What numbers should I check every week?
Short answer: Six numbers, in five minutes: operating cash, tax reserve, accounts receivable, accounts payable, upcoming payroll, and a rolling 4-week cash forecast.
A weekly financial check-in is the single highest-leverage habit in small business. It catches issues 2–4 weeks before they bite, and it's short enough to actually do.
You don't need a dashboard or a bookkeeper to run it - just six numbers and a consistent time slot.
1. Operating cash
Your true available balance after tax, super and committed bills are removed. This is the number that tells you what the business can actually deploy this week.
2. Tax reserve
How much you've set aside for GST, PAYG, super and income tax. Compare it weekly to your accrued obligations - they should track closely.
3. Accounts receivable
What customers owe you, and how old each invoice is. Anything past 30 days deserves a follow-up; anything past 60 days deserves a phone call.
4. Accounts payable
What you owe suppliers and when. Group them by due date so you can see the next two weeks of outflows at a glance.
5. Upcoming payroll
The next pay run total - wages, PAYG and super combined. This is usually the largest single outflow of the fortnight and deserves its own line.
6. Rolling 4-week cash forecast
A simple week-by-week view of expected inflows minus known outflows. It doesn't need to be perfect - it needs to be updated.
If any week dips below your comfort threshold, you have time to act calmly instead of reacting urgently.
- Six numbers, same time each week, ideally Monday morning.
- Operating cash and tax reserve tell you the truth your account balance can't.
- AR, AP and payroll show where the next pressure points are.
- A rolling 4-week forecast turns surprises into early warnings.