Negative Cash Flow
When cash outflows exceed inflows in a period.
Negative cash flow means more money left the business than came in during a given period. While alarming, it's not always a sign of trouble—businesses investing heavily in growth, purchasing equipment, or experiencing seasonal slowdowns may have temporary negative cash flow. Persistent negative cash flow without a clear path to recovery, however, signals a serious problem.
Example
A new restaurant spends $40,000 on rent, food, and wages in its second month but only brings in $25,000 in revenue—the $15,000 negative cash flow depletes its opening reserves.
Why It Matters for Your Business
Negative cash flow drains your reserves and eventually forces you to borrow or close, so identifying the cause and timeline for reversal is urgent.
Related Terms
More Cash-flow Terms
Burn Rate
The rate at which a company spends cash monthly.
Cash Flow
The movement of money in and out of a business.
Cash Flow Forecast
A projection of expected cash inflows and outflows.
Cash Flow Statement
A financial statement showing cash movements from operations, investing, and financing.
Free Cash Flow
Cash from operations minus capital expenditures.
Related Financial Guides & Resources
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