Cash & Treasury Management
Written by Harry Prabandham
Curated by Rubric Financial
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Cash Management Fundamentals
- Maintain a 13-week rolling cash flow forecast updated weekly; this is the single most important treasury tool for startups
- Separate operating cash (2-3 months of expenses) from reserve cash; keep reserves in a different account to prevent accidental spending
- Implement dual-signature authorization for any payment above a materiality threshold (e.g., $10K-$25K depending on stage)
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About the author
Harry PrabandhamFounder & CEO
Founder and CEO of StartupCFO. MBA from Wharton, MS in Computer Science, and decades of experience building and advising venture-backed startups.
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