1. Take a deposit
A deposit on acceptance covers materials and confirms the client is serious. Put it in your terms from the first quote.
2. Link stage payments to the work
On bigger jobs, agree payments at clear milestones – after strip and felt, after tiling, on completion. Clients understand them and you are never funding a whole roof yourself.
3. Invoice the same day
Every day between finishing a stage and sending the invoice is a day of free credit you give away. Send it from site if you can.
4. Chase politely, early and every time
Set a routine: reminder before the due date, a call on the day it is late, and a firm follow-up a week later. Most late payers are simply disorganised.
5. Track retentions
Retentions on commercial work can add up to a serious sum. Record each one with its release date and claim it on time.
6. Use supplier credit wisely
A 30-day trade account with your merchant lets you get paid by the client before you pay for materials – if your stage payments are set up right.
7. Put VAT and tax money aside
VAT you collect is not your money. Moving it to a separate account each week removes the quarterly shock. The same goes for CIS deductions and corporation tax.
Quote in minutes. Profit on every project.
Profit Engine launches on 28 October. The first 100 UK roofing companies get 50% off for 12 months, a free month, and free onboarding.
Join the waitlist8. Forecast 13 weeks ahead
The single most useful habit: a rolling 13-week forecast of cash in and cash out. It shows the tight week a month before it arrives, so you can move a start date, chase a payment or delay a purchase.
Doing it in a spreadsheet takes discipline. Construction cash flow software like Profit Engine builds the forecast automatically from your quotes, payment plans and job costs – so it is always up to date without extra admin.
Frequently asked questions
- Why do profitable roofing companies run out of cash?
- Because wages, materials and scaffold are paid before clients pay. Slow payers, retentions and VAT bills widen the gap.
- How far ahead should I forecast cash flow?
- A rolling 13-week (quarter) forecast is a good standard: long enough to see problems coming, short enough to be accurate.