Why Excel Is Still the Go-To for Monthly Cash Flow Forecasting
Most finance teams still use Excel to plan monthly cash flow, even if they work with Power BI, SAP, or a different ERP. It’s quick to set up, easy to adjust, and doesn’t require extra tools or training.
A good template keeps the structure consistent. It helps you track what’s coming in, what’s going out, and how much cash you’ll have left at the end of the month. Many teams use it as part of a rolling forecast that they update every few weeks.
For example, a €150M distributor runs weekly cash flow reviews in Excel. They use it to line up supplier payments, tax obligations, and expected collections across five countries.
This blog gives you the same template.
Download the Free Monthly Cash Flow Template
This Excel template is built for structured, versioned cash flow planning, not just a static forecast.
Here’s what you’ll get:
- Predefined tabs for Plan, Actual, and Forecast 3+9
- Monthly time series across the full fiscal year
- Categories aligned to operating, investing, and financing cash flows
- Automatic calculations for net cash flow and cash position
- A dynamic summary dashboard and version list for clean versioning
The template works well for monthly planning, comparing different forecast versions, and tracking actual performance. You can also use it to support 3+9 or 6+6 forecast structures — without rebuilding every time.
What a Finance-Grade Monthly Cash Flow Template Must Include
A good template does more than hold numbers. It needs to fit into how your team actually works.
Here’s what to look for:
- Structured categories: Inflows and outflows are grouped under operating, investing, and financing activities. That makes it easier to read and easier to explain.
- Real monthly columns: Each column shows the actual start date of the month, not just a label. This keeps everything aligned when you’re updating or exporting to other tools.
- Simple versioning: When you want to create a new forecast, just duplicate the sheet and update the version list. No broken formulas, no manual cleanup.
These small details save hours later. You can track different versions, compare plans and actuals, and keep reporting consistent across the team.
How to Use the Template in Practice
Go to the 🧭 Start Here tab and set the reporting year. Check the version list, then choose the sheet you want to work with – Plan, Actual, or Forecast 3+9.
Here’s how to use it:
- Fill in expected inflows and outflows for each category.
- Review the calculated cash position for each month.
- To create a new version, copy the sheet and update the version name in the VersionList tab.
Stick to the structure. The formulas are already in place, so you won’t need to adjust anything when planning or updating actuals.
You can track and compare different versions in one file, without fixing links or reformatting columns.
When Excel Isn’t Enough
Most planning processes start in Excel. It’s fast, flexible, and easy to adjust. But as your business grows and the stakes get higher, spreadsheets become harder to manage.
You’ll know Excel is holding you back when:
- You’re consolidating 10+ versions manually across departments
- Reporting takes too long, especially after month-end close
- Scenario planning lives in disconnected files
- AR and AP forecasts are always out of sync
- Audit trails, access control, and transparency are missing
At that point, maintaining Excel becomes a risk, not a solution.
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Where Excel Breaks, Farseer Takes Over
Farseer gives you the structure of a spreadsheet, with the scale and control of a proper FP&A system. You can plan in detail, track actuals, manage scenarios, and compare versions — without rebuilding formulas or chasing files.
Here’s how it compares to a typical Excel template:
You still work with the same structure – monthly layout, inflow/outflow rows, forecast vs actual logic – but everything updates in real time. No version drift. No broken links. No delays.
With Farseer, you plan faster, track better, and focus on decisions instead of formatting.
If Excel has become the bottleneck, it’s time to move forward.
Done with spreadsheet workarounds?
Farseer picks up where your Excel cash flow template stops. It handles the structure for you, scales with your team, and keeps everything in sync – even when you’re working across entities, currencies, or scenarios.
You can run updates without rebuilding. Compare forecasts without copying files. Share planning inputs without losing control.
One tool, purpose-built for fast, accurate, and connected financial planning.
Book a demo and see how Farseer works with your models, teams, and planning process.
