Money in and money out, timed.
THE TIMING PROBLEM
Customers pay, the gateway settles days later, and suppliers want paying now.
Money in transit is money you cannot use.
WHAT TO KNOW
Your gateway's settlement period When suppliers expect payment Your fixed monthly costs
PLANNING AROUND IT
Do not commit money you have taken but not yet received.
Keep a buffer covering your fixed costs, so a slow week does not threaten hosting renewal or supplier payments.
THE HOSTING POINT
An unpaid hosting invoice suspends your site and email. For an online business that stops trading entirely.
Enable auto-renewal and keep a valid card on file. It is a small precaution with disproportionate consequences.
DOMAIN RENEWAL PARTICULARLY
A lapsed domain takes the site and email offline, and recovery is expensive or impossible.
SEASONALITY
If your sales are seasonal, budget across the year rather than month to month.
REVIEWING
Monthly. Cash flow problems are visible in advance if anyone is looking.
