Skip to main content

Cash Flow Forecast Calculator

Most businesses that fail do so not because they're unprofitable, but because they run out of cash — the average small business needs 3–6 months of operating expenses as a cash reserve. Project your monthly cash position to find exactly when you'll break even or when you need additional funding.

No signup No tracking Last updated March 2026

Income

$

Cash on hand right now

$
$

Grants, investment income, etc.

%

Revenue growth per month

Monthly Expenses

$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$

How Cash Flow Forecasting Works

A cash flow forecast projects your business's future cash position by mapping out expected income and expenses month by month. It answers the most critical question for any business: will I have enough cash to keep operating?

Runway is how many months your business can survive before cash runs out. If your monthly expenses exceed revenue, runway tells you exactly when you'll hit zero — giving you time to cut costs, raise prices, or find additional funding.

Break-even month is when your cumulative cash inflows finally exceed cumulative outflows. After this point, the business has generated more cash than it has consumed since the start of the projection.

The growth rate compounds monthly on your base revenue. Even modest growth (3-5% monthly) can dramatically change your cash picture over 12-24 months. But be conservative — overestimating growth is the most common mistake in cash flow planning.

Need to estimate your starting cash and monthly expenses? Our startup cost estimator breaks down one-time and recurring costs for 19 business types, which you can plug directly into this forecast.

Estimates only. These results are based on publicly available data and standard formulas. Actual costs may vary based on your specific circumstances. This calculator does not constitute financial, tax, or legal advice. Consult a qualified professional for advice on your situation.

Was this calculator helpful?

Your feedback helps us improve CostCrunch

Save Your Results

Download a professional PDF report with your complete analysis, charts, and key insights.

Financial Planning Calculators

Break-Even Calculator

Find how many units to sell to cover costs

Startup Cost Estimator

Estimate one-time and recurring startup costs

Loan Comparison

Compare loan options side by side

Profit Margin Calculator

Calculate gross, operating, and net margins

Employee Cost Calculator

Find the true cost of hiring an employee

Markup & Margin

Convert between markup and margin percentages

Payroll Tax Calculator

Estimate employer payroll taxes by state

W-2 vs 1099 Calculator

Compare employee vs contractor costs

Manage Your Cash Flow

Tools and services that pair well with this calculator.

QuickBooks Accounting

Real-time cash flow tracking and forecasting. See where every dollar goes.
Wave Accounting Accounting

Free accounting with automatic cash flow reports and bank connections.
Bluevine Banking

Business checking with built-in cash flow tools and line of credit access.

Some links may be affiliate links. CostCrunch may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Get notified when tax rates change

We monitor payroll tax rates, SUTA, and cost-of-living data across all 50 states. When rates change, we'll let you know. Free, no spam.

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe with one click.