Jacob A. Douglas, MBAFINANCE & OPERATIONS

THE OWNER’S NUMBERS / PROJECT DECISION KIT

Before you commit,
run the numbers.

Check what your next job could cost, how much time it needs and when you might run short of cash. Save your results for your next client talk.

For creative agencies, production studios and event teams. No account needed. Your numbers stay on this device.

Two checks before you say yes

Will the project leave enough?

Add your price, costs and who still has work to do. See what is left and what you could change.

Project Margin Stress Test

Does the deadline fit?

See if the job fits around work you have booked, admin and time off.

Time & Deadline Check

Free. No signup. Your entries stay in each tool. Also check client mix.

01 / YOUR PROJECT

Can you pay the bills before your client pays you?

This is a made-up example. Change the numbers to yours.

1. What does the job look like?

2. When will the client pay?

Enter cash you expect to pay for the work, such as contractor bills and materials. Include any owner pay or shared bills you want to count. The deposit and halfway bill must add up to 100% or less. You bill the rest after the work is done and approved.

Change a number to update your plan. The tool does the math.

KEEP IT. USE IT. COME BACK TO IT.

Your kit should leave with you.

A guide with examples and two tools you can use offline. Save your own results. No spreadsheet setup.

Download the PDF field guideDownload the offline cash plannerDownload the offline margin test

PDF: examples, meeting prompts and checklists. Offline planner: save the HTML file and open it in a desktop browser. Save your results before you close a tool. All files in one ZIP.

Free to use. Keep your downloaded copy. Downloading does not start a subscription.

More tools for what keeps getting stuck

Choose the issue closest to your next project.

1 · CASH

Client money arrives late

See if client payments will arrive before your project bills are due.

Check the cash gap

Need help with your real project? Project Cash Review, from $1,500.

2 · SCOPE

Extra work keeps growing

Find a price that covers the extra work and leaves the share you want.

Price the extra work

Need help with your real project? Project Margin Review, from $1,500.

3 · PAYMENTS

For businesses hiring contractors

See which contractor bills are ready to pay and what still needs a check.

Find what needs a check

Need help with your real project? Payment Workflow Review, from $1,500.

4 · CLIENT MIX

Too much depends on one client

See how much of your sales comes from each client. Try losing client work or adding work from others.

Check client mix

Use sales from the same dates. No one client share is safe for every business.

Your 20-minute project review
  1. Gather estimates, 5 minutes. Use the price your client agreed to, cash costs, deposit and days to pay each bill. Keep private bank, tax and contractor details out of the tools.
  2. Test the cash timing, 5 minutes. Try a larger deposit and fewer days for the client to pay. Write down how much cash you can set aside and when you need an answer.
  3. Price one change, 5 minutes. Estimate extra hours, the full cost of each hour and other added costs. Agree on the price and payment date in writing before doing extra work.
  4. Check payments, 5 minutes. Use your own codes for approved bills. Give each open issue a person to fix it and a date to check back. Download your list.
Worked example: a production project

This made-up job takes six weeks. The price is $60,000 and cash costs are $40,000. The client pays 25% before work starts. You bill another 25% halfway through, to be paid in 30 days. You bill the last 50% after 14 days for approval, with another 30 days to pay. You pay 25% of costs at the start, 50% halfway through and 25% at the end.

The largest cash gap is $25,000. If you set aside $10,000, you still need $15,000 more. The job leaves $20,000 after the costs entered. That is before any owner time, shared bills, tax or borrowing costs you left out. The last client payment arrives on day 86.

One more edit round takes 20 hours at a full cost of $75 per hour, plus $500 in other costs. To leave 30% of the price after those costs, charge $2,857.14 before any tax. The client must agree to the price and payment date.

These examples illustrate the tools. They do not describe a past client or promise a result.

Email me the kit

Receive one delivery email with the tools and download link.

Your name, email, choices and non-personal campaign labels go to Google for processing and a private signup tracker. See Privacy. Keep confidential records out of this form.

Want help checking your plan?

The free kit uses your numbers to show what could happen. A paid review adds Jacob’s check of agreed records, a suggested next step and a 30-day plan. Growth adds cash planning and follow-up across your jobs.

One project needs a closer look

If costs, agreed changes or payments do not line up, Jacob can check the records you agree to review. You get a short report and a 30-day plan. Reviews start at $1,500 for agreed work.

Review the assessment scope

The same problem returns every month

Growth adds a cash plan for the next 13 weeks, a list of up to ten open payment or vendor items, a monthly review and one planned follow-up round. From $1,750 per month, with setup from $750 and a six-month starting term. Your books must be up to date. Bookkeeping is priced separately.

Review Growth support

Ask Jacob which service fits

Tell Jacob about the job, dates and choice you need to make. Agree on a safe way to share private records first. Sending a request does not book a meeting.

These tools help you plan. Check your numbers and agreed terms before acting. Entries stay in your browser.