Freelance Income Cashflow Forecast
Design a cashflow forecast that turns irregular invoices, expected payment dates, recurring costs, and tax set-asides into transparent scenarios.
The brief
Understand the problem
Background
Freelancers often know how much they invoiced but not when clients will actually pay. Forecasts become misleading when tentative work, overdue invoices, taxes, and personal withdrawals are treated as equally certain.
User context
Camila runs a small photography practice. Two clients usually pay late, equipment insurance renews next month, and she wants to test whether she can replace a camera without using tax reserves.
Product problem
Camila needs a forecast that communicates timing and confidence rather than presenting one optimistic balance as fact.
Objective
Create forecast setup, timeline, scenario comparison, and invoice-detail states that support a near-term cash decision.
What to design
Define the experience
Required experience
- Connect invoices, recurring costs, and current balances
- Set expected dates and confidence for uncertain income
- Compare a baseline with a delayed-payment scenario
- Inspect which events create a projected shortfall
Screens and states
- Forecast setup
- Cashflow timeline
- Scenario comparison
- Invoice and assumption detail
Core user flow
Follow the critical path
- 01
Camila imports open invoices and confirms recurring costs
- 02
She marks one client as likely to pay fourteen days late
- 03
The delayed scenario shows a shortfall before insurance renewal
- 04
She postpones the camera purchase and exports the assumptions used
Product rules
Requirements and constraints
Requirements
- Separate received, invoiced, expected, and tentative income
- Show every forecast assumption with an editable source
- Include tax reserves without presenting tax advice
- Use ranges or scenarios when payment timing is uncertain
- Pair charts with a chronological table
Constraints
- The product cannot guarantee client payment or tax liability
- Connected bank balances may be delayed
- Multi-currency invoices need an explicit exchange-rate assumption
Reality check
States worth considering
Ready-to-use content
Mock data
Use this content to test hierarchy and realistic data states. You can expand it when the concept needs more depth.
Forecast events
- Current available cash: $9,600
- Client North: $4,800 expected 9 September
- Client Field: $2,100 expected 22 September with low confidence
- Insurance: $3,200 due 18 September
- Tax reserve: $4,000 protected
Finish line
What to deliver
- Four responsive screens comparing baseline and delayed-payment scenarios
- An assumptions panel with confidence and data-freshness states
If you want more
Optional extensions
Optional direction
Visual resources
Use these as a starting constraint if you want one. They are not part of the required solution.
Theory to review
UX principles for this brief
Use these as decision lenses, then validate the design with the people and context in the brief.
