Import cash timeline planner

Why the calendar matters as much as the amount

An import order spends money in stages. The deposit goes when you confirm the order. The balance usually falls due when the goods are ready to ship. Duty, GST and clearance charges land when the container arrives. Then there's a gap while the stock sells, and another if your customers buy on account. Laying those dates out shows exactly how long your money is working for someone else.

That matters because the order doesn't happen in isolation. A balance payment in the same fortnight as a quarterly BAS, super guarantee contributions or a big rent review can squeeze a business that would otherwise be fine. Plotting dates also shows where a small change helps: a shorter production run, a faster sell-through, or shorter terms for your own customers.

Using the result

• Put the key dates in your cash-flow forecast alongside BAS, payroll and rent.
• Add a buffer of a week or two to production and transit — delays are common, and each one extends the period your cash is out.
• Use the landed cost calculator to put dollar amounts against each date.
• If the tied-up period overlaps with your next order, you're effectively funding two containers at once — that's where a revolving facility often makes more sense than one-off loans.

Our guide to the importer's cash cycle goes deeper on shortening the gap. If the numbers show you'll need help bridging it, start a short enquiry — no credit check to ask, and a real person reads it.

Frequently asked questions

Why plan an import order by date rather than by amount?

Because the same order can be comfortable or stressful depending on when the money goes out. A balance due the week your BAS is due, or a container clearing just before a slow month, changes how much buffer you need. Seeing the dates lets you line the order up with the rest of your cash commitments.

What counts as the cash-tied-up period?

The days between paying the supplier deposit and collecting payment from your customers for the stock. It's the period a stock or trade facility would need to cover if you're borrowing for the order.

How accurate are the dates?

They're only as good as the lead times you enter. Production, transit and clearance times vary by supplier, route, season and inspections, so it's sensible to add a buffer to each stage and treat the result as a planning guide.

Does this include customer payment terms?

Yes. If you sell on account, enter your usual terms in days. The planner adds them after the sell-through period, because that's when the money actually lands.