13-Week Cash Flow Stress Test
Test how a delayed payment, a revenue fall and a known tax outflow affect your short-term cash position before the pressure becomes urgent.
A 13-week forecast is a short-term planning discipline, not a funding recommendation. This simplified model reduces Week 1 cash receipts by the delayed percentage, then moves that same amount into Week 2. Baseline weekly outflows stay constant, with the known tax payment added in your selected week.
| Week | Cash receipts | Cash outflows | Tax in outflows | Closing cash |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | £4,000 | £4,500 | £0 | £24,500 |
| 2 | £6,000 | £4,500 | £0 | £26,000 |
| 3 | £5,000 | £4,500 | £0 | £26,500 |
| 4 | £5,000 | £4,500 | £0 | £27,000 |
| 5 | £5,000 | £4,500 | £0 | £27,500 |
| 6 | £5,000 | £4,500 | £0 | £28,000 |
| 7 | £5,000 | £4,500 | £0 | £28,500 |
| 8 | £5,000 | £9,500 | £5,000 | £24,000 |
| 9 | £5,000 | £4,500 | £0 | £24,500 |
| 10 | £5,000 | £4,500 | £0 | £25,000 |
| 11 | £5,000 | £4,500 | £0 | £25,500 |
| 12 | £5,000 | £4,500 | £0 | £26,000 |
| 13 | £5,000 | £4,500 | £0 | £26,500 |
Assumption: the delayed portion is collected exactly one week later. The tool does not model repeated delays, customer-by-customer invoices, tax calculations, or changes in weekly outflows; adjust the inputs and use your own payment dates for a live forecast.
Collections action playbook
| Time after due date | Practical action | Record to keep |
|---|---|---|
| Before due date | Confirm purchase order, invoice contact, payment method and any dispute. | Contract, invoice, delivery/acceptance evidence. |
| 1–7 days | Send a factual reminder and ask whether an invoice or approval issue exists. | Reminder, response and revised payment promise. |
| 8–30 days | Escalate to the decision-maker and consider pausing further credit subject to the contract and relationship. | Statement of account and agreed action date. |
| Persistent non-payment | Review contract remedies, statutory interest eligibility and professional debt-recovery options. | Full correspondence and calculation evidence. |
If a negative week appears, prioritise accurate collections, cost commitments, tax arrangements and professional advice. Any credit-card or funding option must be assessed for affordability, repayment capacity and its full cost.
Related guides
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Information on this page is general guidance for UK small businesses and is not financial, tax or legal advice. Tax rules, allowances and product terms change. Always check current information with HMRC, Companies House or a qualified professional before making decisions.