Comparison · checked 29 October 2026
Cash-flow forecasting tools for UK small businesses
The cash-flow forecasting tools most often used by UK small businesses on Xero, QuickBooks or Sage include Float, Fathom, Futrli (now part of Sage), Brixx and Xero’s own Xero Analytics, plus Nella. Float focuses on short-term, rolling cash-flow forecasts; Fathom and Futrli combine reporting with forecasting; Brixx builds longer business plans; Xero Analytics forecasts inside Xero. Nella builds a rolling three and six-month projection from your own ledger, with VAT and corporation tax payments scheduled where a confirmed date exists, and answers questions about it in plain English.
At a glance
- Short-term cash focus
- Float
- Reporting and forecasting
- Fathom, Futrli
- Long-range planning
- Brixx
- Ask in plain English
- Nella
- Checked
- 29 October 2026
Each product described from its own website. Prices change, so none are quoted here.
How they compare
| Tool | How it describes itself | Built mainly for | Accounting software it lists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Float | Short-term cash-flow management: a rolling cash-flow forecast from live accounting data. Based in Edinburgh. | Small businesses, growing companies, finance teams and advisers | Xero, QuickBooks Online |
| Fathom | Management reporting and forecasting, with an AI commentary writer for reports. | Small and mid-sized businesses, accountants and bookkeepers, franchises and groups | QuickBooks Online and Desktop, Xero, MYOB, Sage, Access Financials, Excel, Google Sheets |
| Futrli | Forecasting and reporting software. Acquired by Sage in 2022 and still sold to small businesses. | Business owners, accountancy firms and bookkeepers | Sage Accounting, Xero, QuickBooks Online |
| Brixx | Web-based financial forecasting and business planning, for plans of three to ten years. | Entrepreneurs, small and mid-sized businesses, franchises and accountants | Xero; QuickBooks or CSV by import |
| Xero Analytics | Reporting and cash-flow forecasting inside Xero, built with Syft. Xero says forecast length depends on plan. | Xero subscribers | Xero |
| Nella | An AI finance assistant: a rolling three and six-month cash-flow projection from your own ledger, plus plain-English answers, a monthly pack, anomaly flags and a Nella Score. | Owners, directors and founders | Xero, QuickBooks, Sage, FreeAgent |
Descriptions summarise each provider’s own website, read on 29 October 2026. Futrli’s acquisition was announced by Sage. Check each provider for current features and pricing.
When a dedicated forecasting tool is the better fit
If you want to model invoice-level timing, build scenarios with many assumptions, or produce a multi-year plan for a lender or investor, a dedicated forecasting or planning tool is built for that job. Nella’s forecast is deliberately simpler: it holds working capital steady and does not predict when a particular invoice will be paid.
When Nella is the better fit
If you want a forecast you do not have to build, Nella projects your cash three and six months ahead from your own ledger, schedules VAT and corporation tax where a confirmed due date exists, and states its assumptions. Then you can ask “How long does our cash last?” on WhatsApp or in ChatGPT and get the answer from your own figures. See how the forecast works.
Can you use both?
Yes. Nella connects to your accounting software alongside any other app. Nothing in your books changes unless you give permission in Nella.
What Nella costs
Free for 60 days with no card. After that, Nella Lite stays free, and Nella Paid is £7.99 a month. See plans and pricing.
Nella provides financial information and education, not accounting or tax advice. Product names belong to their owners; Nella is not affiliated with any provider named here.
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