The admin avalanche: Why falling behind on bills can spiral fast for small trade businesses

You’re not lazy. You’re not disorganised. And you’re definitely not alone.

But here’s the hard truth: when you fall behind on bills in a trade business, things can spiral fast. And it’s not because you’re bad at business - it’s because most small businesses were never taught how to manage cashflow properly in the first place.

It doesn't take much to tip the scales

Let’s say you’ve had a few slower weeks - a job was delayed, a client hasn't paid, or your materials cost more than expected. You’re still working, but the bank balance is starting to dip. Then a quarterly BAS hits. A supplier invoice comes in. You need to pay your apprentice. And maybe your van needs urgent repairs. Suddenly you’re juggling late payments, putting one bill on the credit card, and telling yourself you’ll catch up next month. But the next month doesn’t get easier — and the hole gets deeper. This is how good businesses end up drowning. Not because they aren’t profitable. But because they’ve lost control of timing. Cashflow is all about timing - and when you don’t have visibility on what’s coming in vs what’s going out, you’re flying blind.

What happens when you fall behind

Here’s what we see all the time with small trade businesses:

• You stop paying suppliers on time. That affects your pricing, access to materials, and relationships.

• You don’t set aside money for BAS or super. So when the ATO knocks, you scramble (or ignore it).

• You avoid looking at your bank accounts. Because it feels easier to not know than to face the panic.

• You stop paying yourself consistently. Which creates pressure at home — and resentment in the business.

  
  

Over time, this creates a cycle of high stress, poor decisions, and business fatigue. It’s no longer about growing - it’s just about surviving.

Cashflow is a system problem - not a you problem

Most tradies were never shown how to manage money inside a business. You’re excellent on the tools - but no one gave you the financial toolkit you need behind the scenes.

You need a system that:

• Tells you what bills are coming up

• Helps you plan for tax and super

• Shows you what’s actually safe to spend

• Lets you track your obligations week by week - without drowning in spreadsheets

  
  

That’s what cashflow management really is: It’s not about pinching every dollar - it’s about knowing what’s due, what’s yours to keep, and what’s coming next.

How to break the spiral

At AccNav, we don’t believe in fluff or financial jargon. Our small business courses are built specifically for trade and maintenance businesses.

We show you:

• How to build a simple cashflow forecast

• How to stay on top of bills and BAS without the panic

• How to take control of your numbers (even if you’ve never done it before)

• And how to spot trouble early - before it snowballs

Because once you’re in control of your cash, everything else gets easier. You quote with confidence. You pay yourself properly. You sleep better at night.

Our practical, step-by-step Small Business Foundations Course is designed to help you take control in just a few weeks - no business degree required!