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Home > Blog > Data Visualizations >

How to Create a Cash Flow Chart? Easy to Follow Steps

You’ll agree when we say a cash flow chart is one of the most significant tools in a business.

Why?

Well, this chart shows what your business does with money earned. Besides, it can help you streamline internal operations and make data-backed strategic decisions.

cash flow chart
Source: chartexpo.com

Creating Cash Flow Diagrams does not have to be time-consuming and complex. Yes, you read that right.

This blog will walk you through simple steps to start with a Cash Flow Diagram generator. You’ll also come across a ton of easy-to-follow Cash Flow Diagram examples to simplify everything.

If you’re using Google Sheets or Excel, which doesn’t have a Cash Flow Chart functionality built-in, fret not. The secret is to leverage an intelligent and affordable application, which we’ll talk about later. In this blog you will learn:

Table of Content:

  1. What are Cash Flow and Cash Flow Statements?
  2. What is a Cash Flow Chart?
  3. Video Tutorial: How to Make a Cash Flow Chart
  4. Why Money Flow Charts are Important?
  5. How to Calculate Cash Flow?
  6. What is a Cash Flow Diagram Generator?
  7. Benefits of a Cash Flow Chart Generator
  8. How to Choose the Right Cash Flow Diagram Generator?
  9. How to Create a Cash Flow Chart in Microsoft Excel & Google Sheets?
    • How to Make Cash Flow Charts in Excel?
    • How to Make Cash Flow Diagrams in Google Sheets?
  10. Tips for Creating an Effective Cash Flow Chart
  11. Cash Flow Chart FAQs
  12. Wrap Up

Before we delve into the how-to guide, let’s go through the definition of cash flow.

What are Cash Flow and Cash Flow Statements?

Definition: A Cash Flow Statement (also known as the Statement of Cash Flows) summarizes the amount of cash and cash equivalents entering and leaving your business.

Besides, it measures how well your business is managing its cash position or how efficiently your business meets its debt obligations and funds its operating expenses. This statement complements the balance sheet and income statement and is a mandatory part of a company’s financial reports.

Remember, a Cash Flow Statement is just a table with figures. Imagine trying to derive insights from Cash Flow Statements dating back, let’s say, two previous financial years. The table would likely be long and intimidating due to the volume of data.

This means for you to extract actionable insights from your cash flow statement, you have to use charts and graphs.

This is where a Cash Flow Chart comes in.

Like we said earlier, if your visualization tool lacks an inbuilt Cash Flow Diagram, worry not. In a moment, we’ll be discussing an easy-to-use Cash Flow Diagram generator you can use to visualize your financial data.

Like the Balance Sheet, the Cash Flow Diagram provides information on the financial health of your business. More so, it’s the go-to piece of information for investors with intentions to increase their equity in your business.

So what’s Cash Flow?

Cash flow is the net amount of cash and cash equivalents going in and out of your business.

It’s made up of two key components: cash received and spent.

Cash received represents inflows, while money spent represents outflows. Your business’s ability to create value for investors is fundamentally determined by its ability to generate positive free cash flows.

Free Cash Flow is the cash your business generates from its operations after deducting capital expenditures.

Let’s take a quick look at a Cash Flow Diagram example and its essential components.

cash flow diagram

What is a Cash Flow Chart?

Definition: A Cash Flow Chart is a visual representation of the inflows and outflows of cash within a business or project over a specific period. It helps illustrate how money is generated and spent, providing a clear overview of financial health and liquidity.

By tracking cash movement, the chart assists in identifying trends, managing project budgets, and ensuring sufficient cash availability for operational needs.

Video Tutorial: How to Make a Cash Flow Chart

How to Make a Cash Flow Chart in Excel?

How to Make a Cash Flow Chart in Google Sheets?

Why Money Flow Charts are Important?

As we said, a Money Flow Diagram is an essential element of your financial analysis.

