Don't Let a Tight Wallet Ruin Q4

Think You Can’t Afford to Win Q4? Think Again.

If you’re staring at your Amazon seller dashboard in Q3, wondering how you’re going to fund your Q4 inventory without selling your kidney on Craigslist… I get it.

I’ve been there—pinching pennies, watching my ad spend like a hawk, trying to survive the summer slowdown while dreaming of holiday sales.

Here’s the truth:

📦 You don’t need deep pockets to crush Q4.
🎯 You need a deep plan.

Let me show you how.

📖 That Time I Gambled My Rent on Q4 (And Lived to Tell the Tale)

A few years back, I was down to my last $2,000 in Q3. My top product was doing okay, but not enough to cover the massive inventory I thought I needed for the holidays.

Most folks would play it safe, reorder just a little, and pray Santa delivers more than coal.

Me? I got scrappy.

Instead of overordering, I used three dirty words most sellers avoid:

👉 Forecast.
👉 Prioritize.
👉 Hustle.

I forecasted what I could realistically sell during peak shopping days.

I prioritized my top 1–2 SKUs instead of trying to be everything to everyone.

And I hustled—pre-selling, negotiating with suppliers, even launching a mini “VIP” waitlist to drum up urgency.

End result? I sold out in 6 days during Cyber Week.
And that $2,000 turned into $14,000 in net profit.

You don’t need more money. You need a smarter playbook.

🔢 The Broke Seller’s Q4 Inventory Playbook (In 5 Moves)

Let’s break this down into tactics you can use right now—even if your Q3 wallet is emptier than a gas station sushi tray.

1. Audit Your ASINs (and Be Ruthless)
Not every product deserves a seat at your Q4 table.

• Double down on what’s already converting

• Cut the dead weight (slow movers, seasonal losers)

• Focus only on 1–3 proven products

This isn’t the time to experiment. Pick your Q4 champions.

2. Forecast Like a Street-Smart Accountant
Look at:

• Last year’s Q4 data (if available)

• Your best month so far this year

• Your current sell-through rate

Multiply by 2–3x for November/December demand. But don’t go crazy—stock out profitably, not wastefully.

3. Extend Net Terms with Suppliers (Yes, Even If You’re Small)
Most new sellers don’t realize:

Suppliers want your Q4 business. They know it’s peak time.

Ask for:

• Net 30 or Net 60 terms

• Smaller deposit upfront

• Partial shipment to break up costs

You’d be shocked what they'll agree to—especially if you’ve paid on time before.

4. Pre-Sell Like Apple Does
Can’t afford a full restock?

👉 Pre-sell your inventory.

• Add “Ships by [Date]” on your listing

• Use Amazon FBM temporarily

• Run early-bird promos for buyers who’ll wait

This builds urgency and funds your inventory before you pay for it. 🙌

5. Reinvest Like You Mean It
If you squeeze out $500–$2,000 from Q3, don’t waste it on shiny tools or coffee-flavored protein powder.

Every dollar should go toward:

• Top-selling inventory

• Small-batch ads to spike ranking

• Lean shipping logistics

If you’re not reinvesting for Q4, you’re just playing business.

🎯 Here’s the Big Lesson
Being broke in Q3 doesn’t disqualify you from winning Q4.

It just means you’ve got to think like a chess player, not a slot machine addict.

Plan your moves. Play the long game.

And remember: cash flow isn’t about how much you have—it’s about how well you use it.

💬 “Plan like a CEO, spend like a broke college kid.” 😉

🙋‍♂️ Comment if you’ve ever had to plan Q4 on a shoestring 👇
🔖 Save this post for October panic mode
💌 Forward this to a fellow Amazon hustler

Until next time,
Keep making each click count.

—
Andy Splichal
Founder & Managing Partner of True Online Presence & Author of the Make Each Click Count Book Series

P.S. Want to scale your sales without scaling your stress? I manage PPC for sellers who are serious about growth.

🎯 Book a free strategy call here — we’ll map out a winning game plan.