Drowning in Inventory Costs? Try This Cash Flow Hack

And yet… it happens all the time. Not because sellers are lazy. But because cash flow is tight, inventory takes time, and Amazon doesn’t care if your kids need braces.

So how do you keep the wheels turning without maxing out your personal credit card or begging Aunt Linda for a “business loan”?

Let’s talk Amazon Lending, Pay-by-Invoice, and Smart Reorder Schedules—a triple-threat strategy to keep your store stocked, stress low, and sales flying.

📖 Real-Life Seller Story: Meet Carla

Carla runs a beauty brand on Amazon—think skincare rollers and organic serums. Sales were solid, reviews were glowing… but her cash flow? Brutal.

Every time she reinvested in inventory, she had nothing left for ads or emergencies. She was growing, but it felt like drowning with her head barely above water.

Then we made three changes:

1. Used Amazon Lending for inventory only.

2. Set up Pay-by-Invoice with her supplier (Net 30).

3. Implemented a reorder schedule based on 3-week sales velocity.

Result? She stayed in stock, increased ad spend without touching her bank account, and grew 42% in 90 days. And she slept better too 😴

Here’s how she did it—and how you can too 👇

🔢 The 3-Part Cash Flow Fix

💳 1. Amazon Lending: Use It Like a Scalpel, Not a Sledgehammer

Amazon’s Lending program offers low-interest loans based on your sales. But here’s the kicker: use it only for inventory that’s already proven.

Don’t get cute. Don’t “test” a new product with a loan.

Instead:

• Accept just enough to cover your next 1–2 inventory cycles.

• Set repayment to match your sales cadence (usually weekly).

• Track ROI per unit and repay early if needed.

✅ Carla took a $15k loan and used every penny to reorder her bestsellers. Nothing fancy. Just rinse, repeat, profit.

🧾 2. Pay-by-Invoice (Net 30/Net 60): Buy Now, Pay Later—Literally

If your supplier trusts you (or wants to keep your biz), ask for payment terms.

Net 30 = Pay 30 days after the invoice.
Net 60 = Even better, but harder to negotiate.

This means you can:

• Sell the inventory before paying for it.

• Use sales revenue to pay your supplier (instead of using savings).

• Free up cash for PPC, design, or that espresso machine you’ve been eyeing.

🧠 Carla asked her supplier for Net 30 after 3 successful orders. They said yes—because she asked, clearly and respectfully. Simple as that.

🗓️ 3. Smart Reorder Schedules: Don’t Wing It

Most sellers reorder when stock looks low. That’s like refueling your car only when it starts sputtering.

Instead:

• Set a reorder point based on your average weekly sales + lead time + buffer.

• Reorder before you hit the danger zone.

• Use a simple spreadsheet or tool like SoStocked to track.

📈 Carla realized her serum was selling 100 units/week. With a 4-week lead time and 20% buffer, her reorder point was 480 units. That clarity = power.

🎯 The Big Takeaway

Cash flow problems don’t mean your biz is broken. They mean your timing is off.

Use Amazon Lending strategically, Pay-by-Invoice intentionally, and reorder schedules consistently. That’s the difference between scrambling and scaling.

💬 Say it with me:
“Profit means nothing if you can’t pay the bill.”

🙋‍♂️ Been there, stressed about that?

You’re not alone—and now you’re armed with the three cash flow levers that actually move the needle.

Onward and upward,

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