This implies you need a proper and easy-to-interpret Money Flow Diagram to go beyond the surface of your data and uncover hidden insights.

Visualizing your Money Flow data, or even using a chart to show profit and loss, requires specialized charts specifically designed for this job. However, popular spreadsheet tools, such as Google Sheets, lack this chart.

How to Calculate Cash Flow?

In theory, a cash flow is just a reflection of how money moves into and out of your business. But for most small business owners, the simplicity ends there.

You need to develop a deep understanding of cash flow because it can make or break your business.

So how is cash flow calculated?

There are three formulas you can use to determine the liquidity position of your business, namely.

  • Free Cash Flow
  • Operating cash
  • Cash Flow Forecast

Let’s go through the cash flow diagram examples below.

1. Free Cash Flow Formula

One of the significant cash flow formulas is Free Cash Flow (FCF).

While a traditional cash flow statement provides you with a picture of your business’s financial health at a given time, it doesn’t truly reflect the cash available or free to use.

Calculating your business’ free cash flow is easier than you might think. Besides, using a cash flow chart generator is even easier if your goal is to uncover high-level insights.

You need an income statement or balance sheet to get critical data points.

Let’s go through the components of a Free Cash Flow formula.

  • Net income

The net income is the total income left over after you’ve deducted your business expenses from total revenue or sales. Get this data from your Income Statement.

  • Depreciation/Amortization

Depreciation is the measurement of how your business’ assets decrease in value. Conversely, amortization is a method of breaking down the initial cost of an asset over its lifetime.

Get this data from your income statement.

  • Working Capital

Working Capital is the difference between your assets and liabilities.  And it represents the capital used in the day-to-day operation of your business.

Get working capital data from the balance sheet.

  • Capital Expenditure

Capital Expenditure is the money your business spends on fixed assets, like land, real estate, or equipment. Get this data from the statement of cash flows.

Check out the complete formula (of Free Cash Flow) below.

Free Cash Flow = Net Income + Depreciation/Amortization – Change in Working Capital – Capital Expenditure.

Let’s take a look at a Cash Flow Diagram example in the real world.

Imagine you run a freelance graphic design business. You want to calculate your free cash flow to determine if hiring a virtual assistant (for 10 hours a month) is financially feasible.

Let’s assume the data below represents the financial position of your freelance business.

Net income = $150,000

Depreciation/Amortization = $0

Change in Working Capital = – $20,000

Capital Expenditure = $3,500 (You bought a new iMac last year)

So your free cash flow is represented by:

[$150,000] + [$0] – [$20,000] – [$3,500] = $126,500

That means the business has $126,500 available and can sustain the hiring of a virtual assistant.

Operating Cash Flow Formula

While Free Cash Flow provides insights into cash available to reinvest in the business, it doesn’t always show the most accurate picture of everyday cash flow.

And this is because the FCF formula doesn’t account for irregular spending, earnings, or investments. For instance, your free cash flow will go through the roof if you sell off a large asset. But, this does not reflect the typical cash flow for your business.

Just as with our Free Cash Flow formula above, get your balance sheet and income statement ready to pull out key data points.

In addition, there’s one other financial metric (that’s missing in Free Cash Flow) you’ll need to know.

So what is this new metric?

Operating Income

The Operating Income (also called Earnings before Interest and Taxes (or EBIT) is the difference between operating expenses (like wages paid and cost of goods sold) and total revenue.

Get operating income data from your Income Statement.

Check out our Operating Cash flow formula below:

Operating Cash Flow = Operating Income + Depreciation – Taxes + Change in Working Capital

You can visualize this data (Operating Cash Flow Statement) using the Cash Flow Charts we’ll talk about later.

You don’t want to miss this.

Take a look at the Operating Cash Flow Diagram example in the real world. Note: the data used are hypothetical.

