{"id":32245,"date":"2026-10-13T10:24:12","date_gmt":"2026-10-13T09:24:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/?p=32245"},"modified":"2026-10-13T11:31:30","modified_gmt":"2026-10-13T10:31:30","slug":"cash-flow-forecast-template","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/cash-flow-forecast-template\/","title":{"rendered":"Cash flow forecast template for UK businesses: Free download now"},"content":{"rendered":"<header class=\"entry-header has-dark-background-color entry-header--standard\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__row row align-center\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-lg-7 col-xlg-6 entry-header__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"component component-single-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__misc text--subtitle text--uppercase text--small\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/category\/free-guides-templates\/\" class=\"entry-header__link\">Free guides &amp; templates<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-title-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"entry-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tCash flow forecast template for UK businesses: Free download now\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"entry-header__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tA cash flow forecast shows what money you expect to come in and go out of your business, so you can spot potential shortfalls earlier. Find out how to build and update one, and download our free UK cash flow forecast template to get started.\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-8 col-lg-4 entry-header__image\">\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"entry-header__thumbnail js-hero-section\">\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-961279906-1440x810.jpg\" class=\"entry-header__thumbnail-image\" alt=\"managing payroll tasks for the business\" fetchpriority=\"high\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-961279906-1440x810.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-961279906-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-961279906-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-961279906-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-961279906-2048x1152.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1440px) 100vw, 1440px\" \/>\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"single-post-details container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"posted-on \">Published <time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-10-13T10:24:12+01:00\">13 October, 2026<\/time><\/span><span class=\"reading-time\"> min read<\/span>\n\t\t<button\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"social-share-button button button--icon button--secondary js-social-share-button\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-title=\"Cash flow forecast template for UK businesses: Free download now\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-url=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/cash-flow-forecast-template\/\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-text=\"Please read this interesting article\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__share-label\">Share<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-label\" hidden>Copy Link<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\" hidden>Copied<\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/header>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author has-dark-background-color alignfull\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"co-authors\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-author-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"entry-author\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/author\/laurencematone\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/03\/Profile_LM-350x350.jpeg\" class=\"entry-author__image\" alt=\"Laurence Matone\" \/>\t\t\t\t<span class=\"entry-author__name\">Laurence Matone<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Running a business means knowing what money is coming in and what&#8217;s going out, not just today but also in the weeks and months ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A cash flow forecast gives you that visibility. For sole traders, freelancers, and growing SMEs, that&#8217;s often the difference between staying afloat and running into trouble.<\/p>\n\n\n<section id=\"key-takeaways\" class=\"wp-block-sage-key-takeaways\"><div class=\"sage-key-takeaways__inner\"><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-h-3-font-size\">Key takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A cash flow forecast estimates the money you expect to come in and go out over a set period, so you can spot shortfalls before they happen.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Unlike a profit forecast, it tracks when cash actually moves through your bank account, which is why a profitable business can still run short.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Record income when it\u2019s likely to arrive, not when you invoice, and only include confirmed work.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The free template has dedicated rows for VAT, PAYE and corporation tax. Use only the rows that apply to your business.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Most small businesses update their forecast monthly, or weekly if cash is tight or income is irregular.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cash flow pressure remains a real issue for businesses. According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.coface.com\/news-economy-and-insights\/2025-uk-payment-survey-companies-face-rising-payment-delays-amid-buyer-cash-flow-concerns\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Coface&#8217;s 2025 UK Payment Survey<\/a>, 90% of UK companies surveyed experienced late payments in the past year, and 44% said payment delays were becoming more frequent. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.smallbusinesscommissioner.gov.uk\/late-payments-research-2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Government-commissioned research<\/a> published in July 2025 estimates that late payments contribute to around 14,000 UK business closures each year, the equivalent of around 38 every day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A cash flow forecasting template won&#8217;t prevent every problem, but it gives you the information you need to spot a potential issue before it becomes a crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This guide explains what a cash flow forecast is, why it matters, and how to use one. You can also download the free cash flow forecast template below and start filling it in straight away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta gated-content\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner on-scroll-highlight__target\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">Cashflow forecast template<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Make cash flow planning simpler with our ready-to-use forecast template.