2026 Cash Flow Calculator
Project your monthly cash flow, see your burn rate and runway, and spot cash-short months before they arrive.
This calculator provides estimates for educational use only. It is not tax, legal, or financial advice. Figures are based on current IRS rules — verify against IRS.gov or consult a licensed professional. See our full disclaimer.
Your Cash Position
Cash Flow Summary
6-Month Projection
| Month | Ending Cash |
|---|---|
| 1 | $23,000 |
| 2 | $26,000 |
| 3 | $29,000 |
| 4 | $32,000 |
| 5 | $35,000 |
| 6 | $38,000 |
* Estimate only. Figures are for educational planning and do not constitute financial advice.
Cash Flow vs. Profit
Watch your timing
A sale is not cash until the customer pays. Gaps between invoicing and collection are the most common cause of small-business cash crunches.
Build a buffer
A cash reserve plus a line of credit smooths slow months so a single late-paying client can't sink payroll.
Track receivables
Use our Accounts Receivable Turnover Calculator to measure how fast you collect and find slow-paying customers.
Plan taxes too
Quarterly tax payments are a big, predictable outflow. Our Quarterly Estimated Tax Calculator helps you set that cash aside.
Cash Flow FAQs
Burn rate is how fast your business spends cash each month when outflows exceed inflows. If you collect $15,000 but spend $20,000, your burn rate is $5,000/month. Knowing it tells you how long your cash reserves will last.
Runway is how many months you can operate at the current burn rate before running out of cash. Many small businesses aim for at least 3–6 months of runway; seasonal or early-stage businesses often want more.
Common levers: invoice faster and follow up on late payments (see our Accounts Receivable Turnover tool), negotiate longer supplier terms, trim fixed costs, build a cash reserve, and use a line of credit to smooth gaps.
No. A business can be profitable on paper and still run out of cash because of timing — money tied up in inventory or unpaid invoices, or large one-time purchases. Cash flow tracks actual dollars in and out.