Virtual CFO
13-week cash flow forecast
A 13-week cash flow forecast tracks what actually clears your US bank accounts week by week, so you can see a tight week coming with enough notice to act, whether that means chasing a slow-paying customer, delaying a purchase or drawing on a line of credit before it is urgent.
13-week cash forecast
Illustrative client · August 2026
USD
- Cash today
- $244,220
- Lowest week ahead
- 239,800
- Largest outflow
- Payroll, 46,300
Illustrative. An example of the document, not a client's figures.
Why weekly, not monthly
A monthly budget tells you whether the year is on track. It does not tell you whether payroll clears on the 15th if a large customer pays three days late. A 13-week cash flow forecast works in weeks because that is the unit US businesses actually run out of cash in: rent, payroll, loan payments and supplier terms all land on specific dates, not smoothly across a month.
How the model is built
We start from your actual accounts receivable and payable aging, your bank balance, and any known upcoming items such as payroll runs, quarterly estimated tax payments, loan or lease payments, and large planned purchases. Each week the forecast is checked against what actually cleared, and the gap between forecast and actual gets explained rather than ignored, which is what keeps the model trustworthy 13 weeks out instead of just for the first two.
Where it matters most
Seasonal businesses, construction and project-based companies waiting on progress payments, and any business growing fast enough that receivables and payables are moving targets, get the most value from a rolling 13-week view. It also becomes the working document behind a line of credit conversation or a lender's covenant test, since most US lenders ask for exactly this kind of forward cash visibility.
What you get each week
A rolling model, refreshed weekly, with the coming 13 weeks always in view, plus a short note on what changed since last week and why. It pairs well with lender covenant reporting if your facility requires regular financial reporting, and with budgeting for the annual view behind it.
Questions
Frequently asked questions: 13-week cash flow forecast
How far in advance can a 13-week forecast warn us of a cash problem?
The model is rebuilt weekly and looks 13 weeks ahead, so a tight week is typically visible well before it arrives, giving you time to act rather than react.
Do you need our bank login to build this?
Read-only bank access or connected bank feeds inside QuickBooks Online or Xero are enough. We do not need the ability to move money.
Is this useful if our business does not have cash problems right now?
Yes. Businesses growing fast often run into cash timing issues before they run into profitability issues; the forecast catches that gap early rather than after it shows up as a missed payroll.
Can the forecast include our line of credit availability?
Yes. We build in your revolving credit line, its available balance, and any borrowing base restrictions so the model shows real liquidity, not just the bank balance.
What does 13-week cash flow forecast actually include, month to month?
13-week cash flow forecast covers a 13-week rolling model built from your actual receipts and payables, along with weekly variance review comparing forecast to what actually happened. The work runs inside Excel, Google Sheets, QuickBooks Online, Xero or Float, the file stays under your own subscription, and a senior principal reviews the output before it reaches you each period.
How is a 13-week forecast different from a budget?
A budget is an annual plan by month. A 13-week forecast tracks actual cash in and out by week, which is what matters when cash is tight or growth is fast.
What do you need from us to build it?
Bank access, your accounts receivable and payable aging, and a list of known upcoming payments such as payroll, rent and loan payments.
How often is it updated?
Weekly, so the model always reflects what actually cleared the bank rather than drifting from reality.
How is 13-week cash flow forecast priced?
Pricing for 13-week cash flow forecast depends on your transaction volume, the software you use, and how much cleanup is needed before ongoing work starts. Current ranges are published on the pricing page, and your exact fee is confirmed in writing before anything begins.
Related services
- Virtual CFOFractional CFOA senior finance lead who works your numbers on a part-time basis: monthly reviews, board and investor prep, and a second opinion before a big decision.
- Virtual CFOLender covenant reportingRecurring reports built to your loan agreement's exact definitions, delivered on the schedule your lender requires, so a covenant test never comes as a surprise.
- Virtual CFOBudgetingAn annual budget built from your real numbers, broken out by month and department, that becomes the baseline every later report is measured against.
Industries
- Startups and VC-backed companiesBookkeeping and reporting for early-stage, venture-backed companies watching burn, runway and investor reporting closely.
- Construction and job costingBookkeeping for contractors and builders who need cost and profitability tracked by job, not just by month.
- Restaurants and multi-entity franchise groupsBookkeeping for restaurant groups and franchise operators running several locations or legal entities at once.
- Trucking and logisticsBookkeeping for trucking companies and logistics operators tracking cost per mile across a fleet of owner-operators or drivers.
- HospitalityBookkeeping for hotels, short-term rentals and hospitality operators reconciling booking platform payouts and occupancy-driven revenue.
Next step
Talk to the team that would run your books
A short call covers your setup, your software and what a first month would look like. You get a written scope and price after it.