13-Week Cash Flow Forecast Template
A simple spreadsheet to help business owners estimate cash coming in, cash going out and their expected cash position over the next 13 weeks.
What a 13-week cash flow forecast is
It is a simple week-by-week view of the money you expect to come into your business, the money you expect to go out, and the balance you expect to be left with at the end of each week for the next quarter. It deals only in money actually moving in and out of the bank — not sales made or costs incurred.
Why businesses use one
Thirteen weeks is long enough to show a full quarter of commitments and short enough to estimate honestly. It is the standard horizon in professional corporate treasury, and it works just as well in a business with one bank account. Its purpose is to show you the tightest week ahead while you still have time to do something about it.
What the template helps you track
Your opening balance, customer payments as you genuinely expect them to arrive, payroll, suppliers, rent, loan repayments, tax and VAT, owner drawings, and the resulting closing balance for every week of the quarter.
Who it is suitable for
Small business owners, founders, freelancers with growing businesses and family businesses. No accounting knowledge is needed — if you can read your bank statement, you can complete it.
How often to update it
Once a week, in about twenty minutes. Replace last week's estimates with what actually happened and add a new week at the far end. The comparison between forecast and actual is what makes your estimates better over time.
What's included
- Weekly receipts and payments structure covering a full quarter
- Automatic opening and closing balance calculation for each week
- Prompts for the payments most often forgotten, including tax and VAT
- A short guide to updating the forecast each week
Read alongside it
Educational disclaimer. This material is general educational information about cash management. It is not investment, tax, legal, accounting or regulated financial advice, and it does not take account of your circumstances. Consider speaking to a suitably qualified professional before making financial decisions.