Construction cash flow forecasting that sees the dip before it hits
Most builders don't run out of profit - they run out of cash. Progress claims land late, retentions sit locked up, supplier terms tighten, and the BAS bill arrives the same week wages are due. A cash flow forecast turns that from a 2am panic into a plan you made three months earlier.
What is cash flow forecasting for a construction business?
Cash flow forecasting maps every dollar coming in and out of your business week by week - progress claims, retentions, supplier payments, wages, super, GST and tax - so you know your bank balance 13 weeks and 12 months ahead, before you commit to the next project. It's the difference between knowing you can take a job and hoping you can fund it.
How it works
1. Health check - we review your current cash position, project pipeline, and payment cycle.
2. Build - we construct your 13-week and 12-month forecasts from real project schedules, not averages.
3. Rhythm - fortnightly updates and a monthly deep-dive, so the forecast stays true as projects move.
What you get
13-week rolling cash flow
12-month cash flow forecast
Progress claim planning
Claim timing and follow-up structured so money lands when you need it, not a month after.
Week-by-week view of the next quarter, updated fortnightly, so short-term crunches show up with time to act.
The full-year view across projects, tax instalments and growth plans.
Supplier and subbie terms strategy
Tax and BAS planning
A CFO on the numbers
GST, PAYG and super mapped into the forecast so the ATO never surprises you.
Every forecast reviewed and challenged by a CFO who works only with construction businesses.
Payment terms negotiated deliberately instead of defaulting to whatever was on the invoice.
Why builders run out of cash while making a profit
Fixed-price contracts pay you in arrears while costs run ahead of claims. A $2M job can be $150k cash-negative mid-build even when it's on track to make margin. Multiply that across three overlapping projects and a profitable builder can be funding the gap on an 8-15% overdraft - or worse, on the deposit from the next job. The forecast makes that gap visible and fundable on your terms.
FAQ
How accurate can a construction cash flow forecast really be?
Within a project's claim cycle, very - because it's built from your actual claim schedules, supplier terms and wage runs, not industry averages. The forecast is updated fortnightly, so accuracy compounds as each claim lands.
Do I need this if I already have a bookkeeper?
Yes - a bookkeeper records what has already happened. The forecast is about what happens next. We work alongside your bookkeeper, not instead of them.
How many weeks of cash should a construction business hold?
As a working rule, enough to cover 4-8 weeks of overheads and wages with zero new claims landing. Most builders we meet hold less than two - the forecast tells you your number and how to build to it.
What does it cost?
It's part of our fixed monthly CFO engagement - priced after a free strategy session and health check, so you know exactly what you're paying before you commit.