Are You About to Run Out of Cash? Here’s What to Check Right Now
"Hey Mareaka, we crushed it this summer. But I’m starting to feel that familiar pinch again—like we’re about to hit another winter cash crunch. What should I be looking at now before it’s too late?"
If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Roofing and HVAC owners often feel flush after a packed summer.
But when fall hits and the work slows, the cracks in your cash flow start to show.
Busy season brings in cash, but it also hides financial blind spots. You might feel like you’re flush, but that bank balance isn’t the full picture.
As winter approaches, you may suddenly see how overextended you are—especially if you didn’t lock in deposits or manage overhead.
Fall is when overconfidence turns into cash flow chaos.
What You’ll Learn in This Article
Why busy season creates a false sense of security
The top 3 financial indicators to review before the slowdown hits
What to scan in your P&L and balance sheet to stay ahead
Why overextending on projects without deposits is risky
How to build a simple 60-day cash reserve plan
Before we dive into it, let me introduce myself if we haven’t met yet.
I’m Mareaka from Bunch Accounting, and I specialize in helping roofing and HVAC business owners like you make confident, profitable decisions.
Fall can catch you off guard. If you're pushing through new projects without upfront payments, or relying on busy-season habits, your operating cash could dry up fast.
The mistake isn’t the work—it’s doing it without knowing if you can float it.
Meanwhile, payroll, subs, trucks, and rent don’t stop.
Real Money on the Line
One roofer had $85K in contracts lined up but only $7K in cash—and $45K in payroll and subs due in 3 weeks.
Why? No deposits collected and AR hadn’t been chased. That cash crunch was completely avoidable.
Step-by-Step Fix
Here’s what to check right now to avoid a winter wipeout:
Cash-on-Hand vs. Burn Rate: How many weeks can your current cash cover based on your average weekly expenses? Don’t guess—do the math.
Accounts Receivable Aging: Pull your AR report. Who owes you? How long have those invoices been outstanding? Follow up today.
Upcoming Payroll & Payables: Forecast what you owe in the next 30-60 days—payroll, vendor bills, subs, equipment. Get visibility now.
Review the P&L and Balance Sheet: Spot red flags like creeping fixed expenses, shrinking margins, or large liabilities that need servicing.
Fall Project Deposits: If you’re kicking off big fall jobs without a deposit, hit pause. You’re floating someone else’s work.
Build a 60-Day Reserve Plan: Add up fixed monthly costs (payroll, rent, insurance, trucks) and aim to set aside 2 months’ worth as a buffer.
When an HVAC owner in Phoenix, reviewed his AR with us and we found it was 41 days behind, he realized he had $32K in labor coming up and no safety net. He started collecting 50% deposits and built a rolling cash flow tracker. That one move built him a $28K cushion before winter slowdown hit.
Get Your Free Guide
If your gut says a cash crunch might be coming—or you just want to run cleaner before winter hits—let’s pull your numbers together.
We help roofer and HVAC contractors set up tracking and reporting that finally shows what their numbers are really sharing.
Book a Profit and Tax Analysis and we’ll help you build your seasonal cash safety plan.
Let us know what you think in the comments!