Operating Income = $75,000

Depreciation = $0

Taxes = $11,000

Change in Working Capital = – $19,000

Your operating cash flow formula is represented by:

[$75,000] + [$0] – [$11,000] + [-$19,000] = $45,000

The (above) means that the hypothetical business generates $45,000 in positive cash flow in a typical year.

Cash Flow Forecast Formula

While both Free Cash Flow (FCF) and Operating Cash Flow (OCF) methodologies provide insights into cash flow of your business in a given period: you cannot use them to plan for the future.

This is where a Cash Flow Forecast formula comes in.

Cash Flow Forecast is one of the easiest formulas to calculate. And this is because you’ll not come across complex financial metrics.

It’s just a simple calculation of the cash you expect to bring in and spend over (typically) the next 30 or 90 days.

Check out the formula below.

Cash Flow Forecast = Beginning Cash + Projected Inflows – Projected Outflows = Ending Cash.

  • Beginning cash

Beginning Cash is the amount of money you start with at any given time. You can get this data from your Statement of Cash Flows.

  • Projected Inflows and Outflows

Projected inflow is the money your business expects in a given period. And it’s made up of current and future invoices you wish to send and receive.

On the other hand, projected outflows are the expenses and other payments you’ll make in the given timeframe.

Take a look at a Cash Flow example.

Beginning cash = $60,000

Projected inflows for the next 90 days = $20,000

Project outflows for the next 90 days = $10,000

Here’s what your cash flow forecast looks like:

[$60,000] + [$20,000] – [$10,000] = $70,000

The (above) means the forecasted cash flow (for the hypothetical business) for the upcoming quarter is $56,000.

Remember, you can visualize this data using a Cash Flow Diagram generator.

What is a Cash Flow Diagram Generator?

A Cash Flow Diagram Generator is a tool or software that helps create visual representations of cash flows over time. It typically displays inflows and outflows as bars or arrows on a timeline, making it easier to understand the movement of cash within a business or project.

This tool is useful for financial planning, budgeting, and investment analysis, allowing users to assess the timing and amounts of cash receipts and payments.

Benefits of a Cash Flow Chart Generator

  • Simplifies Financial Data: Organizes complex cash flow data into clear, easy-to-understand visuals.
  • Improves Decision-Making: Helps businesses make informed decisions based on cash availability.
  • Enhances Forecasting: Aids in accurate cash flow forecasting and budgeting.
  • Identifies Gaps: Highlights potential cash flow issues for prompt attention.
  • Boosts Reporting Efficiency: Streamlines the process of creating financial reports for stakeholders.

How to Choose the Right Cash Flow Diagram Generator?

As we said, charts can help you access hidden and high-level insights from your Cash Flow Statement table.

A Cash Flow Chart paints a clear picture of the financial position of your business by providing in-depth and actionable insights.

Getting these insights from typical Cash Flow Statements is not easy, especially if the tables are super long.

Besides, freemium visualization tools, such as Google Sheets and Excel, lack Cash Flow Charts, best suited to handle this type of data.

This does not mean you should ditch Google Sheets & Excel.

There’s a way to supercharge these tools with third-party tools to get the most from your financial data. We’ve tried a ton of data visualization add-ons available, specifically for Google Sheets and Excel. And the best Cash Flow Diagram generator (add-on) we recommend is ChartExpo.

Keep reading to know why we recommend this Cash Flow Chart generator.

Best Cash Flow Diagram Maker

As we said in the previous section, ChartExpo is the tool we recommend to our clients and readers. Why?

This super easy-to-use tool does not require coding or programming skills, unlike other add-ons. More so, this Cash Flow Diagram generator add-on for Google Sheets has an ultra-friendly UI for everyone to use. ChartExpo has 50-plus advanced charts to offset the missing ones.

ChartExpo is the tool you need to produce Cash Flow Charts that are incredibly easy to read and understand. If you haven’t installed it yet you can install it by clicking below for your desired tool for Excel or Google Sheets and start creating this chart in a few clicks without any coding.

