12-month cash flow forecast
Cash flow is not profit: it is when money actually arrives and leaves. Enter amounts in the month they are paid, not invoiced. Running out of cash, not making a loss, is what closes most small businesses.
| Month 1 | Month 2 | Month 3 | … | Month 12 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opening balance | |||||
| Cash sales | |||||
| Payments from debtors | |||||
| Loans / capital in | |||||
| Total in | |||||
| Stock and materials | |||||
| Salaries and wages | |||||
| Rent | |||||
| Electricity, water, internet | |||||
| Marketing | |||||
| Loan repayments | |||||
| VAT, PAYE, UIF, SDL paid to SARS | |||||
| Other | |||||
| Total out | |||||
| Closing balance |
Closing balance = opening balance + total in − total out. Each month's closing balance is the next month's opening balance.