Free 13-week cash flow
forecast template.
Short answer: A 13-week cash flow forecast projects opening cash, receipts, payments and closing cash for each week of the next quarter. Our free CSV has 52 fictional coffee-shop lines: opening cash $18,000, receipts $32,000, payments $32,048 and closing cash $17,952, with the low point in week 5 at $11,413. A Claude Code prompt is included.
A 13-week cash flow forecast shows, week by week, how much cash a business expects to have over the next quarter. It is built from expected receipts and payments, not from accounting profit, which is why lenders, CFOs and owners use it to spot a cash squeeze before it happens.
Download the 13-week sample CSV ↓ Also on GitHub ↗
How a 13-week forecast works
- Start with the opening cash balance.
- List expected receipts for each week: customer payments, deposits, other inflows.
- List expected payments: payroll, rent, suppliers, insurance, taxes, one-offs.
- Closing cash = opening cash + receipts − payments. That closing balance becomes next week's opening balance.
- Find the lowest week. That is where you need a buffer, a credit line or a timing change.
- Each week, replace the oldest forecast week with actuals and add a new week at the end.
What is in the sample
52 fictional forecast lines for a coffee shop over 13 weeks starting July 6, 2026: weekly sales, supplies and card fees, payroll every two weeks, monthly rent, a catering deposit, an equipment repair and a quarterly insurance payment. Columns: week_start, description, category, amount.
Expected roll-forward
| Week | Opening cash | Receipts | Payments | Closing cash |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 2026-07-06 | $18,000 | $2,150 | $2,288 | $17,862 |
| Week 2 2026-07-13 | $17,862 | $2,280 | $2,142 | $18,000 |
| Week 3 2026-07-20 | $18,000 | $2,840 | $490 | $20,350 |
| Week 4 2026-07-27 | $20,350 | $2,390 | $8,945 | $13,795 |
| Week 5 2026-08-03 | $13,795 | $2,310 | $4,692 | $11,413 |
| Week 6 2026-08-10 | $11,413 | $2,420 | $2,145 | $11,688 |
| Week 7 2026-08-17 | $11,688 | $2,460 | $526 | $13,622 |
| Week 8 2026-08-24 | $13,622 | $2,380 | $2,174 | $13,828 |
| Week 9 2026-08-31 | $13,828 | $2,510 | $528 | $15,810 |
| Week 10 2026-09-07 | $15,810 | $2,540 | $3,979 | $14,371 |
| Week 11 2026-09-14 | $14,371 | $2,470 | $1,427 | $15,414 |
| Week 12 2026-09-21 | $15,414 | $2,600 | $2,180 | $15,834 |
| Week 13 2026-09-28 | $15,834 | $2,650 | $532 | $17,952 |
| 13 weeks | $18,000 | $32,000 | $32,048 | $17,952 |
The lowest closing cash is in week 5 ($11,413). Use these numbers to check whatever you build.
Build it with Claude Code
Build a 13-week cash flow forecast for a fictional coffee shop. The CSV columns are week_start, description, category, and amount. Positive amounts are expected receipts; negative amounts are payments. Opening cash in week 1 is $18,000. Show one row per week: opening cash, receipts, payments, closing cash. Each week's closing cash is the next week's opening cash. Highlight the week with the lowest closing cash. Let me edit the opening cash and see all weeks update. Expected results: total receipts $32,000, total payments $32,048, closing cash after week 13 $17,952. Explain your approach before making changes. Flag ambiguous data.
Checks before you trust it
- Week 1 opening cash equals the balance you entered.
- Every closing balance equals the next opening balance.
- Changing opening cash shifts every week by the same amount.
- Totals match the table above.
New to Claude Code? Start with the setup guide. For historical cash flow, see the cash flow dashboard template.
Frequently asked questions
What is a 13-week cash flow forecast?
A weekly projection of cash receipts, payments and closing cash for the next 13 weeks (one quarter), used to manage liquidity and spot shortfalls early.
Is a 13-week cash flow forecast the same as a budget?
No. A budget usually plans revenue and expenses for the year on an accrual basis. A 13-week forecast tracks actual cash timing week by week.
Can I use this template in Excel?
Yes. The CSV opens in Excel or Google Sheets. You can also build it as a small app with Claude Code using the prompt on this page.
Turn a CSV into a working cash flow dashboard.
A self-paced Claude Code workshop for bookkeepers, accountants and FP&A: six lessons, one project, sample data with expected totals. Taught by CFO Leo Godnik.
See the six lessons — $69 → Or start with the free lesson ↗