How to Create a Cash Flow Chart in Microsoft Excel & Google Sheets?

How to Make Cash Flow Charts in Excel?

Excel is one of the most popular data visualization tools around. Besides, it has been there for decades, which makes it familiar to many.

However, this spreadsheet tool has pretty basic diagrams, which are ill-suited to visualize Cash Flow Statements. You can supercharge this tool with the ChartExpo add-in to access easy-to-read and intuitive Cash Flow Charts.

Take a look at a Cash Flow Diagram example below to get started with the ChartExpo add-in for Excel.

We’ll use the tabular data below.

Income Source Income Type Income Spending Source Spending Type Amount
Salary Earned Income Income Deduction Income Tax 494
Salary Earned Income Income Deduction Social Justice 677
Salary Earned Income Income Core Expenses Bill Expenses 758
Salary Earned Income Income Core Expenses Food 933
Salary Earned Income Income Core Expenses Personal Care 649
Salary Earned Income Income Core Expenses Transportation 825
Salary Earned Income Income Financial Independence Pension 536
Salary Earned Income Income Financial Independence Investment 392
Credit Card Reward Passive Income Income Financial Independence Real Estate 287
Dividends Passive income Income Disposable Income Emergency Fund 262
Interest Passive income Income Disposable Income Leisure 147

To get started with our Cash Flow generator ChartExpo for Excel, follow the simple instructions below:

  • Copy the table (above) into your Excel
  • Open the worksheet and click on the Insert menu button.
  • Click the My Apps option and then click the See All button.
cash flow chart
  • Click the ChartExpo button and then click the Insert button to start the installation.
cash flow chart
  • After this add-in is inserted you will see the following list of charts.
cash flow chart
  • You will find the first chart Sankey in the list, but if you are unable to find this chart, you can search in the search bar or you can click on the Category button to see the list of chart categories and from there you can find the Sankey Chart.
cash flow chart
  • Once Sankey Chart is clicked you will see its new window where you can then you can select your sheet data and click on “Create Chart From Selection”.
money flow diagram
  • You will immediately see your data to be converted to Sankey visualization.
cash flow visualization
  • You will find the Edit Chart option to change the properties of your nodes to change the colors, add a heading on the chart, add prefixes, and post-fix with the data, and eventually, you will find the following look for your cash flow diagram example with Sankey visualization.
cash flow diagram maker
Source: chartexpo.com

Insights

  • The aggregate salary is $5.26k, and the total passive income is $696, making the total income to be $5.96k.
  • You can easily track each coin coming in and out of the business.
  • Core expenses and deductions account for a 73% reduction in total income.
  • Conversely, disposable income and financial independence contribute only 23% growth in total revenue.

How to Make Cash Flow Diagrams in Google Sheets?

This section is loaded with tons of Cash Flow Diagram examples to get you started with this visualization as quickly as possible.

Let’s go through a Cash Flow Diagram example below.

  • Grouped Column Charts

Imagine you want insights into how your net cash flow compares to cash balance for planning purposes.

Where would you start?

This is where one of the best Cash Flow Charts (Grouped Column Charts) comes in. Let’s use the tabular data below for our scenario.

Months Cash Balance Net Cash Flow
Jan 3097 856
Feb 3657 809
Mar 3094 829
Apr 2896 709
May 3671 791
Jun 4038 2700
Jul 3213 790
Aug 2770 791
Sep 3704 720
Oct 3390 790
Nov 3035 749
Dec 3168 703

To get started with our Cash Flow Diagram generator (ChartExpo), follow the simple steps below:

