Meet Mwangi. He runs a busy hardware shop.

Business is good, but cash is always tight.

So Mwangi starts doing what many business owners do.

He delays paying suppliers to keep money available for other expenses.

A bill due this week gets pushed to next week.

Next week becomes three weeks.

Mwangi thinks he's buying himself time.

Until one morning, his main supplier calls.

"No more goods on credit, Mwangi. Pay upfront before we deliver your next order."

Suddenly, Mwangi has a problem.

Customers are asking for materials, but his shelves are running low.

He has orders to fulfil, bills to pay and a supplier who no longer trusts his promises.

The supplier had been financing part of Mwangi's business through delayed payments.

Now that support is gone.

But there's another problem Mwangi hasn't noticed.

He doesn't have a clear picture of exactly how much he owes.

Some invoices haven't been checked against deliveries.

A credit note hasn't been recorded.

And one bill may already have been paid.

He's been delaying payments without first confirming what is actually outstanding.

So, how can Mwangi regain control?

→ Check every supplier invoice against the order and goods received.

→ Compare supplier statements with his own records every month.

→ Keep a list of unpaid bills and their due dates.

→ Plan payments around expected cash coming in instead of waiting for suppliers to start calling.

Because supplier payments aren't just about clearing bills.

They're about protecting the relationships that keep your business running.

Your suppliers may be giving you time to pay today.

But that time isn't guaranteed forever.

If your suppliers know what you owe better than you do, it's time to check your books.