Step 1 — cost the order in cash, not profit

A large order looks profitable, but the question that matters is cash: how much will you have to spend — materials, wages, subcontractors — before the customer pays you? Map the timeline of every cash outflow the order requires and the point cash comes back in. The gap between the two is what you need to fund. Profit reassures; cash decides. See cash flow during rapid growth.

Step 2 — check the customer and the terms

The whole plan rests on being paid, so vet the customer's creditworthiness before you commit — a large order from a slow or shaky payer is a large risk. Negotiate terms that ease the cash strain: a deposit, stage payments tied to milestones, or shorter payment terms. Getting even part of the money up front dramatically shrinks the gap you have to fund. See how to credit-check a customer.

Step 3 — choose the right finance

Match the funding to the gap. Invoice finance releases most of the invoice value as soon as you raise it, ideal when the strain is waiting to be paid. A short working-capital facility funds the up-front spend and is repaid when the order pays. Trade or purchase finance can fund the materials directly. The right tool depends on where in the timeline the cash is tightest. See loan versus invoice finance.

Step 4 — keep control as you deliver

Fund the order, then manage it tightly: invoice promptly at each milestone, hold the customer to the agreed terms, and keep your 13-week forecast updated as the real cash flows land. A well-funded order still needs disciplined delivery to convert into the cash it promised.

Step 5 — arrange it before you say yes

The best time to fund a large order is before you accept it, not once you are mid-delivery and short. Arranging finance in advance means you commit knowing the cash is covered.

Credicorp lends to your company, not to you personally, and takes no personal guarantee. See business loans or apply online.