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"#gate-cc2850b5-d19f-4d84-8274-8cbb1bbbfe1d\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Download template<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1478421401.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"Working on business priorities\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1478421401.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here&#8217;s what we&#8217;ll cover in the article:<\/p>\n\n\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><div class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-table-of-contents yoast-table-of-contents\"><ul><li><a href=\"#h-what-is-a-cash-flow-forecast\" data-level=\"2\">What is a cash flow forecast?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-cash-flow-forecast-vs-profit-forecast\" data-level=\"2\">Cash flow forecast vs profit forecast<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-why-cash-flow-forecasting-is-important-for-small-businesses\" data-level=\"2\">Why cash flow forecasting is important for small businesses<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-how-to-use-the-cash-flow-forecast-template\" data-level=\"2\">How to use the cash flow forecast template<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-cash-flow-forecast-example\" data-level=\"2\">Cash flow forecast example<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-how-often-should-you-update-a-cash-flow-forecast\" data-level=\"2\">How often should you update a cash flow forecast?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-common-cash-flow-forecasting-mistakes-to-avoid\" data-level=\"2\">Common cash flow forecasting mistakes to avoid<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-how-accounting-software-takes-the-guesswork-out-of-cash-flow\" data-level=\"2\">How accounting software takes the guesswork out of cash flow<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-frequently-asked-questions\" data-level=\"2\">Frequently asked questions<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-what-is-a-cash-flow-forecast\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is a cash flow forecast?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A cash flow forecast is a forward-looking document that estimates how much money you expect to come in and go out of your business over a set period. It predicts whether you&#8217;ll have enough cash to cover your costs at any given point, before you get there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A forecast isn&#8217;t a record of what happened &#8211; it&#8217;s a projection of what&#8217;s likely to happen, based on what you know today about your income and outgoings. That\u2019s what makes it useful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most small businesses will run a forecast covering anywhere from one month to 12 months ahead, and update it regularly as their circumstances change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"975\" height=\"696\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/09\/image.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-32247\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/09\/image.png 975w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/09\/image-768x548.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 975px) 100vw, 975px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-cash-flow-forecast-vs-profit-forecast\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cash flow forecast vs profit forecast<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These two are often confused, and the difference matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A profit forecast looks at whether your business is making more money than it&#8217;s spending overall. It&#8217;s based on revenue earned and costs incurred, regardless of when the cash actually moves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A cash flow forecast, or cash flow projection, looks at when money physically enters and leaves your bank account. A business can be profitable on paper and still run into serious trouble if customers pay late, a large tax bill lands at the wrong time, or costs fall in a month when income is thin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A straightforward example: you complete a project in March and invoice for \u00a35,000. Your profit forecast includes \u00a35,000 in March. But if your client pays in May, your cash flow forecast won&#8217;t show that money until it actually arrives. In the meantime, you still have rent, wages, and supplier payments to cover. This is why profitable businesses can and do run into cash flow problems. Understanding how your<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/cash-flow-forecasting-small-businesses\/\"> <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/cash-flow-forecasting-small-businesses\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">cash flow forecasting<\/a> works in practice is just as important as the numbers themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-why-cash-flow-forecasting-is-important-for-small-businesses\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why cash flow forecasting is important for small businesses<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most financial problems don&#8217;t arrive without warning. They build up gradually, and a forecast gives you the chance to spot them early enough to do something about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-avoiding-cash-shortfalls\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Avoiding cash shortfalls<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A shortfall happens when your outgoings exceed your available cash, even temporarily. For a small business, that can mean missing payroll, defaulting on a supplier payment, or being unable to take on new work because you can&#8217;t cover the upfront costs. Forecasting doesn&#8217;t prevent shortfalls, but it tells you they&#8217;re coming. That gives you time to act, whether that means chasing an outstanding invoice, negotiating later payment of a supplier\u2019s bill, or exploring suitable funding options, where appropriate, and seeking professional advice if you&#8217;re unsure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-planning-for-tax-payments\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Planning for tax payments<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whether you need to pay VAT, PAYE, or corporation tax, and how