Cash Flow
How do you forecast a restaurant end-of-week cash balance?
Direct answer
Projected end-of-week cash equals opening available cash minus committed outflows plus expected net receipts. Use bank cash, dated obligations, realistic settlement timing, and a conservative receipts forecast.
Key points
- Ending Cash = Opening Cash - Committed Outflows + Expected Net Receipts.
- POS sales are not identical to bank receipts when card and marketplace settlements lag.
- Taxes, payroll burden, debt service, and dated vendor payments belong in the outflow calendar.
What to do next
- 1Confirm available opening cash from the operating bank account.
- 2List dated payroll, vendor, occupancy, debt, tax, and other committed outflows.
- 3Forecast net receipts by settlement date and update the projection with actuals midweek.
Worked example
Opening cash of $31,200 minus $32,200 committed outflows plus $32,600 expected net receipts produces projected ending cash of $31,600.