How to build cash flow templates in Sheets & Excel

1. Manual ways to build a cash flow template

These are the classic, "roll up your sleeves" approaches. They’re slow but great for understanding every moving part before you automate.

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1.1 Start from a blank Google Sheet

1. Go to Google Sheets: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/
2. Click Blank to create a new sheet (help: https://support.google.com/docs/answer/6000292).
3. In row 1, add headers: Period, Operating cash in, Operating cash out, Investing in, Investing out, Financing in, Financing out, Net cash change, Ending cash.
4. In column A, list periods (months or weeks).
5. Manually copy cash receipts and payments from your bank or accounting tool into the relevant columns.
6. Use formulas like =SUM(B2:C2) or =B2-C2 (function overview: https://support.google.com/docs/table/25273) to calculate net cash and ending cash.
7. Add a simple line chart for ending cash over time (chart help: https://support.google.com/docs/answer/63824).

Pros: Maximum control and understanding. Cons: Tedious data entry, easy to make mistakes.

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1.2 Use an Excel cash flow template file

1. Open Excel desktop or Excel for the web.
2. From the File > New screen, search for "cash flow" under templates.
3. Pick a template layout you like and click Create (template basics: https://support.microsoft.com/office/create-a-new-workbook-5bd3f875-9c37-4f46-9c23-3f5b19a744a8).
4. Map the template’s rows to your business: adjust line items for subscriptions, ad spend, payroll, etc.
5. Paste in historical cash data and let the built‑in formulas calculate totals.
6. Use Excel formulas like SUMIF, IF, and VLOOKUP to refine classifications (formula guide: https://support.microsoft.com/office/create-a-formula-e43a12f4-9c46-4a12-8dff-41e6a7e0e87f).

Pros: Solid structure, fewer formula errors. Cons: Still manual, requires regular copy‑paste from source systems.

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1.3 Build a 12‑month projection tab

Whether you’re in Sheets or Excel, add a second tab called Projection_12M.

1. Link opening cash in month 1 to your current ending cash: e.g., =Cash_Flow!I13.
2. For each month, estimate:
   • Cash in from sales (maybe 80% of revenue this month, 20% next month).
   • Cash out for COGS, marketing, payroll, tools.
3. Use simple drivers instead of guessing each line: e.g., =Revenue!B2*0.8 for collections.
4. Add a cumulative cash line so you see when the curve dips below zero.

Pros: Great for planning. Cons: Still requires manual updates when reality changes.

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2. No‑code automation with Google Sheets and Excel

Once you trust your structure, you can stop being the data mule.

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2.1 Connect Sheets to live data with built‑in tools

1. Use File > Import in Google Sheets to pull in CSVs from your bank or accounting tool (help: https://support.google.com/docs/answer/9143382).
2. If your data lives in another Google Sheet, use =IMPORTRANGE("URL","range") to sync it into your cash flow template.
3. Apply FILTER and QUERY functions to slice operating vs investing vs financing cash without manual sorting.
4. Turn those into named ranges so your template formulas stay clean.

Pros: Always‑fresh data inside Sheets. Cons: Still some manual work when you get new CSV formats.

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2.2 Automate Excel imports with Power Query

1. In Excel, go to Data > Get Data and connect to your bank export folder or accounting system (overview: https://support.microsoft.com/office/get-data-from-external-data-sources-21f63e32-236e-4e12-aaa5-3ecab6b806ec).
2. Use Power Query to define a transformation: remove extra columns, rename headers, standardize date formats.
3. Load the cleaned data into a Data tab.
4. Point your cash flow template formulas at the Data tab instead of raw CSVs.
5. Each period, just click Refresh All.

Pros: Very reliable, repeatable, minimal button‑clicking. Cons: Setup is more technical; best for finance‑savvy users.

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2.3 Use no‑code automation tools

1. In Zapier/Make/etc., create a scenario that triggers when a new bank CSV hits a cloud folder or an accounting report is exported.
2. Action: append rows to your Google Sheet via its API or update an Excel file in OneDrive.
3. In your template tab, reference that raw data with formulas or pivot tables.

Pros: Reduces manual downloads and uploads. Cons: Still rule‑based; breaks when UI or file formats change.

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3. Scaling with AI agents (Simular) in Sheets & Excel

No‑code tools move data. An AI agent can actually operate your computer like a finance assistant who never sleeps.

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3.1 Let an AI agent run the full monthly close

Imagine month‑end: instead of you juggling tabs, a Simular AI agent:

1. Opens your browser, logs into banking and accounting portals.
2. Downloads statements and cash reports, saves them to a standard folder.
3. Opens your Excel cash flow workbook or Google Sheets template.
4. Imports or pastes data into the right tabs, using consistent ranges.
5. Classifies each transaction as operating, investing, or financing based on descriptions and your past edits.
6. Checks that ending cash matches your bank balances and flags mismatches.

Pros: End‑to‑end automation, handles multi‑step workflows across desktop, browser, and cloud. Cons: Needs an initial setup and some test runs to match your exact process.

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3.2 Continuous, daily cash flow refresh

Set up a schedule where the Simular AI agent runs every morning:

1. It pulls the last 24 hours of transactions.
2. Updates your Google Sheets or Excel template.
3. Regenerates charts and summary metrics.
4. Sends you a snapshot or link in email/Slack so you just review.

Pros: Near real‑time visibility, zero manual effort after onboarding. Cons: Requires stable logins and clear runbooks for the agent.

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3.3 Scenario modeling at scale

Because Simular agents can follow instructions across tools, you can:

1. Duplicate your Excel or Sheets file into multiple "what‑if" versions.
2. Have the agent tweak drivers: slower collections, bigger ad spend, new hire waves.
3. Let it record results into a summary dashboard Sheet or Excel tab.

Pros: Run dozens of scenarios while you focus on decisions, not keystrokes. Cons: Needs careful instructions so scenarios are labeled and stored clearly.

In short, manual methods teach you the logic, no‑code tools cut the simplest busywork, and AI agents like Simular step in when you’re ready to treat cash flow maintenance as a fully delegated, production‑grade workflow.