U.S. Bank research found that 82% of small business failures are caused by cash flow problems — not lack of customers, not bad products, just money arriving too late to cover expenses. This Cash Flow shows you exactly when money comes in and when it goes out.

What’s inside this Cash Flow template

• Cash position chart — a visual line showing your bank balance projected 90 days forward
• Payment terms overview — track which clients pay on 14, 30, or 60 days to predict arrival accurately
• Emergency threshold alert — the cash position cell turns red when you drop below your defined minimum
• Investor-ready summary tab — a clean one-page view for lenders or board members

How to use this Cash Flow template

1. Click above to get your free cash flow template.
2. Save a copy via File → Make a copy.
3. Enter your current bank balance as the opening position.
4. Add all expected income for the next 90 days — invoices due, recurring revenue, one-offs.
5. Add all expected outgoings — supplier payments, wages, rent, subscriptions — by due date.
6. Review the forward forecast each Friday and update any changes to expected dates or amounts.

Why Google Sheets for Cash Flow?

Cash flow software tends to connect to your bank and automate the input — which sounds useful until the bank API breaks or the categorisation is wrong. This template keeps you in control of every number, which is exactly what cash flow management requires.

Frequently asked questions

Can my accountant access this?

Yes. Share the Google Sheets link with view access and your accountant sees the same live forecast you do. No file sending, no version confusion.

What is the difference between cash flow and profit?

Profit is revenue minus costs on paper. Cash flow is the actual money in your account. A business can be profitable but cash-flow negative if customers pay late — this template tracks the cash, not the paper profit.

How accurate will my forecast be?

As accurate as the assumptions you put in. The template includes a variance column so you can compare forecast to actual each week and improve the accuracy of future predictions over time.