Template
The cash flow projection template: 13 weeks on one calendar
A cash flow projection template is the spreadsheet that most small businesses need and few maintain. The 13-week window is the sweet spot: long enough to see seasonal gaps and invoice delays, short enough to stay honest. Here is how to build one that survives contact with reality.
- 13-week horizon
Long enough to plan, short enough to stay accurate.
- Starting balance
The projection begins from reality, not from zero.
- Dated entries
Invoices and bills sit on the week they land, not averaged.
- Weekly roll
Each week the template rolls forward and reconciles.
The template structure
| Row | What goes in |
|---|---|
| Starting balance | Today's real cash |
| Week 1–13 income | Expected invoices and sales per week |
| Week 1–13 bills | Rent, payroll, tax, suppliers per week |
| Weekly net | Income minus bills per week |
| Running balance | Previous balance plus weekly net |
| Low point | The minimum running balance |
Keeping it honest
- Reconcile weekly: mark what landed, adjust what did not.
- Update invoice expectations the day they change, not at month end.
- Add new bills within 24 hours of hearing about them.
- Review the low point every Friday.
Spreadsheet vs a live calendar
A spreadsheet is free and flexible, but it does not remind you, does not update from a ledger, and breaks when formulas get edited.
A live calendar projection gives the same 13-week view with recurring automation and a running balance — and it never needs formula repair.
Frequently asked questions
What is a cash flow projection template?
A 13-week layout showing starting balance, expected income and bills per week, weekly net, and a running balance with the projected low point.
How far ahead should I project?
13 weeks is the standard for freelancers and small businesses — enough to see gaps, short enough to stay accurate.
How often should I update the projection?
Weekly reconciliation, plus same-day updates whenever an invoice or bill changes.
Is a template the same as a forecast?
A template is the format; the forecast is the updated projection inside it. The template only works if the numbers inside stay current.
13 weeks of clarity on one view
Free live projection, no spreadsheet maintenance.