{"id":972,"date":"2024-06-14T14:51:22","date_gmt":"2024-06-14T14:51:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/cash-flow\/what-is-a-cash-flow-forecast\/"},"modified":"2025-07-22T13:15:23","modified_gmt":"2025-07-22T13:15:23","slug":"what-is-a-cash-flow-forecast","status":"publish","type":"knowledge","link":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/cash-flow\/what-is-a-cash-flow-forecast\/","title":{"rendered":"What is a cash flow forecast? A guide for small businesses"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Businesses with healthy cash flow can plan for future growth, while ones that have cash flow problems may struggle to stay afloat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A cash flow forecast is designed to help you assess how much money you\u2019ve got coming in and going out of your business over a certain time period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As well as helping you make decisions about what you can afford, you\u2019ll be able to address any cash flow problems ahead of time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is cash flow?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A cash flow definition is simply the money that you have coming into (and leaving) your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even successful businesses can quickly start to struggle without easy access to cash, so understanding cash flow is one of the best ways to plan \u2013 both for when business is booming and when it might not be so great.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For example, businesses with staff still have wages to pay, even if they go through quieter seasonal periods when cash isn\u2019t coming into the business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-a-cash-flow-forecast\">What is a cash flow forecast?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A cash flow forecast is used to estimate the money coming in and out of your business over a specific period.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This helps you to understand when you might suffer quieter times when you need to rein in spending. At the same time, it can indicate times when you might have more money to spend on things like new equipment or hiring employees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-lead-50-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-lead-50-background-color has-background\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Get your free cash flow forecast template<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Download your free cash flow forecast template to start managing your cash flow today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button has-size-medium\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/04\/cash-flow-forecast-template.pdf\">Download<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-lead-50-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-lead-50-background-color has-background\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"cashflowforecastessentialforplanning\">Examples of cash outflows and inflow<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To help you work out the incomings and outgoings you need to include in your cash flow forecast, here are some examples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"cashflowforecastessentialforplanning\">Cash inflow examples <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Money that comes into your business is considered cash inflow. The largest portion of inflow is usually through sales of a product or service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It could also be money that enters your business through a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/marketing\/what-is-roi\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1028\">return on an investment<\/a>, or the sale of assets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"cashflowforecastessentialforplanning\">Cash outflow examples<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cash outflow is the money that leaves your business. Examples of cash outflow include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">employee wages<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">rent<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">payment to suppliers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"nba-body-001\">\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Other types of outflow are costs like loan repayments or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/business-insurance\/types-of-insurance-covers\/\">buying business insurance<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-cash-flow-forecasting-essential-for-planning\">Cash flow forecasting \u2013 essential for planning<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A cash flow projection shows your best estimate for the amount of cash coming in \u2013 and leaving \u2013 your business over a specific period (usually a year). You\u2019ll need to plot timings too, so you can plan for both busier and quieter months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cash flow management and forecasting is an important part of the <a href=\"\/knowledge\/strategy\/how-to-write-a-business-plan\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1199\">business plan<\/a> \u2013 it helps prove viability, especially if you\u2019re looking for investment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A year is a good time period to forecast, because your figures beyond that might not be realistic. While your cash flow forecast should be your best estimate, it doesn\u2019t need to be accurate to the penny, so use round numbers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You should also update your cash flow forecast if you perform differently than expected \u2013 both positively and negatively. If your plan is out of date, it won\u2019t be of any use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to write a cash flow forecast<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your cash flow forecast doesn\u2019t have to be too complicated \u2013 essentially, you need 12 columns (one for each month), with space to add both the money coming in and going out during that month (you can split this out in the rows underneath).