Payments may occur before receipts. Check a weekly cash schedule even when the month ends with positive cash.
Try this with your own numbersFormula and worked example
Ending cash = opening cash + months × (receipts − payments)
| Input | Example |
|---|---|
| Opening cash | 20,000 |
| Expected cash receipts | 15,000 |
| Expected cash payments | 12,000 |
| Projection horizon | 3 months |
| Calculated result | 29,000 |
Choose reliable inputs
Track purchased quantities, usable yield, labour and waste before deciding on a selling price. For this bakery calculation, use recipe sheets, supplier invoices and stock counts and a consistent definition of one order.
- Ingredients: include the portion belonging to this order or reporting period, and record where the value came from.
- Preparation: include the portion belonging to this order or reporting period, and record where the value came from.
- Packaging: include the portion belonging to this order or reporting period, and record where the value came from.
Use the same currency for every money input. Do not mix weekly costs with monthly revenue, or count the same expense in both an itemised cost and allocated overhead.
Why can the ending balance miss a cash shortfall?
Payments may occur before receipts. Check a weekly cash schedule even when the month ends with positive cash.
This linear estimate excludes within-month timing and changing seasonal cash flows.
What if this input changes?
If opening cash rises by 10%, this example changes by 2,000 . This shows the effect of one change; it does not predict what will happen.
Open the calculator, save your baseline, then change the input supported by the least reliable estimate in your records. Compare both scenarios before committing to a price or capacity promise.