The 13-week cash forecast: the planning tool most owners skip

Most owners know their bank balance today. Far fewer know what it will be in eight weeks, after payroll, GST, a slow month and the supplier who wants paying early. A rolling 13-week cash forecast closes that gap.

What it is

A week-by-week view of the cash you expect to come in and go out over the next quarter. It's built from real items: invoices you've sent, bills you've received, payroll dates, tax instalments, loan payments and the big purchases you're planning.

Why 13 weeks

It's long enough to see a problem while you can still act on it: chase receivables, move a purchase, arrange a line of credit. And it's short enough to stay accurate. Each week you drop the week that's passed, add a new one at the end, and compare what happened with what you expected.

How to start

Begin with your opening bank balance. List expected receipts by the week you realistically expect them, not the week they're due. Then list every outflow you know about, including the quiet ones: GST, source deductions, insurance, annual renewals. Where the balance dips, you have a decision to make early, not a surprise.

What it tells you

After a few weeks, patterns show up. Customers who always pay late. Months when cash is always tight. The forecast stops being a spreadsheet and becomes the way you plan.

This note is general information, not advice for your situation. Let's talk about yours.