Free Excel template · Excel for small business

Free small business cash flow forecast template

For owners who want to see a cash crunch coming months ahead instead of finding it in the bank app. Enter the cash you expect to come in and go out each month. The template carries each closing balance into the next month, finds the lowest point and its month, and warns you when the balance falls below the buffer you want to keep.

cellwise-small-business-cash-flow-forecast.xlsxExcel workbook · 4.5 KB · works in Excel, Google Sheets, Numbers and LibreOffice · no signup

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Preview and try it

This is the template's sheet, calculated by the same engine as the Cellwise app. Change any number to see the formulas react before you download.

	A	B	C	D	E	F	G
1	Cash flow forecast
2	Cash in the bank at the start	9200
3
4	Month	Nov 1, 2026	Dec 1, 2026	Jan 1, 2027	Feb 1, 2027	Mar 1, 2027	Apr 1, 2027
5	Opening balance	9200	9480	15860	12640	4470	5150
6	Cash in: customer payments	24800	31500	11200	8900	18800	21900
7	Cash in: other (loan, owner money)	0	0	0	0	0	0
8	Total cash in	24800	31500	11200	8900	18800	21900
9	Cash out: stock and suppliers	11900	9400	4100	6800	7200	7900
10	Cash out: wages	6100	7400	5200	5200	5600	5800
11	Cash out: rent and utilities	2500	2500	2500	2500	2500	2500
12	Cash out: marketing and software	1600	1900	700	650	900	1100
13	Cash out: loan repayments	420	420	420	420	420	420
14	Cash out: owner draws and set-asides	2000	3500	1500	1500	1500	2000
15	Total cash out	24520	25120	14420	17070	18120	19720
16	Net cash flow	280	6380	-3220	-8170	680	2180
17	Closing balance	9480	15860	12640	4470	5150	7330
18
19	Cash buffer you want to keep	5000
20	Lowest closing balance	4470

How the formulas work

Months that fill themselves in

C4=EDATE(B4,1)

Type the first month in B4 and EDATE adds one month for each column after it. Change B4 and the whole forecast moves.

Each month starts where the last one ended

C5=B17

The opening balance of a month is the previous month's closing balance. This chain is what makes a forecast useful: one slow month pulls down every month after it.

Closing balance

B17=B5+B16

Opening balance plus net cash flow (total in minus total out). In the sample, January and February are quiet but suppliers and wages still need paying, so the balance drops before spring sales rebuild it.

Find the low point

B21=TEXT(INDEX(B4:G4,MATCH(B20,B17:G17,0)),"mmm yyyy")

B20 finds the lowest closing balance with MIN. MATCH finds which column it is in, INDEX returns that month from row 4, and TEXT shows it as a month name.

Warn before the buffer is gone

B23

=IF(B20<0,"Cash runs out in "&B21&": plan now",IF(B22>0,"Below your buffer in "&B22&" month(s), lowest in "&B21,"Stays above your buffer"))

B22 counts the months that close below the buffer in B19. The check gives a stronger warning if the balance would go negative. Here it flags February: time to chase invoices, delay a stock order or line up credit.

Make it yours

Enter cash when it actually moves. A sale on 30-day terms in November belongs in December's customer payments.
Big annual bills (insurance, licences, tax payments) are where most surprises come from. Put them in the month they are due, not spread evenly.
Update the current month with real numbers as it ends, then roll the forecast forward one month.
Pick a buffer you can live with, such as one month of wages and rent. The template only compares against the number you type.

FAQ

How far ahead should a small business forecast cash flow?

Many owners keep a rolling 3 to 6 month forecast and update it monthly. Seasonal businesses benefit from looking at least as far as their slowest month.

Why is my cash low when the business is profitable?

Profit and cash happen at different times. Customers paying late, stock bought ahead of a season, loan repayments and owner draws all take cash without showing up as a loss.

Can I add more months?

Yes. Copy column G to the right; the month, opening balance and totals adjust on their own. Then widen the ranges in B20 and B22 (B17:G17) to include the new columns.

Functions used

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Updated November 2, 2026