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Each income or expenditure type should also have its own row. For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">utilities, wages, and rent in your <strong>money out<\/strong> rows<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">income from sales, investment, or other funding in your <strong>money in<\/strong> rows<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><strong>total<\/strong> rows that add up the total money out and money in for each month<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"590\" width=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/06\/cash-flow-forecast-example.png?w=1024\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-17132\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/06\/cash-flow-forecast-example.png 1980w, https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/06\/cash-flow-forecast-example.png?resize=800,461 800w, https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/06\/cash-flow-forecast-example.png?resize=768,442 768w, https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/06\/cash-flow-forecast-example.png?resize=1024,590 1024w, https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/06\/cash-flow-forecast-example.png?resize=1536,884 1536w, https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/06\/cash-flow-forecast-example.png?resize=150,86 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you set up a cash flow forecast using spreadsheet software (like Google Sheets or Excel), you can use the SUM function to add up the values in each column for the total at the bottom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The useful information is your monthly closing cash balance. If it\u2019s negative or close to zero for one month, this might be a problem. If it\u2019s like this for a number of months, it\u2019s likely that you\u2019ll have to rethink your business model. It can be hard to track these trends over time, but <a href=\"https:\/\/www.datarails.com\/balance-sheet-template\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">using a balance sheet template<\/a> can make things easier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You\u2019ll need information from other forecasts, such as your pricing strategy, sales and costs forecast, and your profit and loss forecast, to help inform your cash flow forecast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many <a href=\"\/knowledge\/business-tax\/best-small-business-accounting-software-uk\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1262\">accounting software packages<\/a> also include cash flow forecast functionality, which should automate much of the process for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here&#8217;s a cash flow forecast example for you to get an idea of the layout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"531\" width=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/06\/cash-flow-forecast-example-2.png?w=1024\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-17133\" style=\"width:768px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/06\/cash-flow-forecast-example-2.png 1980w, https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/06\/cash-flow-forecast-example-2.png?resize=800,415 800w, https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/06\/cash-flow-forecast-example-2.png?resize=768,398 768w, https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/06\/cash-flow-forecast-example-2.png?resize=1024,531 1024w, https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/06\/cash-flow-forecast-example-2.png?resize=1536,796 1536w, https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/06\/cash-flow-forecast-example-2.png?resize=150,78 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This example shows a business that started with funds of \u00a37,500. Over the course of the year, their expected cash inflow ranges from \u00a3215 a month to \u00a32,500 a month. Their expected outflows, spent on wages, rent, and stock, range from \u00a32,250 a month to \u00a32,500 a month.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Including their starting funds, the business expects to close the year almost \u00a37,000 down. In terms of cash flow, they\u2019re anticipating their best period in September and October.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The worst period is expected to be March and April, when they anticipate their lowest inflows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"benefitsofacashflowforecast\">Benefits of a cash flow forecast<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We\u2019ve already hinted at many of the benefits of a cash flow forecast, but to summarise:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">you can <strong>make decisions about the future of your business<\/strong> based on the cash you\u2019ll have available at certain points in time \u2013 for example, hiring staff if you have lots of cash, or making your business more efficient during cash shortages<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">you can <strong>identify when you might be strapped for cash<\/strong> and try to solve it \u2013 for example, if payment is the problem, you can change your invoice policies by introducing stricter (and shorter) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/cash-flow\/could-ai-help-you-chase-unpaid-invoices\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1474\" >payment terms<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">it can help you gain <strong>funding and investment<\/strong> \u2013 people will ask to see your cash flow forecast to check whether your business is viable (they may also ask to see your balance