Free · Excel + Google Sheets · No macros

Free Monthly Cash Flow Template (Excel)

This free template tracks actual monthly cash in and cash out, calculates net cash flow and a rolling running balance automatically, and charts your monthly net cash flow. It is a historical tracker, not a forward-looking forecast. Works in Excel and Google Sheets, 100% free for personal and commercial use, no email required to open.

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What Is a Monthly Cash Flow Template

A monthly cash flow template records what actually came in and went out of your bank account each month - it is a look-back record, not a projection of what might happen. That distinction matters: if you're planning future months, you want a forecast; if you're closing the books on a month that already happened, you want a tracker like this one.

This file has a single Monthly Tracker sheet: one row per month, three inputs (month label, cash in, cash out), and two calculated columns (net cash flow and running balance) that update the moment you type a number.

Free Monthly Cash Flow Excel Template: What's Inside

Enter your opening cash balance as the Cash in amount on the very first row (label it "Opening balance"), then log every closed month below it. Net cash flow and running balance calculate automatically for every row you fill in, and a bar chart of your monthly net cash flow builds itself as you go.

Unlike Vertex42's 12-Month Cash Flow Worksheet, which restricts commercial use to a paid Pro upgrade, this file is free for personal and commercial use with no license tier to unlock. And unlike Coefficient's or QuickBooks' versions, there's no account or SaaS signup involved - it's a direct .xlsx and Google Sheets download.

Recording Monthly Inflows and Outflows

Cash in covers every dollar that hit your account that month: sales deposits, loan proceeds, owner contributions, refunds. Cash out covers everything that left it: payroll, rent, supplier payments, loan payments, taxes. Keep it at the monthly total level - this tracker is not meant to itemize every transaction (use a full bookkeeping system for that).

Reading Your Running Cash Balance

The running balance column sums every Cash in entry to date and subtracts every Cash out entry to date, so it always shows your cumulative cash position as of that month - not just that month's net change. Because the opening balance is entered as the first Cash in row, the running balance is accurate from day one without a separate starting-balance cell to keep in sync.

How to use it

  1. Enter your opening cash balance as Cash in on the first row.
  2. Log each closed month's total cash in and cash out below it.
  3. Net cash flow, running balance, and the chart update automatically.
Need more? — $19

Small Business Bookkeeping & Tax Dashboard

Tracking more than cash in and out? The paid Bookkeeping template ($19) adds Schedule C categorization, a quarterly tax dashboard, and CPA-ready export.

See the full version

Frequently asked questions

Is this a forecast or a tracker of actual cash flow?

It's a tracker for actual, already-closed months - it does not project future cash flow. If you need a forward-looking projection, see our 12-month cash flow forecasting model instead.

Can I use this for a business, not just personal finances?

Yes. It's free for personal and commercial use with no paid Pro license required, unlike some competing templates that gate business use behind an upgrade.

How is the running balance calculated?

It sums every Cash in entry from your opening balance row through the current row, then subtracts every Cash out entry over that same range - so it always reflects your cumulative cash position.

Does this work in Google Sheets?

Yes. Upload the downloaded file to Google Drive and open it, or use the Google Sheets version included in the download - both use the same formulas.

What's the difference between this and a cash flow statement?

This is a simple in/out/balance tracker. A formal cash flow statement splits activity into Operating, Investing, and Financing sections using GAAP direct or indirect methods - see our cash flow statement template for that.

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