13-WEEK CASH FORECASTING
Cash visibility gets more valuable when the margin for surprise gets smaller.
Cash surprises have a way of becoming everyone’s problem very quickly. I build short-term cash forecasts around expected receipts, disbursements and the few assumptions that can materially change liquidity.
Where the work gets practical.
13-week cash model
A weekly view beginning with bank cash and mapping expected receipts and disbursements.
Collections & payment visibility
Make timing assumptions explicit so the forecast reflects when cash moves, not only when revenue or expense is recognized.
Liquidity scenarios
Understand how slower collections, hiring, spending or operating changes affect the runway.
HOW I THINK ABOUT IT
A cash forecast is an operating process disguised as a spreadsheet.
Start with actual cashThe opening bank balance is less debatable than most forecast assumptions.
Forecast timing honestlyP&L logic is not enough when the question is whether cash arrives Tuesday or three weeks later.
Reconcile every weekThe process improves when Finance learns exactly why expected cash and actual cash diverged.
Need a clearer view of the next 13 weeks?
We can build the model, define the weekly process and make sure the forecast remains usable after the first version.