Learn the Basics of Cash Flow and Receivables

Practical guides and short lessons built for freelancers and small businesses.

Welcome to the KOSYME Resource Library

Here you’ll find quick lessons, toolkit walk-throughs, and plain-English guides designed to help freelancers, contractors, and small businesses stay on top of receivables and cash flow.

Toolkit How-Tos

Learn how to use the Solo Toolkit features in under a minute. Watch short clips and see screenshots that show you how the tools actually work.

• Preview the Sample Toolkit

Cash Flow Basics for Small Businesses

Cash flow is the movement of money in and out of your business income from clients, and expenses like rent, supplies, or subscriptions. Positive cash flow means you have enough coming in to cover what’s going out, while negative cash flow means expenses are outpacing income. Tracking cash flow helps you see not just where you are today, but whether you’ll have enough on hand to pay bills in the weeks ahead. With the Toolkit, you can log a single test entry and instantly see how it changes your snapshot forecast, making the concept easy to practice instead of guess.

Cash Flow Basics

Inflow – Money coming in from clients, sales, or other income sources.
Outflow – Money going out for expenses like rent, supplies, or subscriptions.
Net Result – The balance left after inflows and outflows. Positive cash flow means you can cover upcoming bills. Negative cash flow means expenses are outpacing income.

With the Toolkit, you can log a single test entry and instantly see how it shifts your snapshot forecast, turning the idea of cash flow into something you can practice instead of guess.

Accounts Receivable Tracking in Excel

Receivables are the invoices you’ve issued but haven’t yet been paid for. They represent money owed to you, and the longer they remain outstanding, the more they strain your cash flow. Tracking receivables by aging buckets, such as current, 30 days, or 60 days past due, helps you see where payment delays are happening. With the Toolkit, you can log an invoice once and immediately watch it flow into the aging view, making late accounts easy to spot and follow up on.

Receivables Basics

Issued Invoices – Money your clients owe you after you’ve delivered a product or service.
Aging – How long those invoices have been outstanding, usually tracked in 30-day buckets.
Collections – The steps you take to follow up and make sure payments are received on time.

With the Toolkit, you can log an invoice once and instantly see it flow into your aging view, making late payments easy to spot.

Understanding Credit Terms & Risk

Credit terms set the rules for when and how clients must pay you. Clear terms like Net 15 or Net 30 create accountability and reduce misunderstandings. Weak or vague terms increase the risk of late or missed payments. Managing credit risk means setting boundaries before work starts and keeping a process for follow-up. This section introduces the basics so you can prepare for stronger policies in the next toolkit. If you need extra help in the meantime, the Support add-on can guide you through common questions and troubleshooting.

Credit Terms & Risk Basics

Set Clear Terms – Define when payment is due (like Net 15 or Net 30).
Checkpoints – Use a checklist to confirm a client can realistically meet the terms.
Support – Add help when needed to troubleshoot policies or client issues.

Advanced credit policy tools are coming in the next toolkit.

Learn More on YouTube

Want more tips and walk-throughs? Visit our YouTube channel for short lessons on receivables, cash flow, and bookkeeping basics. Each video is designed to help freelancers and small businesses get clear on their finances.

Subscribe to the KOSYME YouTube Channel

Legal & Compliance Notice

KOSYME Financial Services LLC provides access to standardized business tools and educational resources. Use of the Toolkit does not create a CPA-client, investment advisory, fiduciary, or attorney-client relationship. KOSYME does not provide tax, legal, investment, or consumer credit counseling services under this subscription. For assistance, contact support@kosyme.com.