Why a weekly, direct cash view beats a monthly P&L when liquidity is tight, and how to build one in an afternoon.
Profit is an opinion; cash is a fact. When a business is growing fast or margins are under pressure, the monthly P&L tells you what happened, while the thirteen-week cash forecast tells you what is about to happen.
Start from the bank, not the ledger
Begin with this week's opening bank balance across every account. Then list every receipt and payment you expect, week by week, for the next thirteen weeks.
Receipts by customer, not by invoice
Group your top fifteen customers individually and everything else as one line. Use their actual payment behaviour, not their contractual terms.
The forecast is only as good as your honesty about when customers really pay.
The Monday ritual
Roll the forecast forward every Monday, compare last week's forecast with actuals and explain the three biggest variances. Thirty minutes, every week.
Want this applied to your numbers?
Book a 45-minute strategy session with Meera.
