The Operator’s Library › Cash Flow

A profitable business can still miss payroll in week 9. This shows you week 9 now.

Thirteen weeks is how far ahead a service business needs to see its cash. Most owners see two. Put your numbers in below and watch the running balance. The week it goes red is the week to fix today, while you still have time.

$

Your real bank balance right now.

Fill a typical week, then edit the exceptions

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$
WeekCash inCash outEnding balance
1
$
$
$0
2
$
$
$0
3
$
$
$0
4
$
$
$0
5
$
$
$0
6
$
$
$0
7
$
$
$0
8
$
$
$0
9
$
$
$0
10
$
$
$0
11
$
$
$0
12
$
$
$0
13
$
$
$0

Your numbers are saved on this device only. We never see them.

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How to read the forecast

Cash out beats cash in on the weeks you buy materials, run payroll twice, or pay quarterly tax. A business clearing 12% margins can still hit a Tuesday with nothing in the account. The forecast finds that Tuesday nine weeks early.

When a week turns red, you have three moves, in order of cost: pull cash in sooner (deposits, same-day invoicing, a tighter collection cadence), push cash out later (supplier terms, timing a purchase), or hold a reserve for the known dips. The first move is usually free.

The living version

This forecast shows your cash. Keystone shows your worth.

Cash flow tells you whether you survive the quarter. Keystone tells you what the business is worth, what is discounting it, and in what order to fix it, read from your actual numbers against ten years of real closed transactions. Free in four minutes.

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