Create a Cash Flow Forecast Template
Build a simple cash flow forecast structure for the next 3 months, tailored to your business type and typical income patterns.
The prompt
I run a [type of business] in the UK with [number] employees. My typical monthly revenue is approximately £[amount] and my main costs are [list key costs, e.g. "salaries, office rent, software subscriptions, contractor payments"]. Create a monthly cash flow forecast template for the next 3 months with: **Income section:** - Revenue by type (e.g. project fees, retainers, one-off sales) - Expected payment dates (not invoice dates - when cash actually arrives) - Confidence level for each income line (Confirmed / Likely / Hopeful) **Expenditure section:** - Fixed costs (rent, salaries, subscriptions - things that don't change) - Variable costs (contractors, materials, marketing spend) - One-off costs (equipment, annual renewals) - Tax provisions (VAT, Corporation Tax - estimated) **Summary row:** - Opening balance → Plus income → Minus expenditure → Closing balance - Flag any month where closing balance drops below £[your comfort threshold] Format as a table. Include a notes column for assumptions. Keep it simple - this isn't a finance degree, it's a practical tool for a business owner who needs to see whether they can pay the bills.
What you get back
- A three-month cash flow table covering income, fixed costs, variable costs, one-offs, and tax provisions
- A confidence column on each income line (Confirmed, Likely, Hopeful) so the forecast is honest, not optimistic
- An automatic flag on any month where the closing balance dips below your comfort threshold
How to use it
Tell the prompt your business type, headcount, monthly revenue, key costs, and the balance below which you start to worry. Paste the table back into a spreadsheet to keep maintaining it.