What Is Cash Flow Planning in Dental Practices?
Cash Flow Planning is the process of mapping out how much cash your practice will need, when you’ll need it, and whether your expected income will cover it — over the next few weeks, months, or quarters.
It’s not about guessing or hoping.
It’s about building a timing-first strategy so you can make confident decisions around drawings, investments, hiring, and tax.
Why Cash Flow Planning Matters for Dental Practice Owners
You can’t grow what you can’t time.
Many practice owners:
- Overdraw during strong months, then scramble for tax
- Hire too early without buffer capacity
- Invest in equipment before knowing if the cash flow holds
Example:
You want to hire a new associate in September.
But your cash flow plan shows that due to deferred income and VAT loan repayments, you’ll hit your MCBTP™ line in October unless you delay drawings or restructure lab terms.
Without planning, it would have felt like a cash crisis.
With DentPulse — it becomes a clear decision point.
What’s Included in Cash Flow Planning?
| Component | Role |
| Known Inflows | NHS payments, treatment plans, plan income, grants, loans |
| Forecasted Outflows | Staff wages, tax, drawings, suppliers, loan repayments |
| Timing Logic | Aligns what lands when vs. what leaves when (not just totals) |
| Scenario Testing | Stress-tests hires, new equipment, treatment changes |
| Buffer Protection | Keeps your 12-week cash cushion intact while making decisions |
Cash flow planning is the Project phase of the MAP Method™.
How DentPulse Automates Cash Flow Planning
| Feature | Function |
| CFFP™ Engine | Projects income and expense timing in a 13-week forecast view |
| MCBTP™ Overlay | Flags when planned decisions may breach safe liquidity levels |
| Scenario Planner | Models future hires, equipment, drawing changes, or treatment shifts |
| Tax Timing Module | Inserts Self Assessment and Corporation Tax due dates automatically |
| PPP Integration | Links cash plan to your Profit-to-Pocket™ goal to ensure alignment |
DentPulse connects your short-term visibility to your long-term goals — all with live data.
DentPulse Tip™
Planning doesn’t mean rigidity — it means readiness.
With DentPulse, your cash plan adjusts in real time as circumstances change.
So you can move forward with clarity — not fear.
Related Glossary Terms
- MAP Method™ – Manage, Analyse, Project: The foundation of cash control
- CFFP™ – Cash Flow Future Pairing – Predicts timing gaps in advance
- MCBTP™ – Minimum Cash Balance To Protect – Your personal safe cash floor
- Scenario Planning – Testing future decisions against current financial strength
- Profit-to-Pocket™ Model – Ensures all cash decisions align with owner income goals
Glossary Summary Table
| Term | Meaning |
| Cash Flow Planning | Structuring cash movement ahead of time to guide decisions and avoid pressure |
| Strategic Role | Connects timing, buffer, and goals into a unified decision engine |
| Best Practice | 13-week rolling forecast + scenario testing + timing safeguards |
| DentPulse Advantage | Real-time plan integrated with CFFP™, tax events, PPP targets, and liquidity zones |
