I plan for seasonal dips by separating cash into buckets before the dip shows up.
At Domepeace, the hardest part is that cash leaves before revenue catches up. If we need to reorder inventory, pay for packaging, and keep ads running, the bank balance can look fine today while the next 60 days are already tight.
The trigger I watch is simple:
Can we cover our next inventory commitment, fixed expenses, and planned ad spend without depending on a perfect sales week?
If the answer is no, we slow spending before revenue slows.
This became clear for us with inventory. Some supplier cycles took around 64 to 66 days, so waiting until sales dipped to react would be too late. A product can be selling well, but if the next purchase order needs to be paid now, cash gets tight fast.
One practical rule we use is to look at days of supply and cash together. If inventory is getting close to lead time and cash is also tight, we prioritize the SKU that protects the most revenue. For us, that usually means hero products or bundle-driving products, because if those go out of stock, it hurts AOV, ads, and repeat purchases.
My advice is to pull back when your forecast starts relying on best-case sales.
Do not wait until the bank balance forces the decision.