Weekly Cash Flow Projector
12-week running balance with inflow and outflow inputs. Flags any negative-balance weeks.
| Week | Inflows | Outflows | Net | Running Balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start | — | — | — | $15,000 |
| Week 1 | $3,000 | $18,000 | ||
| Week 2 | ($3,000) | $15,000 | ||
| Week 3 | $8,000 | $23,000 | ||
| Week 4 | ($3,000) | $20,000 | ||
| Week 5 | $3,000 | $23,000 | ||
| Week 6 | ($6,000) | $17,000 | ||
| Week 7 | $9,000 | $26,000 | ||
| Week 8 | $6,000 | $32,000 | ||
| Week 9 | ($9,000) | $23,000 | ||
| Week 10 | $3,000 | $26,000 | ||
| Week 11 | $7,000 | $33,000 | ||
| Week 12 | $6,000 | $39,000 | ||
| Totals | $314,000 | $290,000 | $24,000 | $39,000 |
Total Inflows
$314,000
Total Outflows
$290,000
Ending Balance
$39,000
Negative Weeks
0
Methodology
This is a cash-basis projection: balance(week n) = balance(week n−1) + inflows − outflows. Weekly granularity is the right cadence for construction because payroll, material deliveries, and progress draws all fall on weekly cycles. Cash basis (when money moves) differs from accrual basis (when revenue is earned) — for accrual-side tracking, use the WIP schedule instead.
Estimates only. Not financial advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I project weekly or monthly?
Weekly for construction. Monthly projections smooth over the week-to-week swings that actually break contractors — a heavy material delivery week colliding with payroll, or a slow-paying owner whose draw lands four days late. Weekly buckets let you see exactly when the bank balance dips, so you can call a supplier and ask for net-45 instead of net-30, or sequence a payroll advance.
What should I include in outflows?
Everything that hits the bank: direct job costs (material POs, subcontractor pay apps, equipment rentals), labor (gross wages, workers comp, payroll taxes), overhead (rent, fuel, insurance premiums, software, owner salary, debt service), and one-time items (estimated taxes due quarterly, equipment purchases, retainage releases owed to subs). Forgetting overhead and quarterly tax payments is the most common cause of "my projection said positive, but I bounced a check" surprises.
What is a healthy minimum cash balance?
Most construction finance advisors recommend keeping at least 4–8 weeks of operating expenses in reserve. For a $2M revenue contractor running roughly $35K of weekly outflows, that is $140K–$280K of minimum cash. If your projection dips below that floor, plan ahead — accelerate billings, push a sub payment, or draw on a line of credit before you are forced to.
What is the difference between cash and accrual?
Cash basis records revenue when money is received and expense when money is paid. Accrual basis records revenue when it is earned (per the WIP schedule) and expense when it is incurred (per the cost tracker). Cash basis tells you whether checks will clear next Friday; accrual basis tells you whether the business is actually profitable. Most contractors over $5M revenue are required by their CPAs and the IRS to file on accrual, but every contractor still needs the cash projection to keep the lights on.