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Quote-to-Cash Days Calculator
Every day between sending a quote and the money landing in your account is a day your business is funding the job out of its own pocket. Most trades have never measured it — do the sum here in two minutes.
Your biggest delay is —, at 0 days — fixing that stage first will free up cash fastest.
What "cash tied up" means
This is a rough estimate of the value of work sitting unpaid at any moment, based on your average daily revenue and how many days it takes to collect it. It's the money you've effectively lent your customers.
Who this is for
Any small business or trade that sends quotes, does the work, then invoices and waits to get paid — builders, contractors, installers, consultants, agencies, and anyone whose cash flow depends on the gap between "job won" and "money in the bank". If you've never measured that gap, this is the two-minute reality check.
Why does this matter more than turnover?
A business can be busy and still run out of cash if the gap between doing the work and being paid for it is too long. Every job sitting unpaid is effectively a loan you've given your customer — and you're funding your suppliers, wages and van costs while you wait. Shortening the quote-to-cash cycle is often a faster route to more usable cash than winning more work.
Which stage is usually the killer?
For most trades it's the gap between finishing the job and getting paid — split between how quickly the invoice actually goes out (do it the same day, not "when you get round to it") and your payment terms (30 days net is common but not compulsory — 7 or 14 days is fine to ask for). Slow invoicing is the easiest of the four stages to fix, because it's entirely within your control.
How is "working capital tied up" calculated?
It takes your average daily revenue (average job value × jobs per month × 12, divided by 365) and multiplies it by your total quote-to-cash days. It's an estimate that assumes a steady flow of jobs — a business with lumpy or seasonal work will see this figure move around more than the sum suggests.
What can I actually do to cut the days?
Invoice on the day the job finishes, not at the end of the month. Ask for shorter payment terms or a deposit up front. Chase overdue invoices immediately rather than after 30 days of silence. Automate quote follow-ups so acceptance doesn't stall. None of this needs new software — most of it is just changing when you do things you already do.
Does this calculator store or upload my figures?
No. All calculations run in your browser using JavaScript. Nothing you type is uploaded, saved or sent anywhere.
What if cash is tight right now, not just slow?
A long quote-to-cash cycle is one cause of a cash squeeze, but it's not the only one. Our break-even calculator checks whether your job volume even covers your overheads, and our van & equipment finance calculator is useful if spreading a big purchase would ease the pressure while you fix the collection side.
Please note: this tool gives a guide or estimate only. It may not be 100% accurate and is not professional advice — always check the figures before you rely on them. Everything you type stays in your browser — nothing is uploaded, saved or sent anywhere.
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