How-ToFinance & Operations

How to Set Up Cash Flow Forecasting in Business Central

Learn how to configure the Cash Flow Forecast module in Business Central, pull in open receivables and payables, add manual entries, and view the forecast from the Accountant Role Center.

Stein Sæstad
9 min read

The Cash Flow Forecast module in Business Central gives you a forward-looking view of expected cash inflows and outflows. It draws from open sales orders, purchase orders, receivables, payables, and liquid funds, and lets you add manual entries on top. The result is a single forecast you can review as a chart or a detailed list.

Before using it, you need to configure the Cash Flow Setup page to tell Business Central which G/L accounts map to each cash flow category.

Step 1: Configure Cash Flow Setup

  1. Search for Cash Flow Setup using Alt + Q.
  2. Fill in the account mapping fields:
FieldDescription
Receivables CF Account No.The cash flow account that represents incoming customer payments
Payables CF Account No.The cash flow account that represents outgoing vendor payments
Sales Orders CF Account No.The account for expected receipts from open sales orders
Purchase Orders CF Account No.The account for expected payments on open purchase orders
Service CF Account No.The account for expected cash from open service orders (if used)
Fixed Assets Budget CF Account No.The account for planned capital expenditure
Liquid Funds CF Account No.The G/L account (or bank account) representing current liquid funds
Tax CF Account No.The account for tax-related cash movements (VAT, corporate tax)
  1. In the Receivables on the CF Date section, choose whether to base the receivables date on the Due Date or the Document Date.
  2. Set the Payables on the CF Date field the same way for vendor payables.

Step 2: Set Up Cash Flow Accounts

Cash flow accounts are a separate account structure from the G/L chart of accounts. They are used only for cash flow reporting.

  1. Search for Chart of Cash Flow Accounts using Alt + Q.
  2. Review the existing structure. Business Central typically includes a default structure covering receivables, payables, sales, purchases, liquid funds, and manual entries.
  3. Add or adjust accounts as needed for your business.
  4. Each account has an Account Type field (Begin-Total, End-Total, Total, or Entry) that controls how the hierarchy is built.

Step 3: Create a Cash Flow Forecast

  1. Search for Cash Flow Forecasts using Alt + Q.
  2. Select New to create a new forecast.
  3. Fill in:
FieldDescription
No.A code for the forecast (e.g., MAIN-2025)
DescriptionA description (e.g., Main forecast Q3 2025)
Consider DiscountWhether to factor in early payment discounts on payables
Consider Pmt. Disc. Tol. AmountWhether to account for payment discount tolerance
Account No. for Liquid FundsThe G/L or bank account used as the starting balance
  1. Save the forecast.

Step 4: Suggest Worksheet Lines

The Suggest Worksheet Lines function reads open documents and ledger entries and generates cash flow lines based on your setup.

  1. Search for Cash Flow Worksheet using Alt + Q.
  2. Make sure the correct forecast is selected in the Cash Flow Forecast No. field.
  3. From the actions menu, choose Suggest Worksheet Lines.
  4. In the request page, set:
    • Cash Flow Forecast No., select the forecast you created
    • Starting Date, the first date for projected entries
    • Ending Date, the last date to include
    • Check the source types you want to include: Receivables, Payables, Sales Orders, Purchase Orders, Liquid Funds, Fixed Assets, Manual Revenue, Manual Expense
  5. Select OK to generate the lines.

Business Central reads each selected source and creates a line per document or entry, projected to the expected cash date based on due dates and your setup choices.

Step 5: Review and Adjust Worksheet Lines

After generating lines, review them in the Cash Flow Worksheet.

  1. Each line shows the Cash Flow Date, Source Type, Description, Amount, and the Cash Flow Account No. it maps to.
  2. Delete any lines that are not relevant to your forecast.
  3. Adjust Cash Flow Date or Amount on individual lines if needed.
  4. Add manual lines directly in the worksheet for items not captured automatically, for example, a known tax payment, a planned loan repayment, or an expected refund.

Step 6: Register the Worksheet Lines

Once you are satisfied with the worksheet, register the lines to move them into the forecast.

  1. On the Cash Flow Worksheet, choose Register from the actions menu.
  2. Confirm the action. Business Central moves the lines from the worksheet into the forecast entries.
  3. To view the registered entries, open the Cash Flow Forecast card and select Cash Flow Forecast Entries.

Step 7: Add Manual Entries

You can add entries directly to a forecast without going through the worksheet.

  1. Open the Cash Flow Forecast card.
  2. Select Cash Flow Forecast Entries from the actions menu.
  3. Add a new line with the Cash Flow Date, Cash Flow Account No., Description, and Amount.

This is useful for one-off items like a large customer deposit, a pending insurance payment, or a capital purchase that is not yet on a purchase order.

Step 8: View the Forecast

From the Cash Flow Forecast Page

  1. Open the Cash Flow Forecast card.
  2. Select Overview or choose Cash Flow Forecast Entries to see a detailed list by account and date.

From the Accountant Role Center

The Accountant Role Center includes a Cash Flow chart on the main page. This chart shows the forecast graphically across upcoming periods. If you have multiple forecasts, the chart displays the one set as the default in Cash Flow Setup.

  1. Switch your role to Accountant using Alt + Q to search for My Settings and change the Role field.
  2. On the Role Center, locate the Cash Flow chart.
  3. The chart shows projected cash inflows, outflows, and net position by period.

Keeping the Forecast Current

The cash flow forecast does not update automatically. To keep it current, run Suggest Worksheet Lines regularly, weekly or at the start of each period, delete stale lines, and re-register. Some teams run a single forecast that they refresh monthly, while others maintain rolling short-term and long-term forecasts separately.

Source TypeWhen to Refresh
ReceivablesWeekly or when large invoices are posted
PayablesWeekly or after purchase invoice entry
Sales OrdersWeekly
Purchase OrdersWeekly
Manual entriesAs needed

To see how forecast amounts relate to your G/L account balances, see How to Use Financial Reports in Business Central.