Every December, businesses panic: rent climbs, traffic drops, cash tightens. One café I coached broke the pattern with a simple headline: “Buy $100, get a $15 bonus for you.” Within a week, cash started arriving early—and drinks would be redeemed later, if at all.

Gift cards are more than a feel-good add-on; they’re a cash-flow system. You collect revenue now, recognize it later, and use the float to stock inventory or fund upgrades. A portion never redeems, and the rest spreads out into slower months. When managed well, it’s oxygen disguised as generosity.

Here’s how to run it like a pro: cap bonuses to protect margins, expire only the bonus (not the card), steer redemption toward January and February, and track liability daily. That keeps you liquid without losing control.

Done right, gift cards aren’t borrowing from tomorrow—they’re funding tomorrow.

Today’s Move: Launch one “Buy $X, Get $Y Bonus” offer with a January-only redemption window and a daily liability report to track future promises.

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