Cash flow is the movement of money in and out of your business and your business bank account.Think of cash flow like your car’s fuel tank – you fill up the tank with petrol, and it empties as you drive. But the goal is to have enough fuel in your tank so that you never run on empty. Find out more about cash flow.Learn more about how to manage your cash flow.

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Cash Flow Management & Forecasting

Q: What is a cash flow statement?

A cash flow statement tracks money coming in and money going out of your company. It shows how much cash your company has on hand and provides insight into your company’s liquidity. It’s also known as a cash flow statement.Learn how to prepare a cash flow statement.

Q: How is cash flow calculated?

Calculating cash flow is fairly simple if you know your operating expenses and your revenue.First, identify the period you want to calculate for. Then, subtract the business’s operating expenses for that period from the business’s revenue for the same period.

Q: What is a cash flow prediction?

A cash flow prediction is a forecast of how your cash flow will look in the weeks and months ahead.By analysing your scheduled income and outgoings, QuickBooks can predict whether there's any cause for concern about running out of cash, up to 1 year in the future based on past numbers.

Q: Why is cash flow prediction important?

It gives you time to take the appropriate action. With a 1 year warning that you may be facing some issues, you may be able to cut some of your costs, look at alternative income streams, or even consider applying for a loan. If you rely on your current figures, you might not spot a problem before it’s too late.

Q: How does QuickBooks calculate my cash flow?

The cash flow chart on your QuickBooks Online homepage summarises your cash flow. It shows the money coming in and going out of your business.The cash flow chart uses historical data from your bank and debit card accounts connected to QuickBooks Online. This includes categorised and uncategorised transactions.Learn more about Cash Flow Chart.

Complete cash flow confidence

Get custom cash flow tips, real-time balances and financial forecasts from connected bank and credit card accounts. QuickBooks helps you manage cash flow without juggling spreadsheets.

Cash flow software plans & pricing

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Always know what’s coming in and out

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Cash flow insights you can act on

Your place to plan, save and get paid

QuickBooks Cash Flow lets you see how your business is doing in real-time and gives you the details you need to manage your cash flow and make smarter business decisions.

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Get all-in-one cash flow clarity

Every transaction syncs right to your dashboard, so you can monitor all of your business balances, all in one place.

Bank accounts and credit cards
Sales and invoices
Expenses, bills and payroll
GST and tax
Customer details

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See the future of your cash flow

We use your bank and QuickBooks activity to predict money-in and money-out one year ahead. Know where your business is going, so you can budget wisely and be ready for anything.

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Stay on top of BAS and other obligations

QuickBooks Cash Flow can help you forecast tax liabilities like GST to make preparing and paying your BAS a breeze.

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Predict when your invoices will get paid

Smart predictions make it easy to know when your invoices will be paid. We'll even factor in your regular late-paying customers by their transaction history, to ensure you're never caught short again.

Manager smiling after viewing the predicted invoice on QuickBooks.

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What our customers are saying

“We think about cash flow an awful lot of the time, and it’s crucial that we remain up-to-date on our financials. QuickBooks is our source of truth”

Peter Philip, Wayward Brewing Co.

See Wayword Brewing Co Story

Frequently Asked Questions

What is cash flow?

What is a cash flow statement?

What is free cash flow?

Free cash flow (FCF) is a metric business owners and investors use to measure a company’s financial health. FCF is the amount of cash a business has after paying for operating expenses and capital expenditures (CAPEX), and FCF reports how much discretionary cash a business has available. For investors, free cash flow is an indicator of a company’s profitability, which influences a company’s valuation. Free cash flow (FCF).

How is cash flow calculated?

What is a cash flow prediction?

How can I improve my current cash flow situation?

Communication is key. If you have bills coming up, get in touch with your suppliers and ask them if you can arrange a payment plan. If you have customers who haven't yet paid, don't be afraid to give them a polite nudge – you can even set automatic reminders for QuickBooks invoices.

Depending on your situation, it could also be worthwhile to offer customers a small discount for early payment. You might take a hit initially but it can sometimes help to keep your money inflows in a healthy state.

Learn how QuickBooks Cash Flow Planner can help manage your cash flow.

Why is cash flow prediction important?

When it comes to understanding my financial situation, how can QuickBooks help?

As a business owner, you may have a company bank account for your business, but it's likely that you'll also be using credit cards, and possibly supplementary accounts too. By connecting all of your bank accounts and credit cards to QuickBooks, you'll be able to see your overall balance at a glance and have a better understanding of your cash position in real time.

Learn more about Cash Flow Planner.

How does QuickBooks calculate my cash flow?

Start managing cash flow today with QuickBooks

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