How do I show a lender a marketplace seller’s cash flow between payouts?

Start with the payout reports from the marketplace itself and match each deposit to your bank statements. A lender trusts a number it can trace from the platform report to a bank line. Where the two do not agree, write down why, whether that is a held reserve, a refund netted off or a fee deducted before the transfer.

Next, show two views side by side. One follows sales by order date, which is how the business earns. The other follows cash by deposit date, which is how bills get paid. Explain the lag between them in plain words and show how inventory purchases, advertising spend and supplier terms fall inside that lag.

Finally, show the quiet stretches. Lenders will ask what happens in a slow period or if the platform delays a payout. Prepare a simple forward cash plan that shows the lowest point and how it is covered, whether from reserves or a credit line. Be ready to explain seasonal swings before you are asked. Keep a short note on how payout timing has changed over the past year, since lenders like to see that the business has coped before. If you have used supplier credit to bridge the wait, show that too, along with how it was repaid.

Key takeaways

• Match every payout to a bank deposit and explain any difference.
• Show sales by order date next to cash by deposit date.
• Include a forward cash plan with the lowest point visible.