3 Questions You Should Ask About Your Finances Every Morning

Most construction business owners start the day the same way.

They check the job board. Confirm who’s on site. Skim the inbox. Tackle whatever’s gone wrong overnight.

But while they’re busy reacting, they’re missing the one habit that keeps the whole business steady: a quick cash check.

Just like you prep the site with tools, team, and materials,you need to prep the business. And that starts with your numbers.

Ask these three questions every morning and you’ll stay ahead of problems, not buried under them.

1. How much cash do we have?

This isn’t just “is there money in the account?”

It’s about reconciling your bank in real time, knowing exactly what’s available once payments coming in and going out are factored in. Tools like Xero make this easier, but only if someone is on top of it daily.

Think of it like checking the fuel gauge before setting off. You wouldn’t drive to site hoping the tank’s full. Yet many builders do that with their bank balance.

If you don’t know this number, you can’t:

• Make confident spending decisions
• Plan your VAT or CIS
• Sleep soundly at night

And worst case? You pay out what you think you have, then get hit with bounced payroll or HMRC surprises.

2. Who has our cash?

Check your aged receivables report. Who owes you money? Is it due? Is it late?

This tells you how much of your cash is stuck, often in the hands of clients who are dragging their feet.

This question helps you:

• Prioritiseyour follow-ups
• Spotred flags early
• Avoidcashflow squeezes caused by slow payers

In construction, 30+ day terms and variation delays are common. But they can’t become excuses. One overdue invoice can derail your whole week.

Pro tip: Tie this into your forecast. If you’re relying on a £15k payment that’s now 20 days late, don’t just chase it, plan around it. Maybe that means slowing spend, re-timing supplier payments, or leaning on invoice finance if needed.

3. How do we get more cash?

This isn’t just about selling more work.

It’s about fixing the levers that speed up cash:

• How fast do we quote?
• How quickly do we finish and invoice?
• How long does it take to get paid?
• Are we pricing high enough to create real profit?

If those numbers are off, more sales won’t help. You’ll just run faster on the hamster wheel.

Ask: What’s one action today that moves the needle?

Call a prospect. Chase an invoice. Tighten your quoting system.

Try This

Start a “Morning Cash Coffee”, 15 minutes at the same time each day.

Just you, your coffee, and your numbers. Or include your admin/accountant if you have one.

Answer these three:

1. What’s our real cash position
2. Who owes us money?
3. What can we do today to bring more in?

Put it in your calendar. Make it a non-negotiable. It takes 15 minutes. But it makes a massive difference to:

• Confidence
• Clarity
• Control

Great businesses don’t guess where their cash is.

They know.