What Is Cash Inflow in a Dental Practice?
Cash Inflow is the actual money received by your practice from operating, investing, or financing activities — usually hitting your bank account.
In a dental practice, this includes:
- Patient payments (private/NHS)
- Plan income (e.g. Denplan)
- Loan proceeds or grants
- Tax refunds
- Deposits or third-party financing
Inflows ≠ revenue.
You can receive cash before treatment (deposits), or after it’s earned (collections).
Why Cash Inflow Matters for Dental Practice Owners
Many dentists confuse revenue with cash.
But what matters for survival is: what has landed in your bank account today.
You may:
- Be profitable on paper but cash poor
- Rely too heavily on advance payments (deferred income)
- Underestimate timing gaps between treatment and payment
Example:
| Month | Revenue Earned | Cash Inflow |
| Jan | £80,000 | £95,000 (due to deposits from future work) |
| Mar | £95,000 | £70,000 (patients slow to pay) |
🧠 DentPulse separates inflow vs income — to protect your cash decisions.
Common Types of Cash Inflow in Dentistry
| Source | Description |
| Private Patient Payments | Paid at reception, by card or bank |
| Plan Income | Monthly payments from Denplan/Practice Plan |
| NHS Receipts | Monthly NHS contract payments or UDA completion payouts |
| Treatment Deposits | Invisalign, implants, smile design cases |
| Third-Party Financing | Patient loans through providers like Tabeo |
| Grants or Loans | Bounce Back Loans, asset financing |
| Other Receipts | Tax refunds, insurance payouts, sublets |
Not all inflows are “safe to spend” — some come with future liabilities or tax implications.
How DentPulse Tracks and Forecasts Cash Inflow
| Feature | Function |
| CFFP™ – Cash Flow Future Pairing | Links future inflows to upcoming outflows |
| Cash Flow Calendar | Tracks real inflow dates, not just expected revenue |
| Deferred Income Alert | Flags when you’re spending deposits prematurely |
| LIQUIDIQ™ Buffer Analysis | Measures if current inflow supports 12-week stability |
| PPP™ Drawings Engine | Ensures you only withdraw from cleared, net cash |
DentPulse turns inflow tracking into decision intelligence, not just accounting history.
DentPulse Tip™
Cash in = peace of mind.
Cash in ≠ money to spend blindly.If you’ve been paid in advance, that’s a future obligation — not a bonus.
Related Glossary Terms
- Cash Outflow – Money leaving the business (e.g. pay, bills, tax)
- Deferred Income – Deposits or advance payments not yet earned
- Working Capital – The gap between what you have and what you owe
- 12-Week Cash Buffer – How long inflow can sustain the business
- CFFP™ – Projects inflows vs outflows for clear cash planning
Glossary Summary Table
| Term | Meaning |
| Cash Inflow | Actual money received into the practice’s bank account |
| Purpose | Fund operations, protect solvency, and support strategic planning |
| Financial Impact | Critical for liquidity, PPP™ drawings, and future investment |
| DentPulse Advantage | Tracks and forecasts inflow in real time — connected to cash stress and outflow mapping |
