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Success in today’s business climate sometimes requires you to balance your business with your finances. It creates a healthy balance and increases success.

But did you realise that a major part of managing your finances can be taken care of using one very simple tool – a cashflow forecast.

This report can be done annually (or more often if necessary) and will help you see whether your anticipated income will be able to cover your projected expenses.  It will also help you: 

• realise and understand when cash is available
• plan and prepare for expansion, stock control, taxes & unforeseen circumstances
• analyse and anticipate key expenses

Software packages are available to help you generate a report.  Or, you could tailor make your own.  Here’s a simple method to do it yourself.

Step 1 – Create a cashflow forecast

Using a spreadsheet, create a table with appropriate headings.  Choose the length of time over which you want to run your report and the periods within that time.  For instance, you may want the report to show monthly amounts covering the next one or two years. 

Head up the first column ‘Cash Movement’ and across the top of the table enter the months of the year as the next column headings, like this:

In the first column, insert a heading entitled ‘Income’ and beneath that heading detail each source of income.  Add a row at the bottom for the subtotal.

Cashflow forecasting can also be used as a budget planner.  For example, you may know your rent will be increased at the end of the year, or that you’ll have numerous bills to pay next month.  So you can make sure you keep enough funds in your bank account to cover these or other unexpected expenses. 

Your report will also indicate if you can afford to make an investment in your business; whether that means buying some new equipment, paying for staff training or an advertising campaign.

Then insert a heading ‘Expenses’ and itemize each expense under that heading.  Set up a subtotal at the bottom of this group.

Next enter a row which shows the total of the income rows minus the total of the expenses rows for the month. 

Finally, insert a row for your running total.  In this row, add your profit or loss for the period to the previous running total and this will show your financial position at the end of the period. 

Your table should start to look like this:

Step 2 – Input the data

Using your accounting records, enter your actual income and expenses in the applicable columns.  Also, estimate and include any projected expenses in the coming months.  Be realistic – don’t overestimate income or underestimate expenses.

When all your information has been entered, it should be easy to see where your money is coming in and where it’s going out, as well as identify any ebb or flow in demand.

Step 3 – Update regularly

Once you have completed your cashflow forecast, it’s important to keep it up to date.  That means revisiting it regularly, say once a month, so that you’re always aware of how cash is flowing through your business.  Basically, you want to be in the position where you can control your finances, and step in and take action if necessary, so that you have enough cash to take care of all your expenses. 

The benefits

An annual cashflow forecast will give you all the information you need to keep on top of your business financially. And creates greater habits for the financial future of the business.

You’ll have a clear vision of where and when you may need to cut back on spending.  At the same time, it will highlight some potential areas where you can invest little extras.

Not only that, once your cashflow is on track, you won’t need to lose sleep worrying about meeting your expenses and the everyday running of your business.  Freedom to concentrate on the business, your original passion.