Cash Flow Management & 13-Week Forecasting
Rolling 13-week cash forecasts, weekly variance reporting, and cash flow advisory as part of our Fractional CFO engagement for U.S. businesses where cash is the constraint.
What problem this service addresses
Profitable businesses fail for cash reasons, not profitability reasons. Most operators do not have a forward cash forecast; they react to the bank balance. Cash flow problems usually telegraph themselves four to eight weeks before they hit, but only if someone is looking. A 13-week rolling cash forecast updated weekly is the single highest-leverage financial habit we see in businesses that scale without distress.
How we approach cash flow management
- Direct method 13-week cash forecast built from AR, AP, and payroll detail
- Weekly variance analysis comparing forecast to actual
- AR aging discipline with collection cadence design
- AP timing analysis and vendor terms negotiation support
- Working capital cycle analysis (DIO, DSO, DPO, CCC)
- Banking architecture: operating, reserve, tax, and payroll account separation
- Lender and lender-of-last-resort planning for tight-cash situations
Our approach is documented in our client success methodology and our editorial standards. We are not a CPA firm; for engagements requiring CPA attestation we coordinate with our licensed CPA partner network. We do not exaggerate credentials or results.
The process from inquiry to ongoing work
Discovery & Setup
We build the initial 13-week forecast from current AR, AP, recurring expense schedules, payroll calendar, and tax obligations. Initial build takes 1 to 2 weeks.
Weekly Refresh
Each week we update the forecast with the latest actuals, refresh the forward 13 weeks, and produce a variance commentary for the operator.
Monthly Review
Once per month we meet with the operator to discuss trend, structural issues (DSO drift, vendor terms, etc.), and corrective actions.
Quarterly Strategy
Each quarter the cash forecast feeds into the strategic conversation: timing of capex, financing decisions, distribution decisions, and growth investment.
FAQ
Is this part of fractional CFO or standalone?
Cash flow management is part of our Fractional CFO engagement. We do not offer it as a standalone service because it depends on accurate underlying books and the operator conversations that come with CFO advisory.
How accurate are 13-week forecasts?
A well-built 13-week forecast is typically within 5% to 10% of actual at the four-week horizon and 10% to 20% at the thirteen-week horizon. The point is not perfection; it is foresight.
What if my books are not clean enough for a forecast?
We typically run a parallel bookkeeping cleanup engagement before launching forecasting. Without reliable AR, AP, and recurring expense data, a forecast is theater.
Do you help with raising debt or equity?
We prepare the financial package and answer diligence questions. We do not raise capital for clients; that is investment-banking work and outside our scope.
Ready to start?
Generate a final monthly quote in 90 seconds, or schedule a discovery call with our team.