12/10/2026
Most business owners only look at the bank balance. The real decisions live in what's coming next.
A 13-week cash flow forecast is the single most useful tool a trades business can run β it shows you, week by week, when money comes in and when it goes out.
Here's how to build one in an afternoon:
β List every dollar coming in β every current job, what's owed and when it's due (deposits, progress claims, retentions)
β List every dollar going out β wages, materials, fuel, plant hire, insurance, loan repayments, BAS, super β in the week it actually leaves the account
β Net it off, week by week β a negative week is a problem you can solve now, not discover later
β Update it every Monday β 20 minutes to keep it honest
It's not about a perfect spreadsheet. It's a habit that keeps you ahead of the money instead of chasing it.