Cash Planning and Forecasting Help comes in all sizes and shapes and ranges from a simple template (document) - to a spreadsheet - and finally to a dedicated software program. Which solution is right for you and your business ? The answer actually depends on you.

• The simple document template that you often find online and can download for free is actually not a whole lot better than a sheet of paper and a pencil. You have to make all your calculations by hand and you just use the document to enter your manual calculations and it just summarizes the amounts that you manually calculated. It normally does, at least total the amounts that you calculated and entered. This solution is not for me - I'm too lazy and I know that computers if properly told what to do can do the calculations for me.

  Example of a very Simple Excel Cash Forecast Worksheet

• For many small businesses, a good spreadsheet template is a good place to start. The template normally has an input area(s) where you enter basic financial information about your business usually from your financial statements. You also enter information such as your selling terms (credit terms to your customers) and payment terms to your suppliers. After entering your basic financial information, the spreadsheet performs the necessary calculations and provides you with an estimated cash forecast (projection). An added benefit, is that you can play what if with this business tool by changing your assumptions and see the results in a new calculated cash forecast. This is not a bad solution for those comfortable with using a spreadsheet program such as Excel.

  For those individuals and businesses that feel more comfortable using a spreadsheet, I have developed just the solution for you - my Bean Counter Cash Forecasting Workbook. This Excel Template is designed to be simple, yet powerful enough to perform the calculations that make the job of preparing a cash forecast hassle free.

  See for yourself what Bean Counter's Cash Forecasting Workbook looks like and provides.
  Sample of Bean Counter's Cash Forecasting Workbook

  Note: This may take a little while to load and display on your computer. After the workbook displays click the links that appear on the bottom of the pages to see the different sections that make up the contents of my workbook.

  If this is the right solution for your cash forecasting needs you can get it for free compliments of Bean Counter.
  BC's Free Excel Cash Forecast Template

• Nowadays, in my opinion with the cost so nominal, why not use software that combines your cash management needs along with your budgeting / business planning needs. The only downside is that you do have to invest the time necessary to learn how to use the program. If you don't want to invest a little time, then don't waste your money on this solution.

  For those taking the "high road", I recommend - Business Plan Pro