A profitable business can still run out of money. Customers pay late, suppliers want paying now, and rent, salaries and tax all land at once. A cash flow forecast shows you those crunch points weeks in advance, while you still have options.
Why weekly, and why 13 weeks?
Monthly forecasts hide the dip between paying salaries on the 28th and getting paid on the 5th. Weekly detail catches it. Thirteen weeks, roughly one quarter, is long enough to plan ahead and short enough to stay accurate.
The structure
- Opening cash: your actual bank balance today.
- Cash in: customer receipts (based on when they actually pay, not when you invoice), PDCs due, loans and owner funding.
- Cash out: suppliers, salaries, rent, utilities, loan repayments, VAT and corporate tax, and planned purchases.
- Net cash flow = cash in − cash out.
- Closing cash = opening + net flow. This becomes next week's opening balance.
Making it realistic
- Use your receivables aging to estimate when each customer really pays.
- List fixed payments (rent, salaries, loans) first, because they are the most certain.
- Add tax payments on their due dates.
- Set a minimum cash buffer, for example one month of fixed costs, and highlight any week below it.
Update it every week
Replace last week's forecast with actual figures from your cash flow tracker, add a new week at the end, and review the lowest point. Ten minutes a week is enough.
If you see a shortfall
- Chase overdue invoices and offer a small early-payment discount.
- Agree new payment dates with suppliers before the due date.
- Delay non-essential purchases.
- Arrange an overdraft or short-term facility early, while your numbers still look good.
Do it in minutes: download the 13-Week Cash Flow Forecast (instant download, works in Excel and Google Sheets). Need the related files too? Browse cash flow templates or get 25 business templates for AED 29 in our value packs.
This guide is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules change, so check the latest official guidance or ask a qualified adviser for your situation.