Editorial update — October 17, 2026: This page retains its original archive date. The practical explanation and related reading below reflect this editorial update.
A visible balance is not the same as available operating cash
An owner reviewing cash needs to distinguish bank balances from expected deposits, unsettled receipts and obligations already committed. Keep the timing of payroll, supplier payments and refunds visible alongside the amounts expected to arrive.
Document who updates the cash view and who investigates a missing deposit. A forecast is a planning tool, not a guarantee that a bank, processor or customer will release funds on the assumed date.
The cash-scenario discussion in the slowdown guide explains why conservative assumptions matter. For platform dependence, see the embedded-finance brief. This is an operating perspective, not a new claim about a named 2023 bank event.
Eric Kuvykin
Publisher and editorial director covering payments, fintech, merchant services, banking, AI, technology and operating strategy for small and medium-sized businesses.