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April 25, 2026

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What Is a fund flow statement? purpose and format explained

Have you ever seen a business report a high net profit but still struggle to pay for a new factory? That's because your Fund Flow Statement shows that you are running low. Sometimes you may have plenty of cash in the bank but your overall financial health looks shaky? To solve this, accountants use a tool that looks beyond the daily cash in hand and looks at the entire picture of the business, called the Working Capital.

In 2026, while the Cash Flow Statement is used for short term survival, the Fund Flow Statement is used for long term strategy. It explains where the money came from and how it was used to reshape the company over the years.

This guide breaks down the Fund Flow Statement, its core purpose, how it differs from a cash flow report, and the standard format every business owner and investor should know and understand.

What is a fund flow statement?

A Fund Flow Statement is a financial report that tracks the movement of funds as defined as Working Capital, between two balance sheet dates.

The definition of funds in this context does not mean cash. It rather refers to Net Working Capital (Current Assets - Current Liabilities).

The Goal of such is to reveal the “sources” where money was generated and the “applications” where money was spent that caused the company’s financial position to change.

The purpose of a fund flow

In today’s complex economy, a Fund Flow Statement serves three vital roles for management and investors:

‍Long Term Financial Planning: Unlike cash flow which deals with next week’s bills, fund flow helps in planning for the next five years. It shows if the company is generating enough internal funds to sustain its own growth.

Management Decisions: it highlights whether the management is using long term funds like loans to buy long term assets like capital or machineries, or if they are wasting long term money on daily expenses.

Creditworthiness: Banks in 2026 look at this statement to see if a company has a cushion. A steady increase in working capital from operations is a green flag for lenders.

Fund flow vs. cash flow

Base	Cash Flow Statement	Fund Flow Statement
Primary Focus	Cash & Cash Equivalents	Net Working Capital
Time Horizon	Short term for liquidity	Long term for financial structure
Basis of Prep	Cash basis of accounting	Accrual basis of accounting
Legal Status	mandatory	Mostly for internal analysis
Main Question	Can we pay our bills today?	Is the business becoming stronger?

Learn more about Cash Flow and Fund Flow.

Standard format of fund flow statements

Preparing this statement involves a specific 3 step process. In 2026, most software automates this, but the logic remains the same, and are as follows:

STEP 1: Schedule of changes in working capital

Make a table that compares the current assets and liabilities of the previous year with the current year:

‍Increase in Current Asset: increase in working capitals mostly

‍Increase in Current Liability: no increase or decrease in working capital

STEP 2: Calculation of funds from operations

You start with the Net Profit and “add back” non cash expenses like Depreciation to find out how much actual fund was generated by the core business.

STEP 3: Statement of sources and applications

This is the final “T-Shaped” or vertical report that you may get:

Sources of Funds or Inflows	Application of Funds or the Outflows
Issue of New Shares or Debentures	Redemption of Preference Shares
Sale of Fixed Assets or Investments	Purchase of Fixed Assets like Land or Plant
Long term Loans taken from banks	Repayment of Long term loans
Funds generated	Payment of Dividends or Taxes
Decrease in working capital	Increase in working capital

Tips for businesses

Tracking the movement of funds manually between two balance sheets is a huge huge buildup for disaster. To create an accurate Fund Flow Statement, you need your daily data to be perfect. This is where Swipe transforms from a simple billing tool into your business’s central nervous system.

By using Swipe, your Current Assets like Debtors and Inventory are updated in real time with every sale you make. When it comes to analyzing your cash flow, Swipe gives you the categorized data that allows you to easily see where your working capital goes. Your edge in 2026 lies in your ability to be open and fast. Time to have total transparency in your finances? Try Swipe NOW!

Conclusion

The fund flow statement is the bridge between a company’s past decisions and its future potential. By focusing on Working Capital rather than just cash, it provides a better and deeper look at how the business structure is doing.

As we navigate the competitive landscape of 2026, understanding your sources and applications of funds is essential for any business aiming to scale. It ensures you are not just profitable on paper but also are building a resilient financial buildup. Keep your ledgers updated, use smart tools like Swipe, and use your fund flow insights smarter for long term investment decisions.

FAQs

Is the fund flow statement mandatory for indian companies?

No, under The Companies Act, the Cash Flow Statement is mandatory for most companies but the Fund Flow Statement is an optional though highly recommended tool for internal management and credit analysis.

Why is “depreciation” added back in Step 2?

Depreciation is a non cash expense. It reduces your profit on paper, but no actual funds leave the business. Adding it back gives a truer picture of the funds generated by operations.

What does a “decrease in working capital” mean?

It sounds bad but in a Fund Flow Statement, a decrease in working capital is a Source of Funds. It means you have released money that was previously tied in assets like selling off old stok or collecting from debtors.

Can a company have a high profit but negative fund flow?

Yes. If a company makes a huge profit but uses up all that money and more to pay off old debts or buy massive machinery, its net fund position might decrease, even though it is quite profitable.

Who uses the fund flow statement the most?

In 2026, it is primarily used by Financial Analysts to judge a company’s long term stability and by bankers to decide on the approval of term loans for business expansion.

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