  • Install ChartExpo for Google Sheets
  • Open the worksheet and click the Extensions menu.
  • Once the ChartExpo-Best Data Visualization Tool drop-down menu shows, click the Open button.
Click on ChartExpo-Best Data Visualization Tool then Open
  • Once it is opened, you can put your data in the sheet and then click the Create New Chart button.
Click the Create New Chart button
  • Once clicked, you will see a list of charts available in ChartExpo as shown below:
Click the PPC Chart button to access Grouped Column Charts
  • You can find your desired chart, like in our case let’s find and select Grouped Column Chart.
Click on Create Chart to create cash flow chart
  • Select the sheet holding your data.
  • Fill in your metrics and dimensions, as shown below.
  • In our example, the key metrics to fill in are cash Balance and net cash flow. Conversely, put the month variable in the dimension section.
cash flow graph
  • Complete the task (above) using the Grouped Column Chart (one of the best Cash Flow Charts) by clicking the Create Chart button.
  • If you follow the super-easy steps (above), and by changing some properties your final chart should look like this (below).
cash flow chart
Source: chartexpo.com

Insights

Do you find the chart above easy to read?

In June, the operating expenses were unusually high compared to other months. So this month qualifies to be labeled an outlier.

  • Sentiment Trend Chart

Let’s use our Cash Flow Chart generator (ChartExpo) to visualize the same data table (above). But, in this cash flow diagram example, we’ll use a different chart (Sentiment Trend).

The Sentiment Trend Diagram is one of the most recommended, especially if you want high-level insights from Cash Flow tables.

To get started with ChartExpo add-on, follow the simple steps below:

  • Click the Sentiment Analysis Charts button to access the Sentiment Trend Chart in your Google Sheets.
cash flow chart
  • Select the sheet holding your data.
  • Fill in your metrics and dimensions, as shown.
  • In our example, the key metrics to fill in are the cash balance and net cash flow. Conversely, fill in the following variable in the dimension section:
cash flow chart
  • Finish the task (above) using the Sentiment Trend Chart (one of the best Cash Flow Charts) by clicking the Create Chart button.
cash flow diagram generator
Source: chartexpo.com

Insights

June has the highest cash balance and net cash flow. The other months share a similar trend in cash balance with minor ups and downs.

Tips for Creating an Effective Cash Flow Chart

1. Use Clear Categories

Divide your cash flow chart into clear categories such as operating activities, investing activities, and financing activities. This makes it easier to understand the sources and uses of cash.

2. Keep It Simple

Avoid overcrowding the chart with too much data. Focus on the most important cash flows that reflect the financial health of your business.

3. Use Color Coding

Utilize color coding to differentiate between positive (inflows) and negative (outflows) cash flows. This will make it easier for viewers to quickly identify trends.

4. Include Time Periods

Make sure to show time periods clearly (daily, monthly, quarterly, etc.), so users can easily track the cash flow over time and identify patterns.

5. Label All Entries Clearly

Ensure that all entries on the chart are labeled clearly with descriptions. This helps eliminate confusion and enhances the chart’s utility.

Cash Flow Chart FAQs

How can you make a Cash Flow Diagram in Excel?

Excel spreadsheet comes with pretty basic charts that cannot provide high-level insights from a Cash Flow Statement.

You can supercharge Excel with third-party tools (add-ins), such as ChartExpo, to access easy-to-read and insightful Cash Flow Charts. Accessing Cash Flow Diagrams should never stress you.

What are the 3 types of cash flows?

The statement of cash flows presents sources and uses of cash in your business. There are three unique formulas you can use to determine the cash flow position of your business. They include:

  • Cash Flow Forecast
  • Free Cash Flow
  • Operating Cash Flow

Wrap Up

How to create a Cash Flow Chart using either Google Sheets or Excel does not have to consume your valuable time or even overwhelm you.

Besides, if you’ve outgrown the basic spreadsheet charts (offered by Google and Excel), it’s time to give tested and proven third-party apps, such as ChartExpo to get the most from your financial data.

ChartExpo is incredibly easy to use, produces insightful and straightforward charts, and most importantly, has over 50-plus advanced charts.

Give Cash Flow Diagram generator – ChartExpo a try today to get unlimited access to high-level insights from your Cash Flow Statement today.

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