much and when, depends on your business&#8217;s specific circumstances. Not every business will have all three obligations, and filing and payment timetables can differ. Where they apply, a decent forecast can help you estimate roughly when they&#8217;re due and how much they&#8217;ll be. The problem for many small businesses is that these payments aren&#8217;t built into day-to-day cash planning, so they land as a surprise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The free <strong>cash flow forecast template<\/strong> includes dedicated rows for VAT to HMRC, PAYE to HMRC, and corporation tax, so these obligations sit alongside your other outgoings rather than being an afterthought. Use only the rows that apply to your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-managing-growth\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Managing growth<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Growth costs money before it makes money. Taking on a new member of staff or investing in equipment requires cash upfront, often before the revenue from that investment comes through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A forecast lets you test whether your cash position can support a decision before you commit to it. That isn\u2019t a reason to avoid growth, but to time it better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-making-informed-decisions\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Making informed decisions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The quality of a business decision is only as good as the information behind it. If you&#8217;re weighing up a new supplier or preparing for a quieter month, a regularly updated forecast gives you a factual basis to work from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-how-to-use-the-cash-flow-forecast-template\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to use the cash flow forecast template<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The cash flow projection template is straightforward to set up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"975\" height=\"652\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/09\/image-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-32248\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/09\/image-1.png 975w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/09\/image-1-768x514.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 975px) 100vw, 975px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Enter your company name, choose your period type (weekly, fortnightly or monthly), set your start date, and enter the number of periods you want to forecast across. Then work through the income and expenditure rows, filling in what you expect for each period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here\u2019s how to approach each section.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"975\" height=\"696\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/09\/image-2.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-32249\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/09\/image-2.png 975w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/09\/image-2-768x548.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 975px) 100vw, 975px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Estimate your cash coming in<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Start with your income. The cash flow forecast template for Excel gives you customer or sales channel rows, which you can label however makes sense for your business. A freelancer might use them for different clients. A product business might split them by sales channel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Also include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Expected loan or funding receipts if you&#8217;re waiting on finance<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Any tax refunds you&#8217;re anticipating<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Other one-off receipts that will land in a specific period<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/invoice-payment-terms\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">payment terms<\/a> are 30 days, build that delay into your forecast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-list-your-cash-going-out\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">List your cash going out<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Work through the expenditure rows and enter your expected outgoings for each period. The template covers the most common costs for UK businesses, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Staff and payroll<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Supplier and contractor payments<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>PAYE, VAT, and corporation tax to HMRC<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rent, utilities, and office costs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Insurance, subscriptions, and professional fees<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For tax rows, enter the amounts in the period they are actually due to leave your account, not the period they relate to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-review-your-opening-and-closing-balances\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Review your opening and closing balances<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once your income and expenditure amounts are in place, then the cash flow summary at the bottom does the work. Your opening balance for the first period is the only figure you enter manually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From there, the template automatically calculates your net cash flow and closing balance for each period, carrying the closing balance forward as the opening balance for the next period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A positive closing balance means you expect to have cash available. A negative closing balance is a warning sign that needs attention before that period arrives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-update-your-forecast-regularly\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Update your forecast regularly<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A forecast you fill in once and never revisit loses its value quickly. As actual figures come in, update your template to reflect what really happened and adjust your projections forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">How often you update depends on your situation. A business with tight cash flow or irregular income may need to review weekly. For most small businesses, a monthly update is enough to stay on top of things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"h-monitor-forecasted-cash-flows-against-actual-cash-flows\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Monitor