Cash flow forecasting for HVAC, landscaping and pool companies
| Wk 1 | Wk 2 | Wk 3 | Wk 4 | Wk 5 | Wk 6 | Wk 7 | Wk 8 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash in | 62 | 58 | 52 | 44 | 40 | 32 | 26 | 30 |
| Cash out | (77) | (70) | (69) | (65) | (58) | (56) | (51) | (38) |
| Ending cash | 210 | 198 | 181 | 160 | 142 | 118 | 93 | 85 |
| Minimum to keep | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Collections taper as the season ends. $15k below your floor in week 8. Line up the credit line now, or move the truck payment. | ||||||||
Collections taper as the season ends. $15k below your floor in week 8. Line up the credit line now, or move the truck payment.
Sample forecast for a fictional landscaping company, in thousands of dollars. Opening cash: 225.
Your busy season pays for the whole year, but payroll, insurance and truck payments keep going when the calls slow down. A forecast shows how deep the slow season will go, and when, while there is still time to plan for it.
Where cash gets tight
Uneven revenue, even costs. Most income lands in a few busy months, while crews you keep, insurance, rent and equipment loans are paid every month.
The late low point. Cash usually bottoms out a few weeks after the busy season ends, once the last invoices are collected.
Big purchases. A truck, a mower fleet or new equipment bought at the wrong time can turn a manageable slow season into a tight one.
What the forecast shows
- Week-by-week cash through the end of your season
- The low point and how many weeks it lasts
- Fixed costs you carry through the slow months
- With Plus, a 12-month view of the full seasonal cycle
Every forecast is checked before delivery: opening cash ties to your bank balances, receivables and payables tie to your books, and every dollar lands in exactly one week. See services and pricing.
Questions
When should a seasonal business start forecasting?
Ideally during the busy season, two to three months before the slowdown, so you can set cash aside or arrange financing while revenue is strong.
Do maintenance plans or service agreements help?
They often do, because they bring in steady revenue during quiet months. The forecast can show how much a given number of plans would smooth the low point.
Which tier fits a seasonal trade?
Plus, because its 12-month view shows the full seasonal cycle. Standard works if you mainly want the next quarter in detail.