Northwind Studio Q3 Cash Flow
Northwind Studio’s Q3 cash flow diagram gives a service business a compact bridge from its opening cash to its expected quarter-end balance. It separates client retainers from project milestones, which helps the studio judge how much cash depends on delivery reaching an agreed stage. Salaries, contractor payments, software and the tax reserve are shown individually because they are managed differently. The diagram is useful in a leadership meeting when deciding whether to take on a contractor, bring forward equipment spending or delay a nonessential purchase. It does not show revenue recognition or profitability. Instead, it focuses on the timing of money in the bank, which is the information needed to plan cash commitments over the quarter.
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Scenario
Quarterly operating cash review for a design studio.
Key decisions
- Match labour to milestones: contractor costs should be covered by expected project receipts.
- Hold tax cash aside: do not treat the tax reserve as working capital.
- Review recurring tools: show software costs separately from delivery labour.
When to reuse this
Use for service businesses that receive retainers and milestone payments.
Frequently asked questions
Why separate retainers and milestones?
What is a tax reserve?
Can this be quarterly?
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