forecasted cash flows against actual cash flows<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Updating your forecast is only half the job. The other half is comparing what you projected against what actually happened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Each time you close out a period, go back to your forecast and fill in the real figures alongside your estimates. If your actual income came in lower than expected, or a cost ran higher than planned, note it and adjust your projections going forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Over time, this habit makes your forecasts more accurate. You start to see patterns, and you can build those realities into your numbers rather than working from assumptions that don&#8217;t reflect how your business works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-cash-flow-forecast-example\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cash flow forecast example<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To see how the forecast works in practice, here is a simple example using a sole trader who runs a small landscaping business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Opening balance:<\/strong> \u00a32,500<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In May, the business has two confirmed jobs worth \u00a31,800 and \u00a31,200 respectively. Based on 14-day payment terms, both payments are expected to land within the month. Total expected income for May: \u00a33,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Outgoings for the same period:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Supplier payments (plants, materials): \u00a3800<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fuel and travel: \u00a3150<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Public liability insurance (monthly portion): \u00a345<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>HMRC VAT payment due in May: \u00a3600<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Other costs: \u00a380<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Total expected expenditure: \u00a31,675<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Net cash flow:<\/strong> \u00a33,000 minus \u00a31,675 = \u00a31,325<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Closing balance:<\/strong> \u00a32,500 plus \u00a31,325 = \u00a33,825<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On paper, May looks healthy. But now imagine the client with the \u00a31,200 job pays 30 days late.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The income drops to \u00a31,800 for the month, the expenditure stays the same, and the net cash inflow falls to \u00a3125. The closing balance drops to \u00a32,625.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The forecast doesn&#8217;t change the situation, but it tells you about it before it happens. That&#8217;s the value of running the numbers in advance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you know in April that May could be tight, you could ask for a deposit upfront, chase receivables early, or make sure you have enough in reserve to cover it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"975\" height=\"452\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/09\/image-3.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-32250\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/09\/image-3.png 975w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/09\/image-3-768x356.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 975px) 100vw, 975px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-how-often-should-you-update-a-cash-flow-forecast\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How often should you update a cash flow forecast?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There is no single right answer, and it depends on your business. The more variable your income and outgoings, the more frequently you need to review your numbers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-weekly-updates\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Weekly updates<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Weekly works best if your cash position is tight, your income is irregular, or you&#8217;re in the early stages of trading. Reviewing every week gives you enough time to react if something looks off, whether that&#8217;s a payment that hasn&#8217;t arrived or an unexpected cost landing earlier than planned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-monthly-updates\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Monthly updates<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For most small businesses, a monthly update is enough. You review what actually came in and went out during the month, update your projections for the periods ahead, and adjust for anything that has changed. It should become a routine part of closing out the month rather than a separate task.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-rolling-forecasts\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Rolling forecasts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/rolling-forecast\/\"> <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/rolling-forecast\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">rolling forecast<\/a> means you always maintain a set window of visibility ahead, typically 12 months, moving forward as each period passes. Rather than forecasting to a fixed year-end and starting again, you add a new period each time one closes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This approach suits businesses that are growing, planning investment, or operating in sectors where conditions change quickly. It takes more discipline to maintain, but it gives you a more accurate picture over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-common-cash-flow-forecasting-mistakes-to-avoid\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Common cash flow forecasting mistakes to avoid<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even if you forecast regularly, it\u2019s easy to fall into habits that make your numbers less reliable. These are the ones you should watch out for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-overestimating-income\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Overestimating income<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Overestimating income is one of the most common forecasting mistakes for small businesses, and often the most damaging. It&#8217;s easy to forecast based on what you hope will come in, rather than what you can realistically expect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you&#8217;re quoting for three projects but only one is confirmed, only the confirmed one belongs in your forecast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The