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 in the weeks ahead — up to 13 weeks, or fewer if that is what you can reasonably see.
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 as many weeks ahead as you choose to forecast. 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 most upcoming commitments and short enough to estimate honestly. It is a common horizon in professional corporate treasury, but it is a framework rather than a rule: use four, six, eight or thirteen weeks, whichever you can forecast honestly. 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 you choose to forecast.
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.
How to use the 13-week cash flow forecast template
Five steps for filling in the free cash flow forecast template and keeping it current, whether you forecast four weeks ahead or thirteen.
- Step 1
Choose your forecasting period
Decide how many weeks ahead you can estimate honestly — four, six, eight or the full thirteen — and use only those columns.
- Step 2
Enter your opening balance
Type in the cash actually cleared in your business bank account today. Each following week opens with the previous week's closing balance automatically.
- Step 3
Add expected receipts
List customer payments, deposits, grants and loan drawdowns in the week you realistically expect the money to arrive, based on how each customer has paid before.
- Step 4
Add expected payments
Enter payroll, suppliers, rent, loan repayments, tax and VAT, insurance and owner drawings in the weeks they leave the account.
- Step 5
Review the tightest week, then update weekly
Look at the lowest closing balance and the week it falls in, then spend twenty minutes each week replacing estimates with actuals and adding a new week at the end.
What's included
- Weekly receipts and payments structure covering up to 13 weeks
- 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.