All calculators

Calculator · Cash Flow

Cash Flow Calculator

Reconcile opening cash, dated receipts and payments for one period, retaining negative balances and showing the gap against your reserve target.

By PriceAndProfit Editorial Updated

$
$
$
$

Fill in the fields: the result appears under the form, with the formula below it.

Clear

Formula and cost boundary

Closing cash = opening cash + cash receipts − cash payments; reserve buffer = closing cash − reserve target

Enter movements of cash, not sales booked or expenses recognized without payment. A negative forecast closing balance is an unfunded shortfall, not cash that can be spent. The reserve is a target rather than an expense, so it is subtracted only in the buffer result. One total cannot expose a mid-period shortage; use a weekly calendar when dates matter.

Worked example: Cash grows

The following inputs are hypothetical values for checking the calculation. They are not recommended prices, wages, margins or platform charges. Keep the units and period shown in each label when replacing them with your own records.

Inputs for this worked example
InputExample value
Opening available cash or shortfall $10,000
Cash actually expected in the period $25,000
Cash actually expected out in the period $22,000
Minimum closing cash target $5,000
Outputs from the displayed inputs
ResultCalculated value
Closing cash or unfunded shortfall $13,000
Net cash movement $3,000
Closing cash above or below reserve $8,000

Using the result

Save the input set alongside the source date of each quote or cost record. Review the cost boundary before comparing this result with another report: a contribution measure may exclude overhead, and a cash measure follows payment dates. Display rounding does not change the underlying assumptions. Recalculate when an input changes; the tool does not predict future sales or collections.

Are any rates supplied automatically?

No. Numeric fields are your inputs. Example values demonstrate arithmetic only. Check your contracts and records for the amounts that apply to your business.

Why might a result be unavailable or negative?

A missing denominator or inconsistent inputs can make the calculation undefined. Those combinations are rejected or labeled explicitly. A valid negative result remains visible because it may identify a loss or cash shortfall.

Method reference: OpenStax: Financial Budgets. Checked October 22, 2026. Dated receipts and payments; no borrowing or investment model is implemented.

Related calculators & guides