same applies to timing. If a client has 30-day payment terms, don&#8217;t record the income on the day you invoice. Record it when the money is likely to land in your account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-forgetting-vat-and-tax-bills\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Forgetting VAT and tax bills<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Where VAT, PAYE, and corporation tax apply to your business, they can still catch you off guard. They don&#8217;t feel like everyday expenses, and the cash to cover them has often been spent by the time the bill arrives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The template includes dedicated rows for each of these tax costs. Use the rows that apply to your business. If you&#8217;re unsure how<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/what-is-vat-uk-vat-basics-from-sage\/\"> <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/what-is-vat-uk-vat-basics-from-sage\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">VAT works for your business<\/a>, it&#8217;s worth getting clear on your obligations before they affect your cash position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-not-updating-your-forecast\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Not updating your forecast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A forecast built in January and left untouched through March is no longer a forecast. It&#8217;s a record of what you expected three months ago. As your circumstances change, your numbers should change with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Set a regular time each week or month to review and update. It doesn&#8217;t have to take long, but it has to happen consistently to be useful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-ignoring-seasonal-changes\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ignoring seasonal changes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most businesses have periods that are busier or quieter than others. If your forecast treats every month the same, it won&#8217;t reflect reality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Build seasonal patterns into your projections from the start, even if your estimates are rough. You can refine them as you gather more data over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-using-invoice-dates-instead-of-payment-dates\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Using invoice dates instead of payment dates<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is a common oversight, particularly for small businesses new to forecasting. Your forecast should reflect when cash actually moves, not when you raise an invoice or receive a bill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you issue an invoice today on 30-day terms, that income belongs in next month&#8217;s forecast, not this one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-how-accounting-software-takes-the-guesswork-out-of-cash-flow\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How accounting software takes the guesswork out of cash flow<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A spreadsheet works well when your finances are straightforward. But as your business grows and transactions increase, keeping a manual forecast accurate becomes a job in itself. Here\u2019s how software helps:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Your figures update as things happen: Where connected features are available and set up correctly, software can bring your invoices, expenses, and bank transactions into one place, so your cash position reflects more up-to-date information rather than what you entered last week.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tax figures are easier to estimate: Rather than working out your VAT, PAYE, or corporation tax rows entirely by hand, accounting software may help you estimate, track, and organise tax-related figures from the data you enter, depending on the product, your setup, and your circumstances. You should still check these figures against HMRC guidance or with an accountant before relying on them.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Late payments are easier to spot: When an invoice goes overdue and your invoicing and bank data are kept up to date, you can more easily see how it affects your projected closing balance. For small businesses where one late payment can shift an entire month&#8217;s numbers, that early visibility can give you time to act.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Forecasting becomes part of running the business: When your data is live and connected, staying on top of your cash flow stops being a separate monthly task and becomes a natural part of how you manage day to day.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you want to see how that works in practice,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/sage-business-cloud\/sage-accounting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> Sage Accounting<\/a> brings your invoicing, expenses, banking, and tax obligations together in one place.<\/p>\n\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-sage-faq\">\n\t\n<h2 id=\"h-frequently-asked-questions\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"faq-items\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-sage-faq-item\" id=\"faq-item-44948511\">\n\t<div class=\"faq-item-question\">\n\t\t\n<h3 id=\"h-what-s-the-difference-between-a-cash-flow-forecast-and-a-cash-flow-statement\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What&#8217;s the difference between a cash flow forecast and a cash flow statement?<\/h3>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"faq-item-answer\">\n\t\t\t\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A <strong>cash flow forecast<\/strong> is forward-looking. You use it to project what you expect to come in and go out over a future period.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A cash flow statement is historical. It records what actually happened to cash in your business and forms part of your formal financial accounts.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One helps you plan ahead. The other tells you what occurred.<br><\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"975\" height=\"696\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/09\/image-4.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-32251\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/09\/image-4.png 975w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/09\/image-4-768x548.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 975px) 100vw, 975px\" \/><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-sage-faq-item\" id=\"faq-item-5602400b\">\n\t<div class=\"faq-item-question\">\n\t\t\n<h3 id=\"h-how-far-ahead-should-a-cash-flow-forecast-go\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How far ahead should a cash flow forecast go?