statement and other forecasts)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">it\u2019s a fluid document, meaning you can <strong>update your cash flow forecast if you perform differently than expected<\/strong> \u2013 so your future plan always reflects where you are in the present<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">as it\u2019s a forecast, you can <strong>adapt it to suit different conditions that are out of your control<\/strong> \u2013 for example, economic booms or downturns<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While planning and forecasting mostly puts your business at an advantage, there are a couple of drawbacks to using a cash flow forecast. The first is that if you use unrealistic numbers, it won\u2019t give you an accurate forecast. Be honest and use your best estimates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The second is true for all forecasts, including a <a href=\"\/knowledge\/cash-flow\/calculate-break-even-point-and-break-even-graph\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1122\">break even analysis<\/a> \u2013 it\u2019s only your best estimate. Running a small business can be unpredictable, so you\u2019ll need to adjust your plan accordingly. That being said, your cash flow forecast should help you remain resilient during the tougher times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cash flow statement \u2013 is it different to a cash flow forecast?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes, a cash flow statement is different \u2013 although the fundamentals are the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The cash flow statement shows a business\u2019s cash inflows and outflows over a particular period of time, but it\u2019s primarily a statement used for <strong>financial accounting and reporting<\/strong> rather than business planning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This means it reports on what\u2019s actually happened, instead of trying to forecast the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In financial accounting, businesses produce statements for public use, which customers, suppliers, and investors can use to assess how well a business is doing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"\/knowledge\/business-structure\/setting-up-a-limited-company\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1270\">Limited companies<\/a> have to produce a cash flow statement as part of their <a href=\"\/knowledge\/business-tax\/how-to-file-company-accounts\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1431\">statutory accounts<\/a> (although smaller businesses are exempt \u2013 check with an accountant if you\u2019re not sure).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-net-cash-flow\"><strong>What is net cash flow?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Net cash flow is the amount of money a business has after subtracting its outflows from its inflows.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As a result, the net cash flow formula is simply:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>net cash formula = total cash inflow &#8211; total cash outflow<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This figure is usually worked out from a cash flow statement rather than a cash flow forecast to give an idea of a business\u2019s financial performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-free-cash-flow\">What is free cash flow?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Free cash flow is the money a business has left over after paying its operating costs (such as wages) and capital expenses (such as rent).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This money can be invested back into the business on things like marketing campaigns, new premises, or hiring employees. If your business has a low free cash flow, this isn\u2019t necessarily a sign of bad performance as you may already be investing the money you make back into the company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019re <a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/funding\/small-business-funding-and-investment\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"18378\">looking for investment<\/a>, free cash flow is another measure potential investors will use to analyse your financial performance and estimate your value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to improve cash flow<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cash flow analysis can help you make changes to improve cash flow. If you\u2019ve identified a potential problem, these tips can help you solve it:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><strong>use the latest data available<\/strong> \u2013 using real-time data can help you update your forecast as you go and identify problems quickly. Make sure you\u2019re amending your forecast against actual numbers \u2013 accounting software can automate much of this for you<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><strong>change your payment terms<\/strong> \u2013 your payment terms could be slowing your cash flow \u2013 and worse, you might be struggling with perennial late payers. Consider switching from 30 days to seven days, for example (but be sure to have a conversation with existing customers first). You could also set up a proper debt collection process for cash you\u2019re owed<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><strong>examine your costs<\/strong> \u2013 look for any inefficiencies in the amount you\u2019re spending to keep your business running. Is there a way to boost employee <a href=\"\/knowledge\/staff\/employee-rewards-and-employee-recognition-ideas\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1175\">productivity<\/a>? Do you keep stocking a product line that doesn\u2019t sell? Looking at your cash flow alongside other reports should help you come up with a solution<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><strong>use discounts and other incentives<\/strong> \u2013 in the example above, if you have goods that aren\u2019t selling, cutting prices could boost your cash flow in the short-term. After you\u2019ve shifted them, you can focus on <a href=\"\/knowledge\/marketing\/how-to-advertise-your-business\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1410\">better marketing<\/a> for the items that already do well for you<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Do you have any tips for creating a cash flow forecast or improving cash flow? Let us know in the comments below.