Before the proposed order
Lowest balance$8,000.00at the close of week 2.
Buffer headroom: $3,000.00
FREE CASH SCENARIO CALCULATOR
Cash order planner
Compare the cash timing of a proposed order with dated receipts, existing obligations and a minimum buffer you choose. The result shows the lowest balance before and after the order.
No account or bank connection is required. Calculator inputs are not uploaded.
Fictional example loaded
These amounts and dates are invented to demonstrate the calculation. Replace them with your own records and assumptions. The reconciliation confirmation belongs to this fictional example.
Cash scenario comparison
All amounts are CAD. Lowest balance includes opening cash and each weekly close.
With the proposed order
Lowest balance-$1,000.00at the close of week 2.
Buffer shortfall: $6,000.00
The entered order scenario falls $6,000.00 below your chosen buffer at its lowest point. Review the dates, assumptions and payment terms. This does not establish purchasing authority or guarantee payment coverage.
| Week and dates | Receipts | Obligations | Order payment | Close before order | Close with order |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 12026-10-12 to 2026-10-18 | $8,000.00 | $10,000.00 | $0.00 | $23,000.00 | $23,000.00 |
| Week 22026-10-19 to 2026-10-25 | $0.00 | $15,000.00 | $9,000.00 | $8,000.00 | -$1,000.00 |
| Week 32026-10-26 to 2026-11-01 | $14,000.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $22,000.00 | $13,000.00 |
| Week 42026-11-02 to 2026-11-08 | $6,000.00 | $4,000.00 | $0.00 | $24,000.00 | $15,000.00 |
How the cash calculation works
Weekly closing cash = weekly opening cash + dated receipts − dated obligations − proposed order payment
The next week starts with the previous week’s closing cash. Week 1 begins the day after the reconciled opening cash date. The proposed order is one cash payment in the selected week. The before-order comparison omits that payment.
The lowest balance is the minimum of the opening cash and every weekly closing balance. Buffer headroom or shortfall equals that lowest balance minus your minimum buffer. The buffer is a comparison threshold, so it is not deducted as an expense.
What the scenario assumes
Every receipt arrives and every obligation is paid on its entered date and for its entered amount. Only entered movements are included. Use one currency, CAD, and include each payment once. Opening cash already includes movements through its as of date.
Weekly closes can conceal a shortage within a week. Check daily timing before making a commitment. Delayed collections, unentered bills, changing costs and payment terms can change the outcome. A positive buffer does not prove that an order is affordable or that funds are available today.
This is a planning comparison, not a guarantee, purchasing authorization, lender assessment or accounting or tax advice. Amounts use exact cents. Missing, negative, nonfinite, out-of-range or overly precise inputs withhold the result.
Method context: BDC’s cash flow planning explanation describes comparing expected cash inflows and outflows over a weekly or monthly horizon. This calculator’s order comparison and reserve are explicit user assumptions.
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