<\/h3>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"faq-item-answer\">\n\t\t\t\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One month gives you enough visibility to manage immediate cash needs. Three months works better for planning decisions like hiring, supplier negotiations, or upcoming tax bills.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you&#8217;re seeking funding or managing growth, maintain a 12-month forecast and update it monthly so the window always stays a year ahead.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-sage-faq-item\" id=\"faq-item-0e9a09c0\">\n\t<div class=\"faq-item-question\">\n\t\t\n<h3 id=\"h-can-i-use-a-cash-flow-forecast-for-a-start-up\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can I use a cash flow forecast for a start-up?<\/h3>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"faq-item-answer\">\n\t\t\t\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes, and it may be the single most important financial document you produce at that stage. Map out when you expect customers to pay, what your fixed costs look like, and how long your funding will last.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lenders and investors may ask for it, and it helps you agree on workable payment terms with clients and suppliers from the start.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your early figures will be estimates, and that&#8217;s fine. The discipline of building and updating the forecast is what matters.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-sage-faq-item\" id=\"faq-item-31483945\">\n\t<div class=\"faq-item-question\">\n\t\t\n<h3 id=\"h-do-i-need-a-cash-flow-forecast-for-a-loan-or-funding-application\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Do I need a cash flow forecast for a loan or funding application?<\/h3>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"faq-item-answer\">\n\t\t\t\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many lenders and investors may ask for one. It shows you understand your numbers, that you&#8217;ve thought through how the funding will be used, and you have a realistic repayment plan. The free cash flow forecast template above can give you a starting point, but lenders or investors may require additional information, specific formats, or professionally prepared forecasts.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-sage-faq-item\" id=\"faq-item-1f8eac84\">\n\t<div class=\"faq-item-question\">\n\t\t\n<h3 id=\"h-can-chatgpt-make-a-cash-flow-forecast\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can ChatGPT make a cash flow forecast?<\/h3>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"faq-item-answer\">\n\t\t\t\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">LLMs like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude can generate a structure or populate a template, but they have no access to your actual business data. Unless you upload your actual numbers, any figures it produces are fabricated or based on generic assumptions with no relation to your real income or costs.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Do not upload sensitive business or customer data to any AI tool unless you are satisfied it is appropriate to do so and you understand how the tool will use, store, and protect that data.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/section>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>This article was verified by a UK-based Accountant in September 2026. Accounting rules are complex and change frequently and we recommend you seek any accounting advice from a qualified accountant or tax professional. <strong>This template and guidance are for general information only and do not constitute accounting, tax, legal or financial advice<\/strong>. Tax obligations, payment dates and available reliefs depend on your business structure, registration status, accounting period and circumstances. Check the latest HMRC guidance or speak to a qualified accountant or tax adviser before relying on figures for tax, funding or business decisions.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<section class=\"more-topics alignfull has-grey-light-background-color wp-block-sage-post-topics\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-12 col-lg-4\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"more-topics__title h2\">Browse more topics from this article<\/h3>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-12 col-lg-8\">\n\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"post-tags__list\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"post-tags__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/tag\/cash-flow\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCash flow\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<div class=\"alignfull wp-block-sage-related-posts\">\n\t<section class=\"related-posts card-grid has-dark-background-color\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"related-posts__heading related-posts__heading--featured h1\">Explore more wisdom<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"row related-posts__featured\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-0 post-16041 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-money-matters tag-bookkeeping tag-business-finances tag-cash-flow tag-freelancers business_type-small-business card-post--is-clickable\"\n>\n\t<div class=\"card-post__media-wrapper\">\n\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1282134863-1440x810.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"Man working on laptop at desk and looking at business priorities\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1282134863-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1282134863-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1282134863-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"card-post__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__label\">Recommended<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-09-17T12:27:57+01:00\">17 September, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">5 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__title-link\"\n\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/invoice-tips-round-up-paid-on-time\/\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tInvoice tips round-up: Essential advice to help you get paid on time\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"card-post__description\">\n\t\t\t\tWe&#8217;ve compiled some resources to help with your invoice processes, including how to create an invoice and a set of free invoice templates.