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Useful guides for small businesses<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"\/knowledge\/strategy\/how-to-do-business-swot-analysis-template\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"944\">How to do a SWOT analysis<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"\/knowledge\/business-tax\/what-is-bookkeeping\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1259\">A guide to bookkeeping for small businesses<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"\/knowledge\/income\/how-to-budget-calculator-and-guide-for-the-self-employed\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"956\">Budget calculator and how to budget for the self-employed<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"\/business-insurance\/faq\/what-type-of-business-insurance-do-i-need\/\">What type of business insurance do I need?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"nba-upsell-001\" class=\"wp-block-group has-azure-200-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-94e519ba wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--80);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--80);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\" id=\"isyourbusinessinsured\">Is your business insured?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">We have over nearly a million customers UK customers plus a 9\/10 satisfaction score. Why not take a look at our expert <a href=\"\/business-insurance\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"5152\">business insurance<\/a> options \u2013 including <a href=\"\/business-insurance\/public-liability-insurance\/\">public liability insurance<\/a> and <a href=\"\/business-insurance\/professional-indemnity-insurance\/\">professional indemnity<\/a> \u2013 and run a quick quote to get started?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-a89b3969 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/quote.simplybusiness.co.uk\/business\">Start your quote<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>fizkes\/stock.adobe.com<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"nba-body-end\">\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What is a cash flow forecast? Our guide explains cash flow, the cash flow forecast, and how to improve cash flow if you\u2019ve identified a problem. Read more.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":17136,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"sb_hreflang":"","sb_hreflang_url":"","disable_breadcrumbs":false,"sb_breadcrumbs":[],"sb_reviewed_by":"","sb_review_date":"","sb_enable_content_gating":true,"footnotes":""},"categories":[350,336,110],"hidden-category":[],"coauthors":[20],"class_list":["post-972","knowledge","type-knowledge","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cash-flow","category-business-structure","category-business-news"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.2 (Yoast SEO v27.2) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What is a cash flow forecast?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"What is a cash flow forecast? Download our cash flow forecast template, and find out how to improve cash flow if you\u2019ve identified a problem.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/cash-flow\/what-is-a-cash-flow-forecast\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What is a cash flow forecast?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Find out more about the cash flow forecast, and how to improve cash flow if you can see a problem.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/cash-flow\/what-is-a-cash-flow-forecast\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Simply Business UK\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/simplybusiness\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-07-22T13:15:23+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/06\/what-is-a-cash-flow-forecast.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"What is a cash flow forecast? A guide for small businesses\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@simplybusiness\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"9 minutes\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"Conor Shilling\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/cash-flow\/what-is-a-cash-flow-forecast\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/cash-flow\/what-is-a-cash-flow-forecast\/\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Conor Shilling\",\"description\":\"Conor Shilling is a professional writer with over 10 years\u2019 experience across the property, small business, and insurance sectors. A trained journalist, Conor\u2019s previous experience includes writing for several leading online property trade publications. Conor has worked at Simply Business as a Copywriter for three years, specialising in the buy-to-let market, landlords, and small business finance. <a href=\\\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/conor-shilling-b646632a\/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noopener\\\">Connect with Conor on LinkedIn.<\/a>\"},\"headline\":\"What is a cash flow forecast? A guide for small businesses\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-06-14T14:51:22+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-07-22T13:15:23+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/cash-flow\/what-is-a-cash-flow-forecast\/\"},\"wordCount\":1812,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/cash-flow\/what-is-a-cash-flow-forecast\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/05\/what-is-a-cash-flow-forecast_7e5fab.