Cash Flow Calculator
Use our free cash flow calculator to quickly estimate your net cash flow for a period, based on key inputs like revenue, operating expenses, capital expenditures, and financing. Perfect for small business owners, freelancers, accountants, and financial planners.
Get StartedStarting Position
Operating Activities
Investing Activities
Financing Activities
Cash Flow Summary
Ending Cash Balance
$0
All calculations are estimates and should be verified by a professional.
Cash Flow Formula
Understanding cash flow tells you whether your business can meet obligations, invest in growth, and return value to owners. Use the calculator to spot shortfalls and plan financing or cost changes.
How this cash flow calculator works
This calculator aggregates cash inflows and outflows for the chosen period, applies working capital changes, subtracts capital spending and debt payments, and returns operating cash flow and free cash flow. It's designed to give a quick, actionable picture of liquidity before you do a detailed cash flow statement.
When to use this cash flow calculator
To project monthly or quarterly liquidity for small businesses
When planning capital purchases or equipment financing
For assessing whether new hires or leases are affordable
To estimate runway for startups and freelancers
To compare financing options and repayment impacts
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Book a Free DemoTypical Cash Flow Benchmarks by Business Type
Use these as broad references—replace with your own historicals for accuracy.
Low-margin retail/service
2–6% net cash flow (of revenue)
High-margin SaaS/digital
10–25% net cash flow as business matures
Light manufacturing
5–12% net cash flow
Professional services
8–18% net cash flow
These benchmarks help businesses see whether their cash flow performance is aligned with peers and where improvement is needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How accurate is this cash flow calculator?
It provides estimates based on the inputs you supply. Accuracy improves with precise revenue, expense, and working capital figures.
What's the difference between cash flow and profit?
Profit is accounting income (accrual basis). Cash flow measures actual cash received and paid during the period.
Do I include depreciation in cash flow?
Depreciation is a non-cash expense—exclude it from cash outflows but include CapEx (actual cash spent).
How should I handle receivables and payables?
Model changes in working capital: increases in receivables reduce cash; increases in payables increase cash.
Can this calculator help plan for a loan or investment?
Yes—use projected cash flow to test debt service coverage and runway scenarios.
Should I include owner's draws or salary?
Yes—include owner withdrawals or owner's salary as cash outflows for realistic liquidity planning
How often should I run cash flow projections?
Monthly at a minimum; weekly if cash is tight or you're scaling fast.
Does this model account for seasonality?
The calculator supports period-by-period inputs. For seasonal businesses, run monthly/quarterly forecasts to capture peaks and troughs.