Cash flow calculator
Monthly net cash flow is cash coming in minus cash going out. Each month's closing cash is its opening cash plus net cash flow, and that closing balance becomes next month's opening balance. Months that close below zero are shortfalls.
Forecast
Tip: a value typed in month 1 fills later empty months.
| Month | Inflows ($) | Hypothetical licensing receipts ($) | Outflows ($) | Closing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | — | |||
| 2 | — | |||
| 3 | — | |||
| 4 | — | |||
| 5 | — | |||
| 6 | — | |||
| 7 | — | |||
| 8 | — | |||
| 9 | — | |||
| 10 | — | |||
| 11 | — | |||
| 12 | — |
Inputs
- Opening cash balance
- Cash on hand at the start of month 1.
- Monthly inflows
- Contracted or expected cash receipts.
- Monthly outflows
- Payroll, rent, suppliers, loan payments, taxes.
- Scenario adjustment
- A percentage change applied to all inflows or outflows.
- Hypothetical licensing receipts
- Optional, user-entered and shown separately from contracted receipts. Not guaranteed.
Outputs
- Net cash flow
- Inflows + hypothetical receipts − outflows, per month.
- Closing balance
- Opening + net, carried forward.
- Shortfalls
- Months with a negative closing balance, highlighted.
How it is calculated
Net cash flow = inflows − outflows
Closing cash = opening cash + net cash flow
Each closing balance carries into the next month. Hypothetical receipts are added in their own column so you can see results with and without them.
Worked example (illustrative)
Illustrative only: opening cash $50,000, inflows $80,000 a month, outflows $90,000 a month. Net is −$10,000 a month, so cash closes at $40,000, $30,000 and so on, falling below zero in month 6.
Assumptions and limitations
- A forecast is only as good as the inputs; timing of receipts matters as much as amounts.
- Hypothetical licensing receipts are your own assumption; SourceX does not forecast or promise them.
- Taxes, financing and seasonality must be entered by you.
Questions and answers
How do I calculate cash flow?
Subtract cash paid out from cash received in the period. Add the result to opening cash to get closing cash.
What is the difference between cash flow and profit?
Profit is revenue minus expenses when earned or incurred. Cash flow is when money actually moves, so a profitable business can still run short of cash.
What is a cash shortfall?
A month where closing cash would fall below zero, signaling the need for financing, cost changes or faster collections.
Why separate hypothetical receipts?
So uncertain income never hides a real shortfall. Plan on contracted receipts first.
How far ahead should I forecast?
Twelve months is common for planning, with weekly forecasts when cash is tight.
Sources
Content reviewed October 9, 2026 by the SourceX Partnerships Team. Results are calculated in your browser; nothing you type is stored.