Start with Vertex42's free Cash Flow Statement template for Excel or Google Sheets if you want one clean statement of cash flows with 12-month and 3-year sheets. If you need a specific job done, such as a daily cash log, a quarterly projection or a nonprofit version, Smartsheet's free Excel collection has a separate template for each.
A cash flow statement shows where cash came from and where it went. Vertex42 describes it as the statement of cash receipts and cash paid, and says that by cash it means both physical currency and the balance in a checking account. It sits alongside the balance sheet and income statement as one of the three standard statements, but it's the one that tells you whether you can cover next month's bills.
Which cash flow template for which job
Here's how the free files split up as of October 2026:
| Job | Template | Source | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| A standard statement of cash flows | Cash Flow Statement | Vertex42 | 12-month and 3-year worksheets you can relabel and reorder |
| Three years split by activity | 3-Year Cash Flow Statement | Smartsheet | Operations, investing and financing sections with the sums done for you |
| Month by month with a yearly view | Monthly Cash Flow | Smartsheet | An annual overview plus a separate sheet for each month |
| Day-to-day receipts and payments | Daily Cash Flow | Smartsheet | A list of inflows and outflows you customise |
| Plan against actuals | 12-Month Cash Flow Forecast | Smartsheet | Compares projections with actual outcomes |
| New business planning | Quarterly Cash Flow Projections | Smartsheet | Quarterly estimates with variance against actuals |
| Stress-testing | Cash Flow Analysis | Smartsheet | A sensitivity analysis to anticipate shortfalls |
| Valuing a business or investment | Discounted Cash Flow | Smartsheet | Present value estimates from your projections and chosen discount rate |
| A charity or club | Nonprofit Cash Flow Projection | Smartsheet | Donations and grants as income, with a rolling 12-month balance |
| Household finances | Personal Cash Flow | Smartsheet | A simple overview of personal spending |
A statement looks back, a forecast looks ahead
Vertex42 makes a point worth repeating: cash flow is about timing, making sure you have cash on hand when you need to pay expenses, buy inventory and pay your employees. It also says a cash flow analysis isn't the same as a business budget or a profit and loss projection, which are based on the income statement. For a small, uncomplicated business that trades mainly in cash rather than credit, it admits there may seem to be little difference.
The statement records what happened over a period. A forecast estimates what will happen. You can turn a statement into a forecast by comparing several months and planning the next ones, but if planning is the goal, a dedicated cash flow forecast template is the better starting point. This page is about the statement.
Inside Vertex42's statement of cash flows
Vertex42 says it designed this template for the small-business owner who wants an example of how to format a statement of cash flows. The workbook has two worksheets, one year-to-year and one month-to-month, so you can use it for analysis or for projections. The categories are customisable, and if you don't want the 'cash receipts from' and 'cash paid for' groupings, you can delete those label rows and reorder the items.
Its page explains the three standard sections and which part of the balance sheet each one connects to, and calls net cash flow from operations perhaps the most important line on the statement. For a plain walk-through of the sections, see what a cash flow statement is. Vertex42 is upfront that it won't teach you how to prepare or analyse the statement, beyond saying that if you have records of every cash transaction, you can sort the receipts and payments into the three categories.
Smartsheet's free Excel collection
Smartsheet's page gathers its cash flow templates in one place and says they're fully customisable and can be downloaded for free. It notes that a statement of cash flows is often prepared using the indirect method, which works from other financial information to calculate net cash flows; Vertex42 says the indirect method uses the balance sheet and income statement.
Two templates stand out for small organisations. The nonprofit projection builds in common income sources such as donations and grants and makes the monthly and annual carryover easy to see. And the daily template is the one I'd hand to anyone who takes cash over a counter, because it lists receipts and payments as they happen. The same page also has accounts payable, accounts receivable, balance sheet, income statement and trial balance templates, so you can keep a matching set.
Setting up your first statement
- Choose the period: a year-to-year view for the big picture or month-to-month if cash is tight.
- Gather your records of cash in and cash out for that period, including bank statements.
- Sort each item into operating, investing or financing activities.
- Customise the category labels so they match how your business earns and spends.
- Check the closing cash figure against your bank balance.
- Repeat each month or year so you can compare periods, which is what turns a statement into analysis.
Licence notes
Vertex42's Cash Flow Statement is labelled Private Use, not for distribution or resale, as of October 2026. It's fine for your own business and for sharing privately with colleagues who need it, as long as Google Drive link sharing is off. It isn't fine to host the file on your website. Smartsheet's page says only that the templates are free to download and customise, so that's all I'll claim for them. If you're unsure how this statement fits with the other two, profit and loss vs balance sheet covers the other pair.
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For a small business owner the practical point is simple: profit on paper doesn't pay wages. A cash flow statement is the page that shows the gap between the two.
My advice
I'd download Vertex42's template if you want one tidy statement and the option to delete or reorder lines to suit you. I'd go to Smartsheet if you have a specific job, such as a daily cash log or a nonprofit projection, because it has a named template for each. Skip the discounted cash flow template unless you're valuing a business or an investment; it's not a day-to-day tool.
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Frequently asked questions
Where can I get a free cash flow statement template?
Vertex42 has a free Cash Flow Statement template for Excel and Google Sheets with 12-month and 3-year sheets. Smartsheet has a free Excel collection with 3-year, monthly, daily, nonprofit and personal versions.
Is a cash flow statement the same as a budget?
No. Vertex42 says a cash flow analysis isn't the same as a business budget or profit and loss projection, which are based on the income statement, though a small cash-based business may see little difference.
What are the three sections of a cash flow statement?
Operating, investing and financing activities. Vertex42 calls net cash flow from operations perhaps the most important line.
Is there a free cash flow template for a nonprofit?
Yes. Smartsheet's Nonprofit Cash Flow Projection includes donations and grants as income sources and covers a 12-month period.
Can I change the categories in the Vertex42 template?
Yes. The categories are customisable, and you can delete the 'cash receipts from' and 'cash paid for' label rows and reorder items.
