Spreadsheet: 00b4b91a-3fbf-4b97-9945-8112a8e1dd45
Sheet: Sheet1

Unnamed: 0
GUIDELINES
GENERAL
Definition:  A cash flow projection is a forecast of cash funds a business anticipates receiving and paying out throughout the course of a given span of time, and the anticipated cash position at specific times during the period being projected.  [For the purpose of this projection, cash funds are defined as cash, checks, or money order, paid out or received.]
Objective:  The purpose of preparing a cash flow projection is to determine shortages or excesses in cash from that necessary to operate the business during the time for which the projection is prepared.  If cash shortages are revealed in the project, financial plans must be altered to provide more cash until a proper cash flow balance is obtained.  For example, more owner cash, loans, increased selling prices of products, or less credit sales to customers will provide more cash to the business.  Ways to reduce the amount of cash paid out includes having less inventory, reducing purchases of equipment or other fixed assets, or eliminating some operating expenses.  If excesses of cash are revealed, it might indicated excessive borrowing or idle money that could be "put to work." The objective is to finally develop a plan which, if followed, will provide a well-managed flow of cash.
The Spreadsheet:  The cash flow projection worksheet in this file provides a systematic method of recording estimates of cash receipts and expenditures, which can be compared with actual receipts and expenditures as they become known.  The entries listed in the spreadsheet will not necessarily apply to every business, and some entries may not be included which would be pertinent to specific businesses.  It is suggested, therefore, that you adapt the spreadsheet to the particular business for which the projection is being made, with appropriate changes in the entries as required.  Before the cash flow projection can be completed and a pricing
structure established, it is necessary to know or to estimate various important factors of the business, for example:   What are the direct costs of the product or services per unit?   What are the monthly or yearly costs of the operation?   What is the sales price per unit of the product or service?  Determine that the pricing structure provides this business with reasonable breakeven goals [including a reasonable net profit] when conservative sales goals are met.   What are the available sources of cash, other than income from sales; for example, loans, equity capital, rent, or other sources?
Procedure:  Most of the entries for the cash flow spreadsheet are self-explanatory; however, the following suggestions are offered to simplify the procedure:
(A)  Suggest even dollars be used rather than showing cents.
(B)  If this is a new business, or an existing business undergoing significant changes or alterations, the cash flow part of the column marked "Pre-start-up Position" should be completed.  [Fill in appropriate blanks only.]  Costs involved here are, for example, rent, telephone, and utilities deposits before the business is actually open.  Other items might be equipment purchases, alterations, the owner's cash injection, and cash from loans received before actual operations begin.
(C)  Next fill in the pre-start-up position of the essential operating data [non-cash flow information], where applicable.
(D)  [NAME] the spreadsheet using the suggestions for each entry, provided in the partial spreadsheet on the next worksheet.
CHECKING
In order to insure that the figures are properly calculated and balanced, they must be checked.  Several methods may be used, but the following four checks are suggested as a minimum:
CHECK #1:  Item #1 [Beginning Cash on Hand – 1st Month] plus Item #3 [total Cash Receipts – Total Column] minus Item #6 [Total Cash Paid Out – Total Column] should be equal to Item # 7 [Cash Position at End of 12th Month].   In other words, Item #1 + Item #3 - Item #6 = Item #7.
CHECK #2:  Item A [Sales Volume – Total Column] plus Item B [Accounts Receivable – Pre-start-up Position] minus [NAME] 2(a) [Cash Sales – Total Column] minus [NAME]) [Accounts Receivable Collection – Total Column] minus Item C [Bad Debt – Total Column] should be equal to Item B [Accounts Receivable at End of 12th Month].  In other words, [NAME] [pre-start-up] - Item 2(a) - Item 2(b) - Item 2(c) = Item B [at 12th month].
CHECK #3:  The horizontal total of Item #6 [Total Cash Paid Out] is equal to the vertical total of all items under Item #5 [5(a) through 5(w)] in the total column at the right of the form.
CHECK #4:  The horizontal total of Item #3 [Total Cash Receipts] is equal to the vertical total of all items under #2 [2(a) through 2(c)] in the total column at the right of the form.
ANALYZE the relationship between the cash flow and the projected profit during the period in question.  The estimated profit is the difference between the estimated change in assets and the estimated change in liabilities before such things as any owner withdrawal, appreciation of assets, change in investments, etc.  [The change may be positive or negative.]  This can be obtained as follows:
The change in assets before owner's withdrawal, appreciation of assets, change in investments, etc., can be computed by adding the following:
(1)  Item #7 [Cash Position – End of Last Month] minus Item #1 [Cash on Hand at the Beginning of the First Month].
(2)  Item #5 (t) [Capital Purchases – Total Column] minus [NAME] [depreciation – Total Column].
(3)  Item B [Accounts Receivable – End of 12th Month] minus Item B [Accounts Receivable – Pre-start-up Position].
(4)  Item D [Inventory on Hand – End of Month] minus Item D [Inventory on Hand – Pre-start-up position].
(5)  Item #5 (w) [Owner's withdrawal – Total Column] or dividends, minus such things as an increase in investment.
(6)  Item #5 (v) [Reserve and/or Escrow – Total Column].
The change in liabilities [before items noted in "change in assets"] can be computed by adding the following:
(1)  Item 2(c) [Loans – Total Column] minus 5(s) [Loan Principal Payment – Total Column].
(2)  Item E [Accounts Payable – End of 12th Month] minus E [Accounts Payable – Pre-start-up Position].
ANALYSIS
A.  The cash position at the end of each month should be adequate to meet the cash requirements for the following month.  If too little cash, then additional cash will have to be injected or cash paid out must be reduced.  If there is too much cash on hand, this money is not working for your business.
B.  The cash flow projection, the profit and loss projection, the breakeven analysis, and good cost control information are tools which, if used properly, will be useful in making decisions that can increase profits to insure success.
C.  The projection becomes more useful when the estimated information can be compared with actual information as it develops.  It is important to follow through and complete the actual columns as the information becomes available.  Utilize the cash flow projection to assist in setting new goals and planning operations for more profit.  A suggested way to do this is to enter actual cash receipt amounts and cash paid out amounts in the "Actual" spreadsheet included in this file.