Running a growing business is often a juggling act between ambition and cash flow. Even when you're profitable on paper, the reality of long payment cycles, upfront supplier costs, and the unpredictability of customer payments can leave you stuck in a cash squeeze.

This is where a tool like Mimo Flex becomes a strategic asset, not just a safety net. Mimo Flex gives you the ability to defer supplier payments by 30, 60, or 90 days for a fixed fee. Think of it like a flexible overdraft for your payables, designed to unlock working capital exactly when you need it.

In this post, we’ll walk through strategic ways growing brands are using Mimo Flex, both on its own and in tandem with tools like invoice finance. Whether you’re tight on cash or flush with it, Flex can help you run leaner, invest smarter, and grow faster.

When to use Mimo Flex

Most small business owners don’t need convincing that access to flexible credit is helpful. But the real value comes from knowing exactly when to pull the lever. Mimo Flex can be particularly useful in moments like:

• Seasonal spikes: When you need to stock up before your peak sales period

• Working capital gaps: If your customers take 60 to 90 days to pay, but your suppliers want payment in 30

• Unexpected delays: If a client payment is late, but your obligations are due now

• Growth moments: You want to say “yes” to a big order or opportunity, without draining your cash reserves

It’s not about reacting to a cash shortfall. It’s about using liquidity with precision.

Which supplier payments to fund with Flex

If you’re going to use short-term credit, use it where it works hardest. Mimo Flex is most effective when applied to the costs that directly impact your ability to generate revenue, maintain momentum, or unlock opportunity.

1. Direct costs of sale

Your top priority. Use Flex to fund:

• Product inventory

• Packaging and materials

• Manufacturing deposits

• Freight and logistics costs

These outflows often come before revenue does. Using Flex here helps smooth out the cash conversion cycle, especially in industries like consumer goods, wholesale and logistics.

2. Non-core, high-impact payments

Some costs don't directly tie to sales, but are essential to operate. Examples include:

• Insurance premiums

• Annual software or IT contracts

• Freelancers or consultants for project delivery

Rather than letting these eat into cash reserves, spread them out over time with Flex.

3. Supplier terms management

Even when your suppliers offer 30-day terms, that might not be enough. Flex allows you to extend terms to 60 or 90 days without asking the supplier, helping maintain goodwill and avoiding strained negotiations. Or flip the script - pay early in exchange for a discount, using Flex to fund the gap.

Why use Flex if you already have cash or invoice finance?

The biggest misconception about tools like Mimo Flex is that they’re only for when you’re desperate. In reality, smart businesses use Flex to stay in control, not just stay afloat.

1. Preserve your cash cushion

Liquidity is leverage. Just because you can pay upfront doesn’t mean you should. Keeping cash in reserve gives you resilience and freedom to respond to surprises or opportunities.

2. Pair it with invoice finance for full coverage

Invoice finance covers the receivables side of your business. Flex covers your payables. Used together, they shorten your cash conversion cycle from both ends—bringing money in sooner and pushing payments out later. That means tighter, more predictable cash flow.

3. Fill in the gaps invoice finance can't cover

Invoice finance doesn’t always fund 100% of your receivables, and it only kicks in after you invoice. Mimo Flex, on the other hand, gives you working capital before the sale is complete, making it a perfect complement.

4. Reduce dependency on supplier credit

Many small businesses rely heavily on supplier payment terms to fund operations. But this leaves you exposed to credit limits or shifting relationships. With Mimo Flex, you control the terms on your side.

How real businesses might use Flex

Utilising a flexible supplier credit may make sense in theory, but what does it actually look like in practice for real businesses?

A 15-person consumer goods business prepping for peak season

• The business needs to place large Q4 inventory orders in September

• Rather than drain cash reserves, they defer £50K in supplier payments over 90 days

• This lets them cover marketing and staffing in parallel without compromise

A logistics firm bridging customer payment gaps

• They’re waiting 60+ days for enterprise clients to pay invoices

• Their invoice finance covers 80%, but they still need to cover fuel, insurance, and driver costs

• Flex covers shortfalls on the supplier side until receivables clear

A services agency taking on a major contract

• They’ve won a 6-month retainer but need to onboard freelancers fast

• With cash tied up in payroll and onboarding tools, they use Flex to push out other supplier costs like legal, IT, and insurance

Using credit to grow

Mimo Flex isn’t just for keeping the lights on - it’s a lever to grow, invest, and stay one step ahead. Whether you’re navigating long payment terms, a seasonal spike, or a surprise opportunity, flexible supplier credit gives you time, control, and confidence.

Even if your cash position looks healthy today, the smartest businesses know: staying cash-strong tomorrow is what matters.

Want to explore how Mimo Flex could fit into your working capital strategy? Book a brief chat with the Mimo team.