Cash Flow Forecast
Cash flow is the timing of money in and out — knowing not just if you'll be profitable, but when the cash arrives. The Cash Flow Forecast projects the next 30, 60, and 90 days so you can spot crunches early.
What it shows
For the period ahead:
- Expected inflows — outstanding invoices' due dates, recurring plan dues, scheduled jobs likely to bill
- Expected outflows — your fixed monthly expenses, scheduled subscriptions, expected materials orders
- Net cash flow per week — surplus or deficit
- Running cash balance — projected bank balance at each future date
Where the numbers come from
Inflows
- Invoices outstanding with due dates → assumed paid on/near due date
- Recurring plans → known monthly billings
- Pipeline value × close rate → expected new revenue
- POS forecast (if you do consistent POS volume)
Outflows
- Recurring expenses logged in the system (rent, insurance, software)
- Scheduled vendor payments
- Payroll (if logged)
- Tax estimates
- Loan payments (if configured)
Running balance
Starts at your current bank balance (manually entered or pulled via bank link on Pro+). Each day's net flow updates the running balance forward.
Color-coded:
- Green — comfortable cash
- Yellow — getting tight
- Red — projected to go negative (cash crunch ahead)
A red day in your forecast is your cue to take action.
Scenario planning
Toggle "what-if":
- "What if all overdue invoices come in next 7 days?" — best-case
- "What if my biggest customer pays late again?" — worst-case
- "What if I land that pending $20k quote?" — opportunity case
See the running balance in each scenario.
When you spot a crunch
Forecast says you'll go negative in 3 weeks? Options:
- Send invoice reminders — chase outstanding payments
- Offer ACH discounts to encourage faster payment
- Defer non-essential expenses — push the new tools order
- Tap a line of credit — many small businesses use a small LOC for short cash gaps
- Adjust pricing — if it keeps happening, your margins or terms aren't right
Scheduled payments calendar
A view by date of every expected inflow and outflow. Useful for:
- "What week is heaviest with payments going out?"
- "When do I expect the most invoices to clear?"
- Planning major purchases for high-cash weeks
Manual adjustments
Add one-off expected events:
- "Big tax payment April 15: $4,500 outflow"
- "Equipment loan payoff next month: $8,000 outflow"
- "Customer A signed for $30,000 deposit this Friday"
These show in the forecast even though they're not yet system-generated.
Bank balance integration
On Pro+, connect your business bank account (via Plaid):
- Real-time balance feeding the forecast
- Recent transactions for reconciliation
- More accurate "today" starting point
Without bank connection, you manually enter your starting balance weekly.
Working capital alerts
Configure alerts:
- Email me when projected balance < $X
- Alert me 7 days before a forecast cash crunch
Lets you act before things get tight, not after.
FAQ
How accurate is the forecast? For 7 days out: very accurate, mostly known invoices and bills. For 30 days: reasonably accurate. For 90 days: directional — assumes pipeline closes at historical rate.
Why does the forecast show I'll be cash-positive when I feel poor? Often: you have lots of revenue coming but slow-paying customers — book-rich, cash-poor. That's exactly the situation the forecast is built to expose. Now you know to push collections.
Can I share this with my accountant? Yes — accountant role users can view it. CSV export for offline review.
Does this work for seasonal businesses? Yes — better than yearly averages, since it factors what's actually scheduled.
What if I have multiple bank accounts? Add each in Settings → Bank Accounts. Forecast can be per-account or aggregated.