Days 1–30: Separate and document
- Open dedicated business banking and card accounts.
- Select an accounting platform and chart of accounts.
- Store formation, ownership, tax, contract, and payroll records.
- Create a simple approval and reimbursement process.
Days 31–60: Close and measure
- Reconcile every cash account.
- Produce the first monthly P&L and balance sheet.
- Calculate gross burn, net burn, and runway.
- Identify tax registrations, filing dates, and contractor documentation.
Days 61–90: Forecast and communicate
- Build a 13-week cash forecast.
- Create a hiring and major-spend plan.
- Define a small set of operating and financial KPIs.
- Establish a monthly founder finance review.
Minimum viable cadence: close the books, update cash and runway, compare plan to actuals, decide corrective actions, and document owners.
What good looks like at day 90
The company can explain how much cash it has, how quickly it is using it, what is due next, whether records are current, and which assumptions determine the next financing date.
William Green
Founder and CEO of WGF Group, building practical finance foundations for early-stage teams.