\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row related-posts__non-featured\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-12\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"related-posts__heading related-posts__heading--more h4\">More on this Topic<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-1 post-2229 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-money-matters category-strategy-legal-operations tag-bookkeeping tag-business-finances tag-cash-flow tag-freelancers tag-start-business tag-make-receive-payments tag-tax tag-vat business_type-small-business\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/the-ultimate-guide-to-basic-business-accounting\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1267191201_updated-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1267191201_updated-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1267191201_updated-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1267191201_updated-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-09-14T15:43:42+01:00\">14 September, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">18 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tThe ultimate guide to small business accounting and bookkeeping\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-2 post-4230 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-money-matters tag-cash-flow tag-grow-business tag-make-receive-payments business_type-small-business business_type-medium-sized-business\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/get-paid-faster\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2018\/02\/GettyImages-554994217_super-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"Working remotely\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2018\/02\/GettyImages-554994217_super-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2018\/02\/GettyImages-554994217_super-768x585.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2018\/02\/GettyImages-554994217_super-1064x810.jpg 1064w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-08-07T15:05:09+01:00\">7 August, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">11 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tHow to get paid faster: Practical tips for small businesses\u00a0\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-3 post-3241 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-money-matters tag-cash-flow tag-make-receive-payments business_type-small-business\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/late-payments-get-paid-faster\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1146164056-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"Woman applying for business credit line\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1146164056-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1146164056-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1146164056-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-08-04T14:28:12+01:00\">4 August, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">10 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tLate payments: How to get clients to pay on time\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-4 post-1043 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-money-matters tag-alternative-finance tag-cash-flow tag-crowdfunding business_type-small-business\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/a-business-guide-to-borrowing-money\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/08\/0J9A9593-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/08\/0J9A9593-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/08\/0J9A9593-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/08\/0J9A9593.jpg 999w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-06-05T13:25:08+01:00\">5 June, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">9 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tA business owner&#8217;s guide to borrowing money\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A cash flow forecast shows what money you expect to come in and go out of your business, so you can spot potential shortfalls earlier. Find out how to build and update one, and download our free UK cash flow forecast template to get started.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1911,"featured_media":11424,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_is_cornerstone":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image-id":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image-id":"","_yoast_wpseo_schema_page_type":"","_yoast_wpseo_schema_article_type":"","_sage_video":false,"_yoast_wpseo_focuskeywords":"","_yoast_wpseo_keywordsynonyms":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":"139","sage_membership_post_content_type":"","sage_membership_post_featured_video_id":"","sage_membership_post_video_type":"","sage_membership_post_featured_video_duration":"","post_featured_image_hide":false,"sage_hide_published_date":false,"sage_hide_read_time":false,"sage_hide_share_buttons":false,"_pwl_sage_podcast_buzzsprout_src":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[139],"tags":[24],"business_type":[4],"lilypad":[],"context":[],"industry":[],"persona":[73,74,75],"imagine_tag":[287,77],"coauthors":[752],"class_list":["post-32245","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-free-guides-templates","tag-cash-flow","business_type-small-business"],"sage_meta":{"region":"en-gb","author_name":"Laurence Matone","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-961279906.jpg","imagine_tags":{"287":"Accounting Individual","77":"Accounting software"}},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Sage Advice UK","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32245","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/users\/1911"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32245"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32245\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32449,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32245\/revisions\/32449"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media\/11424"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32245"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=32245"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=32245"},{"taxonomy":"business_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/business_type?post=32245"},{"taxonomy":"lilypad","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/lilypad?post=32245"},{"taxonomy":"context","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/context?post=32245"},{"taxonomy":"industry","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/industry?post=32245"},{"taxonomy":"persona","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/persona?post=32245"},{"taxonomy":"imagine_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/imagine_tag?post=32245"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=32245"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}