Build the cash forecast
See this course’s project requirements
A rolling business cash plan with receipt timing, invoice follow-up, a base forecast, stress test, action comparison and actuals update.
Keep your working files in your own notebook or software. Save a private description, checklist, and work link in My Proof.
What to include
- A four-week cash-receipts schedule.
- A receivables status and follow-up log. A checked rolling forecast with its lowest cash point.
- A late-payment scenario with a quantified cash gap.
- A comparison of two cash responses and their conditions.
- A complete four-week rolling cash handoff with actuals and assumptions.
Review and revise
Use these criteria to check your work and choose what to improve.
- Calculations reconcile to the supplied records, with units and dates labeled.
- Assumptions and missing information are visible, including the changed scenario.
- The recommendation follows the evidence and explains an important limitation.
- The six lesson outputs form a usable handoff that another learner can check.
Want more background?
The idea in everyday life
Reset to Patch’s base case. Opening Week 1 cash is $1000. Use the table; the fictional minimum cash target is $400.
Closing cash becomes the next period’s opening cash. A positive month total can hide a weak week.
Build the cash forecast — worked practice
Closing cash becomes the next period’s opening cash. A positive month total can hide a weak week.
Reset to Patch’s base case. Opening Week 1 cash is $1000. Use the table; the fictional minimum cash target is $400.
Build the cash forecast records
Paste at A1.
| AWeek | BReceipts | CPayments |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 600 | 900 |
| 2 | 1200 | 1000 |
| 3 | 500 | 1200 |
| 4 | 1500 | 700 |
Copy as plain text
1. Calculate Week 1
Use opening cash plus receipts minus payments.
You should see: 1000 + 600 − 900 = $700.
Cash balances roll forward.
2. Continue Weeks 2–4
Carry each closing balance forward.
You should see: Closing cash: $900, $200, $1000.
Each week depends on the previous result.
3. Find low point
Compare all closing balances.
You should see: Week 3 is lowest at $200.
The lowest point reveals timing pressure.
4. Apply target
Compare Week 3 with $400.
You should see: The base forecast has a $200 gap to its target.
This is a stated planning target, not a universal rule.
What to finish
A checked rolling forecast with its lowest cash point.
Watch for this
Resetting every week to the original opening balance.
How can I tell I understand it?
Explain your calculation or classification and reproduce the changed case without copying the worked result.
Quick knowledge check
Answer all 3 questions. Get at least 2 right and the lesson completes automatically.
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Answer all 3 questions above and get at least 2 right. You can review the explanations and try again.
Go to the knowledge checkOptional course overview video · same video as Lesson 1
The Cash Budget
From Edspira. Watch here or open it on YouTube .
Optional course overview. Follow the written steps below at your own pace.Tools, templates, and lesson sources
Tools and templates
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Sources and further reading
Explore the references behind this lesson.
Source & access notes · checked 2026-09-12
Inspected FDIC/SBA PDF hosted by Indiana, especially pages 6, 8–12 and glossary. Used cash timing concepts only; historical sample rates are not used.
Access: Public 20-page PDF; dated 2016, used for stable concepts rather than current rules.
Reuse: Link to the original. Free reading does not imply permission to reproduce the page; lessons and fixtures here are original.
Source & access notes · checked 2026-09-12
Inspected forecasting, assumptions and projected statements.
Access: Free public article; linked paid course is not required.
Reuse: Link to the original. Free reading does not imply permission to reproduce the page; lessons and fixtures here are original.
Source & access notes · checked 2026-09-12
Inspected exact Cash Budget link and verified oEmbed metadata.
Access: Public page inspected without a sign-in; linked services may have separate requirements.
Reuse: Link to the original. Free reading does not imply permission to reproduce the page; lessons and fixtures here are original.
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