Definition
Cash to cash cycle is the time between paying for inventory and receiving cash from its sale. Founders reach for it when a vague conversation needs a shared, specific meaning. Name it clearly, then let the next decision — a hire, a price, a test, or a pass — follow from that meaning.
In the room
How the word shows up in a real conversation.
In a Monday review, someone writes Cash to cash cycle on the board and restates it: “Time between paying for inventory and receiving cash from its sale.” The next move is a test, a cut, or a double-down — not another debate about the word.
Common mistake
Using Cash to cash cycle as a label instead of a fact. If you cannot point to the evidence — a number, a customer, or a written assumption — you are using the word as jargon.
See also
Cash balance
Amount of cash and cash equivalents held by a company at a point in time.
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Cash break-even point
Sales level where cash inflows equal cash outflows, excluding non-cash expenses.
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Cash budget
Financial plan showing expected cash receipts and payments over a period.
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Cash burn rate
Rate at which a company consumes its cash reserves over time.
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