← All postsMoney · 6 min read · 14 October 2026
Cash vs earned: which number should your goal track?
Most founders set a revenue goal, then measure it three different ways depending on the week. Here is how to pick one and stick to it.
The Cashier teamGeneral information, not financial advice
Why it matters
A goal you measure differently each week is not a goal. You feel ahead when a big invoice goes out, behind when it hasn't been paid, and you never quite know where you stand.
The three numbers
Earned is work delivered. Invoiced is what you have billed. Received is cash in the bank. They tell different stories, and the gap between them is where trouble hides.
The gap between earned and received is where most cash surprises live.
How to pick one
Track earned to know whether the business is growing.
Track received if cash is tight or you plan to hire.
Watch the gap every month. A growing gap means slow payers.
Rule of thumb: set the main goal on earned, and a second one on received at about 85% of it. If received falls further behind, chase invoices before chasing new work.
Doing it in Cashier
Open your goal page and set What counts to earned or received. Progress recalculates from your money rows. Ask Cashier "how big is my payment gap?" and it answers with the number and the invoices behind it.
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