Free Cash Flow Statement & Forecast Template
Know how much cash you will have in every month of the year before you get there. Plan money in and out, and the sheet carries your balance forward and flags any month that dips below your safety cushion.
What's inside
- Opening balance that rolls forward month to month automatically
- 4 cash-in and 10 cash-out lines including taxes, loan payments, equipment and owner draws
- Net cash flow and ending cash for each month plus a year summary
- Minimum cash cushion setting with a LOW warning in any month that falls below it
- Negative balances highlighted in red, landscape print layout
Opens in Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, and LibreOffice. No signup, no watermarks.
How to use this template
Enter today's bank balance as the opening cash and set a minimum cushion, the lowest balance you are comfortable holding (many owners use one month of fixed costs). Then fill in expected cash receipts and payments for each month.
Record cash when it actually moves, not when you invoice or receive a bill. If customers pay 30 days after you invoice, January's work shows up as February's collections. That timing gap is exactly what this sheet is designed to expose.
Each month's beginning cash equals the previous month's ending cash, so you can see the effect of a big purchase, a quarterly tax payment or a slow season months in advance. Any month that falls below the cushion is flagged LOW so you can arrange financing, chase receivables or delay spending before it becomes a crisis.
Update the forecast monthly: replace estimates with actuals for the month just ended and roll the plan forward. Within a few months you will have a reliable picture of your cash cycle, which is the single most useful number for keeping a small business alive.
Frequently asked questions
Is this cash flow template really free?
Yes. Download it, use it as often as you like, and share it with your team. No account, no email, no watermark. The site is supported by advertising.
Why is my cash flow negative when the business is profitable?
Profit counts sales when they are made; cash counts them when they are paid. Late-paying customers, inventory purchases, loan principal and equipment all use cash without hitting the profit line the same way.
Can I use it for personal cash flow?
Yes. Rename the lines (paychecks, rent, groceries) and it works as a 12-month personal cash plan.
Does it work in Google Sheets?
Yes. Upload the .xlsx to Google Drive and open it with Google Sheets; the formulas, dropdowns and conditional formatting carry over. It also works in LibreOffice Calc and Apple Numbers.