Cash Flow Calculator
Profit is a story on paper. Cash flow is the cash that actually moves. A biz can be profitable and still run dry.
This tool adds your ins and outs and shows the gap.
Cash in the bank right now, to see how many months it lasts.
Positive flow means the biz breathes. Build a few months of it as a cushion.
How to use this tool
- 1All the money in boxes add up.
- 2All the money out boxes add up.
- 3In minus out is your net cash flow each month.
The math behind it
Net cash flow = cash in - cash out
Cash in 9,000 this month, cash out 8,200.
That is 800 of positive flow, which pays buffers and growth.
Who this tool is for
I watch which tools folk open most, and this one gets used by the same kinds of people again and again. If any of these sound like you, you are in the right place.
- Biz owners who get paid late and often
- Folk planing a cushion for slow months
- Any one deciding if they can afford a hire
I have seen two bizs with the same profit, one thrive and one die. The difference was timing. One got paid in 7 days, the other in 90. Cash flow is the story of when, not just how much. This tool is the when, on one screen.
Tips from me
- Cash and profit are different beasts. Profit can be paper, cash pays rent.
- Time your ins and outs. Money that arrives late is money you cannot spend.
- Keep one month of costs as a flow buffer minimum. Three is calm.
Mistakes I see with this sum
These are the three slips I made my self or watch folk make most. Skip them and your number will be closer to the truth on the first try.
- 1Counting invoiced money as cash. It is not cash until it lands.
- 2Forgetting the loan payments box. Debt eats flow first.
- 3Running flow once. It is a monthly habit, like brushing teeth.
Two words worth knowing
Net flow
Cash in minus cash out for a period.
Runway
How many months your cushion lasts at this burn.
That is the whole page. The tool does the math, and the words above give it a shape. If a number still looks odd, change an input and watch what moves. Playing with the boxes taught me more than any guide did.
Common questions
+Cash flow and profit. What is the difference?
Profit counts money earned even if not paid yet. Cash flow counts money that actually moved. Late payers kill cash flow, not profit.
+How much cash cushion should a small biz hold?
Three months of outs is a common goal. It turns a bad month in to a story instead of a funeral.
+Why is my profitable business broke?
Money is stuck in unpaid invoices or stock. Profit is a photo, cash flow is the movie.
+What is a healthy cash flow?
Positive most months, with a buffer that covers a slow one. Spiky flow needs a bigger cushion.
+How do I fix negative flow?
Chase invoices, trim out flows, or move big bills off the same week. Order matters less than action.