Cash flow and the S-curve
A total budget tells you how much. A cash flow tells you when. The S-curve shows both on one chart.
These are the eight planning threads the Krong course is built around. The highlighted ones are covered here. What are the planning threads?
What an S-curve is
Plot cumulative planned cost against time and most projects trace an S. Spending starts slowly, speeds up in the middle and tails off. Finance teams use it to schedule funds. Sponsors use it to judge progress. Earned value reads against it.
How Sen builds it
Each task budget is spread evenly across the working days of that task. Sen then adds up the cost by month. Because it starts from the schedule, the curve moves when the schedule moves.
Caldera Freight
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Planned cost | USD 2,400,000 |
| Months | 14, Jan 2026 to Feb 2027 |
| Peak month | USD 300,367 |
The chart shows a marker for the earned value at the status date. If it sits below the planned line, the project has earned less than it planned to by now.
Using it
- Copy the table into a spreadsheet for a funder or a finance team.
- Compare the monthly profile with the funding schedule.
- Change a task start and watch the peak month move.
A caution
An even spread is an assumption. Some costs come in lumps, such as a licence paid up front. If that matters, split the task so the lump sits on its own task.
Questions people ask
Is this a cash forecast?
It is a planned cost baseline by month. A cash forecast also needs payment terms.
Where does the date come from?
From the plan start date and working calendar in project settings.
Can I export it?
Yes. Copy the table into a spreadsheet, or print the tab to PDF.
See it in a real plan
Open Sen and explore the Caldera Freight example. Every figure on this page comes from it. Copy it, change a task, and watch the plan move together.
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