Best Cash Flow Management Tools for SMEs 2026

As a business consultancy that offers company closure services, we’ve come across every conceivable issue that can force SMEs into insolvency. Chief among the reasons that many fall by the wayside is an inability to keep cash flows healthy.

As such, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best cash flow management tools to help UK SMES keep track of their financial comings and goings.

Some of these will be more suited to a particular size or type of business, but we’ll try to cover as many bases as possible.

 

Best for forecasting

Float

CFOs, accountants, and owners digging deep into their finances will love Float’s forecasting depth.

Cumbersome spreadsheets can be ditched in favour of clear visuals that project future cash positions and help to identify potential shortfalls coming up.

Pros:

• Great integration with Xero and other accounting software
• Ability to create ‘what if’ scenarios that show how things could change if certain purchases are made or staff hired
• Intuitive UI for non-accountants

Cons:

• Not as comprehensive as some other options. Mainly a forecasting tool
• Doesn’t support multi-entity consolidation, making it less useful for large businesses with more complex infrastructure

 

Best for jargon-free insights

Futrli

Not all business owners are au fait with the dizzying lexicon of the finance world.

If you’re similarly dazed by the likes of EBITDAs, PIK notes, and accordion agreements, you’ll likely appreciate this jargon-free tool created by Sage.

The simple-to-understand insights it provides makes this a great choice for accounts teams preparing reports for colleagues that lack a financial background too.

Pros:

• Can forecast balance sheets, cash flow and P&L simultaneously
• Good for complicated strategic plans over several years

Cons:

• Can be a little tricky to set up initially

 

Best for small service-based businesses

Helm

Helm is another platform that attempts to make cash flow management simpler. Its intuitive interface uses a drag-and-drop timeline that’s easy to get used to. If you’re just looking for practical answers such as whether you can afford to hire somebody new in the short-to-medium term, then Helm is worth a look.

Pros:

• The drag-and-drop timeline feature flattens the learning curve somewhat

Cons:

• Focused on the next few months. Anyone looking for years of complex forecasting will be better served elsewhere

 

Best for multi-entity businesses

Calxa

If you need to track cash flows across many different sub-divisions, franchises, or charities, Calxa has you covered. It has a particular focus on budgets, making it a good choice for non-profits and charities too.

Pros:

• Emphasis on budgetary restraints
• Can forecast up to ten years ahead

Cons:

• Could be a little ‘easier on the eye’. Dry and spreadsheet-like appearance.

 

Best for B2B invoice control

Fluidly

If you’re looking for a tool that handles credit control alongside cash flow forecasting, Fluidly might be of interest. Those that find their cash flows are regularly stretched by late invoices will find the dual focus particularly useful.

Pros:

• AI learns who your worst payers are prioritises invoice chasing accordingly

Cons:

• The heavily automated AI infrastructure makes it a little more difficult to manually enter changes

 

Best for micro businesses and new directors

Cash Flow Frog

Similarly to Futrli, Cash Flow Frog’s focus is on conveying its findings in as simple a manner as possible. If you’ve never used cash flow management tools before, this would make for an excellent introduction.

Pros:

• Even complete novices can create a cash flow forecast in minutes

Cons:

• Lacks the complexity and depth that larger firms might require

 

Best for scaling up

Agicap

However large your company grows, Agicap has the ability to scale up alongside it. Connecting directly to your bank accounts, it provides real-time changes and incredibly accurate figures as a result.

Pros:

• Syncs to bank accounts
• Good automation options

Cons

• Cost may be prohibitive for smaller firms
• Can take a while to set up

 

Best for presentations

Spotlight Reporting

If it’s your accounts team or CFO that provides your forecasts, Spotlight Reporting can make their life a little easier by creating presentation-ready reports and cash flow water charts.

Pros:

• Handles multi-currency consolidations well

Cons:

• Might be too much for smaller firms

 

Other options

Business insolvency expert, Ben Westoby adds that “some firms may be able to get away with the most basic forecasting features of accounting tools like Sage, Xero and Quickbooks, but if you can afford to, it can be very helpful to invest in a dedicated tool.

“Stretched cash flows cost businesses dearly. Anything that gives you the ability to see how different scenarios could affect your reserves could be the difference between success and closure down the line”.

 

Still having difficulties with your cash flow?

The wealth of tools available now means that it’s never been easier to track your company’s cash flow.

That doesn’t mean that it still can’t pose a problem though.

Late payments and unpaid invoices can stretch even the healthiest businesses to their limits. If you find your finances becoming uncomfortably tested, then it’s crucial that you act as soon as possible.

 

We have specialists on hand that can help you to create and implement effective growth strategies that take your business to the next level. Call us on 0800 060 8505, or email advice@forbesburton.com for a free consultation.