looking over your shoulder. If you want to move faster without risking collapse, stop focusing on revenue and start mastering timing.

Let’s dive in.

Free Up Cash Without Killing Growth: The Smart Levers to Pull Right Now

You don’t need to cut headcount or freeze growth to improve cash flow. 

A few smart shifts in how you handle billing, ad spend, and expenses can create breathing room without sacrificing momentum.

1. Billing: Get paid sooner without changing your offer

• Shorten payment terms (e.g. Net-30 → Net-7 or upfront) for services.

• Use pre-orders or split payments to get cash in before delivery.

• Enable auto-renewals or auto-charges to smooth out monthly cash flow.

2. Ad cadence: Align spend with return windows

• Front-load ad spend to days with faster ROAS instead of spreading it evenly.

• Match campaign scale to your payment terms with platforms (e.g. net 30).

• Monitor payback periods and pause campaigns that lock up cash too long.

3. Expenses: Stretch out what’s going out

• Negotiate vendor payment terms (many will give Net-30/60 if asked).

• Split large purchases (like inventory) into staged payments or tranches.

• Audit recurring tools and software—cancel or downgrade underused ones.

These aren’t massive operational overhauls. They’re small, practical shifts that give you more control over cash without slowing down the engine.

The Time Levers That Create Breathing Room

The biggest cash wins don’t always come from increasing revenue. They come from using time to your advantage. Delaying outflows, accelerating inflows, and creating more control in between. 

Here are a few time levers you can pull this quarter:

1. Pre-sell before fulfillment

Lock in revenue before the product or service is delivered.

• Use pre-orders, deposits, or limited-time early access to secure upfront cash.

• Ideal for product launches or services with lead time.

2. Shift from monthly to quarterly billing

Increase cash-on-hand and reduce churn risk.

• Offer a small discount to incentivize quarterly over monthly payments.

• Easier to plan ad spend and inventory with longer billing cycles.

3. Negotiate better payment terms with vendors

Push out expenses without damaging relationships.

• Ask for Net-45 or Net-60 terms, especially with long-term partners.

• Combine with staged or partial payments to smooth large invoices.

4. Use financing tools for ad spend or inventory gaps

Smart debt can be a time unlock. Not just a liability.

• Tools like Ampla or Shopify Capital let you bridge cash flow dips.

• Only use when payback windows and margins are predictable.

5. Pace your ad spend around payback. Not calendar

Spend when your cash cycle can support it. Not just when performance is good.

• Focus on faster payback windows first.

• Pull back before big payouts (like payroll or large orders) to stay liquid.

Time gives you options. And the more levers you’re aware of, the easier it is to shift your cash position before things get tight.

Closing Thoughts

If cash always feels tight, don’t just look at your revenue, look at your timing.

Audit your billing cycles. Shift your ad pacing to align with payback. Negotiate better terms on major expenses. These small adjustments compound fast and give you more control without slowing down growth.

Don’t wait until you’re low on cash to start fixing cash flow.

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Thank you for reading! I appreciate you.

Sincerely,
Kody

Disclaimer: Special thanks to RevenueRoll & Raleon for sponsoring today’s newsletter.