A 13-week cash forecast for your L10
Profit is an opinion; cash is a fact. A rolling 13-week cash forecast gives your leadership team a forward number worth bringing to every weekly meeting — and it's simpler to build than most expect.
- A 13-week cash forecast projects cash in, cash out, and ending balance for one quarter.
- The projected 13-week ending balance is an excellent leading Scorecard measurable.
- A profitable company can still run out of cash; the forecast makes that gap visible before it bites.
Many EOS companies track revenue and profit closely but fly nearly blind on cash timing — the thing that actually determines whether payroll clears and whether you can fund a Rock. A rolling 13-week cash forecast fixes that, and it belongs in the L10 conversation.
Why 13 weeks
Thirteen weeks is one quarter — far enough ahead to see trouble while you can still act, close enough to stay accurate. It maps cleanly onto the EOS quarterly rhythm.
What it shows
- Cash in — expected collections timed to when money actually arrives.
- Cash out — payroll, vendors, taxes, debt, timed to when they clear.
- Net movement — inflow minus outflow each week.
- Projected ending balance — the running position, which matters most.
The number for your Scorecard
You put one number on the Scorecard: projected cash balance 13 weeks out. It's leading, not lagging. When it dips below a threshold, it becomes an Issue to solve while you still have runway.
A profitable company can still run out of cash. Profit is recognized when earned; cash moves when it changes hands — and the gap, sitting in receivables and payables, is what the 13-week view makes visible before it bites.
Building one without over-engineering
- Start with today's actual cash balance.
- List expected collections by week from real receivables.
- List expected payments by week — payroll, vendors, taxes, debt.
- Carry the ending balance forward each week.
- Update weekly, rolling the window forward.
The first version is rough; the discipline of weekly updates makes it accurate within a quarter.
Frequently asked
What is a 13-week cash flow forecast?
A rolling, week-by-week projection of cash coming in, cash going out, and the ending cash balance over the next quarter. It shows cash timing, not just profit.
Why 13 weeks specifically?
Thirteen weeks is one quarter — far enough ahead to act on a shortfall, close enough to stay accurate, and aligned with the EOS quarterly rhythm.
Can a profitable company run out of cash?
Yes. Profit is recognized when earned, but cash moves when it changes hands. Money tied up in receivables can leave a profitable company short, which is what the forecast reveals early.