Of course some expenses happen periodically, like insurance payments or tax payments. New businesses may run losses for a period of time as they establish their customer base. Huge amounts were spent on various activities, including some ineffective advertising, that didn't generate enough income for survival. Starting a business on a shoestring requires using more creativity to invest funds wisely for maximum return. There are three primary ways to generate cash - sales, capital investment, and debt.
Investors expect to receive dividends or an increase in the value of their investment.
Debt has to be repaid, usually plus interest. Interest can be a substantial fixed cost. Sometimes you can satisfy short-term financing needs by adjusting terms. For example, service businesses may require a deposit or retainer to accelerate cash flow. You also might be able to negotiate with vendors to extend the time of payment with no penalty.