At a glance
- Horizon
- 13 weeks, one row per week
- In
- Expected collections and deposits
- Out
- Payroll, bills, taxes, loans
- Update
- Weekly on your office day
Prices and rules change. Verify every item with the vendor or agency before you rely on it.
Short answer: A 13-week cash flow lists, week by week, the cash you expect to collect and the cash you must pay out: payroll, materials, rent, insurance, taxes and loan payments. Update it weekly. When it shows a gap weeks ahead, you can collect faster, delay a purchase or line up credit before it is an emergency.
Updated October 12, 2026. Requirements and fees change; confirm with the agency named on this page.
Profit on paper does not pay payroll. A shop can be profitable and still run out of cash because of timing. A thirteen-week view shows it coming.
Build it
- Thirteen columns, one per week.
- Starting cash in the bank.
- Cash in: invoices you expect to collect, deposits, maintenance payments.
- Cash out: payroll, materials, rent, insurance, truck payments, taxes, loans.
- Ending cash each week, carried to the next.
Update weekly
On your office day, replace estimates with actuals and roll forward a week.
If it shows a gap
- Collect faster. See getting paid faster.
- Take deposits on larger jobs.
- Move a purchase.
- Arrange credit early, on your terms. Be careful with merchant cash advances; see the MCA guide.
Where Operator fits
Operator is an online mentor for owners doing the office work themselves. It audits the business, checks the foundation, finds the one thing stopping you, and puts cash flow on your weekly list with the reason and the next step, for $79 a month. Start with the free Business Audit.
General business information, not tax, accounting or legal advice. Confirm tax and payroll rules with the agency or a CPA.
Want it handled, not just explained?
Operator is the AI business coach for contractors.
A business audit and a plan, an online mentor you can ask any time, team training for your crew, and deadline reminders. $79/month, any state, cancel anytime.
Common questions
What is a 13-week cash flow?
A week-by-week forecast of cash in and cash out for the next 13 weeks, used to spot a shortfall early.
How often should a contractor update cash flow?
Weekly, on the office day, replacing estimates with actuals.
What should a contractor do if cash flow shows a gap?
Collect faster, take deposits, move purchases, or arrange credit early before it becomes an emergency.