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Business cash flow\",\"Business structure\",\"Small business news\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/cash-flow\/what-is-a-cash-flow-forecast\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/cash-flow\/what-is-a-cash-flow-forecast\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/cash-flow\/what-is-a-cash-flow-forecast\/\",\"name\":\"What is a cash flow forecast?\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/cash-flow\/what-is-a-cash-flow-forecast\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/cash-flow\/what-is-a-cash-flow-forecast\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/05\/what-is-a-cash-flow-forecast_7e5fab.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-06-14T14:51:22+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-07-22T13:15:23+00:00\",\"description\":\"What is a cash flow forecast? Download our cash flow forecast template, and find out how to improve cash flow if you\u2019ve identified a problem.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/cash-flow\/what-is-a-cash-flow-forecast\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/cash-flow\/what-is-a-cash-flow-forecast\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/cash-flow\/what-is-a-cash-flow-forecast\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/05\/what-is-a-cash-flow-forecast_7e5fab.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/05\/what-is-a-cash-flow-forecast_7e5fab.jpg\",\"width\":815,\"height\":549,\"caption\":\"fizkes\/stock.adobe.com\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/cash-flow\/what-is-a-cash-flow-forecast\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Knowledge\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/%category%\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"What is a cash flow forecast? A guide for small businesses\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/\",\"name\":\"Simply Business UK\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/#\/schema\/person\/73ec77668d0ec554cd7df8942c664049\",\"name\":\"elliottstocks\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/simply-business\/dist\/images\/default-author-avatar.webp9df6147f02078f0218660330fdfbacf3\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/simply-business\/dist\/images\/default-author-avatar.webp\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/simply-business\/dist\/images\/default-author-avatar.webp\",\"caption\":\"elliottstocks\"}},{\"@type\":\"PostalAddress\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/cash-flow\/what-is-a-cash-flow-forecast\/#local-main-place-address\",\"streetAddress\":\"Hylo, 105 Bunhill Row\",\"addressLocality\":\"London\",\"postalCode\":\"EC1Y 8LZ\",\"addressCountry\":\"GB\"},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/cash-flow\/what-is-a-cash-flow-forecast\/#local-main-organization-logo\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/05\/logo.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/05\/logo.png\",\"width\":533,\"height\":187,\"caption\":\"Simply Business UK\"}]}<\/script>\n<meta name=\"geo.placename\" content=\"London\" \/>\n<meta name=\"geo.region\" content=\"United Kingdom (UK)\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"What is a cash flow forecast?","description":"What is a cash flow forecast? Download our cash flow forecast template, and find out how to improve cash flow if you\u2019ve identified a problem.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/cash-flow\/what-is-a-cash-flow-forecast\/","og_locale":"en_GB","og_type":"article","og_title":"What is a cash flow forecast?","og_description":"Find out more about the cash flow forecast, and how to improve cash flow if you can see a problem.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/cash-flow\/what-is-a-cash-flow-forecast\/","og_site_name":"Simply Business UK","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/simplybusiness","article_modified_time":"2025-07-22T13:15:23+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/06\/what-is-a-cash-flow-forecast.jpg","type":"","width":"","height":""}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_title":"What is a cash flow forecast? A guide for small businesses","twitter_site":"@simplybusiness","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"9 minutes","Written by":"Conor Shilling"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/cash-flow\/what-is-a-cash-flow-forecast\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/cash-flow\/what-is-a-cash-flow-forecast\/"},"author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Conor Shilling","description":"Conor Shilling is a professional writer with over 10 years\u2019 experience across the property, small business, and insurance sectors. A trained journalist, Conor\u2019s previous experience includes writing for several leading online property trade publications. Conor has worked at Simply Business as a Copywriter for three years, specialising in the buy-to-let market, landlords, and small business finance. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/conor-shilling-b646632a\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Connect with Conor on LinkedIn.