13-Week Cash Flow Forecast Template
A 13-week cash flow forecast is the single most useful financial tool for a small business. It shows you exactly when you will have cash shortfalls — before they happen — so you can take action. This template covers a full quarter with weekly granularity. The first column is filled in as an example. For a deeper walkthrough, see our cash flow forecasting guide.
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13-Week Cash Flow Forecast
Week 1 is filled in as an example. Fill in Weeks 2–13 with your projected figures. Print this page or copy into a spreadsheet.
| Line Item | Wk 1 | Wk 2 | Wk 3 | Wk 4 | Wk 5 | Wk 6 | Wk 7 | Wk 8 | Wk 9 | Wk 10 | Wk 11 | Wk 12 | Wk 13 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opening Cash Balance | $12,500 | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ |
| CASH IN | |||||||||||||
| Customer Payments | $8,200 | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ |
| Recurring Revenue | $3,500 | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ |
| Other Income | $0 | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ |
| Total Cash In | $11,700 | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ |
| CASH OUT | |||||||||||||
| Payroll | $4,800 | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ |
| Rent | $1,500 | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ |
| Suppliers / Inventory | $1,200 | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ |
| Loan Payments | $650 | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ |
| Taxes (estimated) | $0 | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ |
| Insurance | $350 | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ |
| Utilities | $280 | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ |
| Software & Subscriptions | $420 | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ |
| Owner's Draws | $2,000 | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ |
| Total Cash Out | $11,200 | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ |
| SUMMARY | |||||||||||||
| Net Cash Flow | $500 | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ |
| Closing Cash Balance | $13,000 | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ | $___ |
How to Use This Template (6 Steps)
- Enter your opening cash balance. This is the total cash in your business bank accounts at the start of Week 1. Check your bank balance on Monday morning and enter the exact figure.
- Project your cash inflows for each week. Look at outstanding invoices, expected customer payments, recurring subscription revenue, and any other money you expect to receive. Be conservative — do not count money until you are reasonably confident it will arrive that week.
- Project your cash outflows for each week. List every payment you expect to make: payroll, rent, supplier invoices, loan payments, taxes, insurance, utilities, software, and owner draws. Check your bill calendar and recurring charges.
- Calculate net cash flow. Subtract Total Cash Out from Total Cash In for each week. A positive number means you collected more than you spent. A negative number means cash is leaving faster than it is arriving.
- Calculate the closing balance. Add the net cash flow to the opening balance. This closing balance becomes next week's opening balance. Watch for any week where the closing balance drops below your minimum cash reserve (typically 2–4 weeks of operating expenses).
- Update weekly with actuals. Each Monday, replace projections with actual numbers for the completed week. Then adjust future weeks based on what you learned. The forecast gets more accurate every week as you refine your estimates.
5 Cash Flow Forecasting Tips
- Be pessimistic on inflows, realistic on outflows. Customers pay late. Projects get delayed. Assume income arrives one week later than expected, but expenses hit right on time. This builds a natural safety buffer into your forecast.
- Flag the "danger weeks" immediately. Any week where your closing balance drops below your minimum cash reserve is a red flag. You have 1–12 weeks to fix it — invoice early, collect faster, delay non-essential purchases, or arrange a credit line before you need it.
- Include quarterly and annual lumps. Estimated tax payments (Apr, Jun, Sep, Jan), annual insurance premiums, license renewals, and annual software subscriptions create cash spikes. Spread them across the right weeks so they do not surprise you.
- Separate "committed" from "discretionary" outflows. Payroll, rent, and loan payments are committed — you cannot skip them. Marketing, equipment, and hiring are discretionary and can be shifted if cash gets tight. Knowing the difference gives you levers to pull.
- Review with your team or CPA monthly. A 15-minute monthly review of the 13-week forecast catches problems early and keeps everyone aligned on cash priorities. Your CPA can also spot tax-planning opportunities based on projected cash position.
Tip: The 13-week horizon matches one fiscal quarter. At the start of each week, add a new Week 13 so you always have a rolling 13-week view. Last updated March 2026.
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