QuickBooksHelpIntuit

Use reports to track cash flow

by Intuit•57• Updated 6 days ago

Learn how to use reports to track your cash flow in QuickBooks Online.

Use QuickBooks Online reports to track your cash flow and to view current and future finances. Here's how.

Some of your reports will look different depending on whether they're in the classic view or new enhanced experience. Learn more about the new enhanced experience.

Make sure your data is accurate

Make sure your QuickBooks data is accurate for cash flow reports. Use modern view to create custom reports in QuickBooks Online. Start with clean and correct information.

Make sure you’ve entered all your transactions in QuickBooks.
Reconcile your accounts in QuickBooks and help ensure they match your bank and credit card statements. If you need help reconciling your account, it’s a good idea to reach out to your accountant.

Note: If your reconciliation report matches your account statement, you can start running reports. If not, here's how to fix beginning balance issues in QuickBooks.

Make a cash flow forecast

A cash flow forecast shows how long your business can keep going. You can plan for different situations by changing your income and costs.

Tip: You may download the forecasting worksheet to plan and test possible situations by changing your income and costs. Set a three-month goal to keep your cash in line.

Run a profit and loss report

Run a profit and loss report to check your income and expenses for the last three months.

Go to Reports and select Standard reports (Take me there).
From the Business overview, select Profit and Loss.
Select a date range from the Report period ▼ dropdown, or select the From and To fields for dates you want to see.
Select the Refresh icon.

When you look at income, focus on the top sources of revenue. For expenses, pay attention to things like payroll, rent, insurance, and marketing expenses to see where you may be able to reduce spending.

Run an open invoices report

Open invoices show all unpaid invoices and statement charges with customer totals.

Go to Reports and select Standard reports (Take me there).
From the Who owes you section, select Open Invoices.
Select a date range from the Report period ▼ dropdown. Or select Custom dates for dates you want to see.
Select the Refresh icon.

Run an unpaid bills report

An unpaid bills report shows bills with due dates and days past-due. It helps you understand your short-term cash flow.

Go to Reports and select Standard reports (Take me there).
From the What you owe section, select Unpaid Bills.
Select a date range from the Report period ▼ dropdown, or select Custom dates for dates you want to see.
To filter your data, select Customize .
1. Select the first ▼ dropdown, then select Due date.
2. Select the second ▼ dropdown, then select equals.
3. Select a date or enter a specific date.
Select the Refresh icon.

Optimize your cash flow

Find ways to improve your cash flow. Use data from key QuickBooks reports to increase income and cut spending.

Step 1: See which customers owe you

See which customers owe you money and when it's due. Focus on payments to keep your business running.

Note: If you’re using QuickBooks Online Advanced, you can find customers who might delay payments. Set up AI enhanced reminders in workflows based on past payment patterns.

Run an open invoices report

The open invoices report will show customers who owe you the most. Increase your cash flow by managing these accounts.

Go to Reports and select Standard reports (Take me there).
From Who owes you, select Open Invoices.
Select a date range from the Report period ▼ dropdown, or select Custom dates for dates you want to see.
Select the Refresh icon.

Run a customer balance detail report

To see customer balances and due dates, run a customer balance detail report.

Go to Reports and select Standard reports (Take me there).
From the Who owes you section, select Customer Balance Detail.
Select a date range from the Report period ▼ dropdown, or select Custom dates and select the day or date you want to see.
Select the Refresh icon.

Note: To find the right customers to contact, select Sort and use the due date to see the customers with the most overdue invoices.

Step 2: Lower your fixed expenses

Your rent and insurance cost a lot of money every month. Lowering costs can boost your company's available cash.

Go to Reports and select Standard reports (Take me there).
From the For my accountant section, select Transaction Detail by Account.
Select a date range from the Report period ▼ dropdown, or select Custom dates for dates you want to see.
To get the average monthly expenses, select Customize .
1. Select the first ▼ dropdown, then find and select Account.
2. Select the second ▼ dropdown, then select equals.
3. Select the third ▼ dropdown.
  - For Rent - find and select the appropriate rent accounts.
  - For Insurance - find and select the appropriate insurance accounts.

Step 3: See which bills are due

It helps to start with bills that are due. Some suppliers may offer flexible timing or payment plans.

Run an unpaid bills report

View overdue bills and due dates in the unpaid bills report. This helps with your short-term cash flow.

Go to Reports and select Standard reports (Take me there).
From the What you owe section, select Unpaid Bills.
Select a date range from the Report period ▼ dropdown, or select Custom dates for dates you want to see.
To filter your data, select Customize .
1. Select the first ▼ dropdown, then select Due date.
2. Select the second ▼ dropdown, then select equals.
3. Select a date or enter a specific date.
Select the Refresh icon.

Run an expenses by supplier summary report

Run an expenses by supplier summary report and sort by expense total. This will help to focus on which suppliers to contact.

Go to Reports and select Standard reports (Take me there).
From the Expenses and suppliers section, select Expenses by Supplier Summary.
Select a date range from the Report period ▼ dropdown, or select Custom and select the day or date you want to see.
Select the Refresh icon.

Step 4: Reduce your money out

Work with suppliers, lenders, and governments to change terms and rates to make your money last.

Identify which lenders to contact

To identify which lenders or noteholders to contact about deferring loan payments, use the transaction detail by account report.

Go to Reports and select Standard reports (Take me there).
From the For my accountant section, select Transaction Detail by Account.
Select a date range from the Report period ▼ dropdown. Or, select Custom dates for dates you want to see.
To filter your data, select Customize .
1. Select the first ▼ dropdown, then select Account type.
2. Select the second ▼ dropdown, then select equals.
3. Select the third ▼ dropdown, then select Long-term Liabilities.
Select the Refresh icon.

Identify which tax agencies to contact

Run a taxable sales summary report. It'll show your taxable products and services, and how much you owe.

In the Sales taxes section, select Taxable Sales Summary.
Select a time frame from the Report period ▼ dropdown.
Select Run report.
Select Switch to modern view.
Find and select the Tax amount and TaxRate Name to show how much you owe.

Calculate your payroll tax

Use the payroll cost report to calculate your payroll tax.

Go to Reports and select Standard reports (Take me there).
From the Payroll section, select Total Payroll Cost.
Select a time period from the date range ▼ dropdown.
Select Apply.

A lightbulb icon With QuickBooks Online Advanced, you can create your own reports using Custom Report Builder. Find out how to upgrade your subscription.

Step 5: Minimize your discretionary spending

Manage your spending. Find things you don't need and cut back on them.

Go to Reports and select Standard reports (Take me there).
From the For my accountant section, select Transaction Detail by Account.
Select a date range from the Report period ▼ dropdown, or select Custom dates for dates you want to see.
To get the specific average of discretionary spending, select Customize .
1. Select the first ▼ dropdown, then select Account.
2. Select the second ▼ dropdown, then select equals.
3. Select the third ▼ dropdown.
  - For other dues and subscription expenses - find and select Dues And Subscriptions.
  - For other operational expenses - find and select Advertising.
  - For subsistence expenses - find and select Meals And Entertainment.