How to build a 13-week cash-flow stress test
Turn a weekly cash forecast into an early-warning system before hiring, buying equipment or committing to a large payment.
US EDITION · CLEAR NUMBERS. BETTER DECISIONS.
Free business calculators in dollars, built around the decisions American small businesses and independent professionals make every week.
IQ insight
At this margin, 21 sales cover $1,000 of fixed costs.
START WITH THE PROBLEM
You do not need to know the accounting term. Choose the situation that sounds closest.
Work from cost and target margin, then test sales-volume risk.
Start with target pricing →02Forecast the bank balance and expose collection or payment pressure.
Build a cash forecast →03Separate tax from revenue, confirm the right rate and protect collected cash.
Plan the reserve →04Test the role against available cash, monthly trading and a protected buffer.
Test affordability →05Map channels, jurisdictions and taxability before choosing software.
Follow the sales-tax workflow →06Include returns, fees, advertising and fulfillment—not revenue alone.
Check retained revenue →US TOOLBOX
TOOL IQ DAILY · US OR UNIVERSAL
Turn a weekly cash forecast into an early-warning system before hiring, buying equipment or committing to a large payment.