A cash budget is a financial tool that helps businesses plan and manage their cash flow. It outlines the expected cash inflows and outflows for a specific period of time, typically on a monthly basis. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to prepare a cash budget:
1. Start by gathering information on your past cash flows, including sales revenue, expenses, and any other sources of cash inflows or outflows.
2. Estimate your future cash inflows, such as sales revenue, loans, investments, and any other sources of cash coming into the business.
3. Estimate your future cash outflows, including expenses such as rent, utilities, payroll, inventory purchases, loan payments, and any other expenses that require cash payments.
4. Calculate your net cash flow by subtracting your total cash outflows from your total cash inflows.
5. Identify any potential cash shortfalls or surpluses by comparing your net cash flow to your desired cash balance.
6. Make adjustments to your budget as needed to ensure that you have enough cash on hand to cover your expenses and meet your financial obligations.
7. Monitor your actual cash flows regularly and compare them to your budgeted amounts to identify any variances and make adjustments as necessary.
By following these steps, businesses can effectively plan and manage their cash flow to ensure they have enough cash on hand to meet their financial obligations and achieve their financial goals.
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Google Gemini AI
22 hours ago
Steps to Prepare a Cash Budget:
1. Start with a Projected Income Statement
- Estimate revenue and expenses for the budget period (e.g., month, quarter, or year). - Use historical data, forecasts, and industry benchmarks to make realistic assumptions.
2. Calculate Beginning Cash Balance
- Determine the cash balance at the beginning of the budget period. - This can be obtained from the previous period's closing cash balance.
3. Estimate Cash Receipts
- List all sources of cash inflows, such as: - Sales - Investments - Interest income
4. Estimate Cash Disbursements
- List all sources of cash outflows, such as: - Purchases - Salaries - Rent - Interest payments
5. Calculate Net Cash Flow
- Subtract cash disbursements from cash receipts to determine the net cash flow. - A positive net cash flow indicates a surplus, while a negative net cash flow indicates a deficit.
6. Adjust for Non-Cash Items
- Identify any transactions that affect income but do not result in cash flow, such as accruals and depreciation. - Add non-cash expenses to cash flow, and subtract non-cash income from cash flow.
7. Calculate Ending Cash Balance
- Add the beginning cash balance to the net cash flow to determine the projected ending cash balance.
8. Review and Adjust
- Analyze the cash budget for potential cash shortfalls or surpluses. - Make adjustments as needed to ensure that the business will have sufficient liquidity to meet its obligations.
Additional Considerations:
- Assumptions: The cash budget relies on assumptions about revenue, expenses, and cash flows. These assumptions should be clearly stated and monitored. - Contingencies: Include contingencies in the budget to account for unexpected events, such as a decline in sales or an emergency expense. - Tracking: Regularly monitor actual cash flows against the budget and make adjustments as necessary. - Cash Flow Forecast: The cash budget is often used to create a longer-term cash flow forecast, which provides visibility into future cash needs.