<\/a>"},"headline":"What is a cash flow forecast? A guide for small businesses","datePublished":"2024-06-14T14:51:22+00:00","dateModified":"2025-07-22T13:15:23+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/cash-flow\/what-is-a-cash-flow-forecast\/"},"wordCount":1812,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/cash-flow\/what-is-a-cash-flow-forecast\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/05\/what-is-a-cash-flow-forecast_7e5fab.jpg","articleSection":["Business cash flow","Business structure","Small business news"],"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/cash-flow\/what-is-a-cash-flow-forecast\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/cash-flow\/what-is-a-cash-flow-forecast\/","url":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/cash-flow\/what-is-a-cash-flow-forecast\/","name":"What is a cash flow forecast?","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/cash-flow\/what-is-a-cash-flow-forecast\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/cash-flow\/what-is-a-cash-flow-forecast\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/05\/what-is-a-cash-flow-forecast_7e5fab.jpg","datePublished":"2024-06-14T14:51:22+00:00","dateModified":"2025-07-22T13:15:23+00:00","description":"What is a cash flow forecast? Download our cash flow forecast template, and find out how to improve cash flow if you\u2019ve identified a problem.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/cash-flow\/what-is-a-cash-flow-forecast\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/cash-flow\/what-is-a-cash-flow-forecast\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/cash-flow\/what-is-a-cash-flow-forecast\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/05\/what-is-a-cash-flow-forecast_7e5fab.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/05\/what-is-a-cash-flow-forecast_7e5fab.jpg","width":815,"height":549,"caption":"fizkes\/stock.adobe.com"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/cash-flow\/what-is-a-cash-flow-forecast\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Knowledge","item":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/%category%\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"What is a cash flow forecast? A guide for small businesses"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/","name":"Simply Business UK","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/#\/schema\/person\/73ec77668d0ec554cd7df8942c664049","name":"elliottstocks","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/simply-business\/dist\/images\/default-author-avatar.webp9df6147f02078f0218660330fdfbacf3","url":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/simply-business\/dist\/images\/default-author-avatar.webp","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/simply-business\/dist\/images\/default-author-avatar.webp","caption":"elliottstocks"}},{"@type":"PostalAddress","@id":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/cash-flow\/what-is-a-cash-flow-forecast\/#local-main-place-address","streetAddress":"Hylo, 105 Bunhill Row","addressLocality":"London","postalCode":"EC1Y 8LZ","addressCountry":"GB"},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/cash-flow\/what-is-a-cash-flow-forecast\/#local-main-organization-logo","url":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/05\/logo.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/05\/logo.png","width":533,"height":187,"caption":"Simply Business UK"}]},"geo.placename":"London","geo.region":"United Kingdom (UK)"},"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/cash-flow\/what-is-a-cash-flow-forecast\/","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"What is a cash flow forecast? A guide for small businesses","url":"http:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/cash-flow\/what-is-a-cash-flow-forecast\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/cash-flow\/what-is-a-cash-flow-forecast\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/05\/what-is-a-cash-flow-forecast_7e5fab.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/05\/what-is-a-cash-flow-forecast_7e5fab.jpg"},"articleSection":"Business cash flow","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Conor Shilling"}],"creator":["Conor Shilling"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Simply Business UK","logo":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/04\/icon-512x512-1.png"},"keywords":[],"dateCreated":"2024-06-14T14:51:22Z","datePublished":"2024-06-14T14:51:22Z","dateModified":"2025-07-22T13:15:23Z"},"rendered":"<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"wp-parsely-metadata\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"NewsArticle\",\"headline\":\"What is a cash flow forecast? A guide for small businesses\",\"url\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\\\/knowledge\\\/cash-flow\\\/what-is-a-cash-flow-forecast\\\/\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\\\/knowledge\\\/cash-flow\\\/what-is-a-cash-flow-forecast\\\/\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/3\\\/2021\\\/05\\\/what-is-a-cash-flow-forecast_7e5fab.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/3\\\/2021\\\/05\\\/what-is-a-cash-flow-forecast_7e5fab.jpg\"},\"articleSection\":\"Business cash flow\",\"author\":[{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Conor Shilling\"}],\"creator\":[\"Conor Shilling\"],\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"Simply Business UK\",\"logo\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/3\\\/2024\\\/04\\\/icon-512x512-1.png\"},\"keywords\":[],\"dateCreated\":\"2024-06-14T14:51:22Z\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-06-14T14:51:22Z\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-07-22T13:15:23Z\"}<\/script>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/simplybusiness.co.uk\/p.js"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/knowledge\/972","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/knowledge"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/knowledge"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=972"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/knowledge\/972\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":39906,"href":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/knowledge\/972\/revisions\/39906"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17136"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=972"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=972"},{"taxonomy":"hidden-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hidden-category?post=972"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=972"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}