Private Equity Cash Flow Forecaster for Institutional LPs

Plan cash flows for one private equity or VC fund commitment. See capital calls, cash returned, unfunded commitments and break-even timing. To plan across funds with different start years, use the commitment-pacing planner.

Questions this calculator answers1. On a $100 million private equity commitment, when might capital calls and distributions occur?2. When might our private equity fund reach cash-flow break-even, with cash received matching cash paid in?3. If cash comes back later than planned, how much more cash might we need?

Projected cash-flow profile

This timing example uses the strategy you chose. It is not a promise of when a GP will call or return cash.

First projected distribution
2029

Capital calls begin in 2026; cumulative cash flow reaches break-even in 2031.

Peak cash exposure$65mDeepest cumulative call-minus-distribution gap
Cash-flow break-even2032First year cumulative net cash flow recovers to zero
Peak remaining unfunded$80mHighest balance after the first modeled call
Projected total distributions$250mFinal net gain: $150m

Annual capital calls and distributions

Calls are below zero. Cash returned is above zero. The navy line shows net cash flow for each calendar year.

First distribution: 2029
Capital callsDistributionsNet cash flow

Cumulative net cash flow

The J-curve shows the running cash balance. It falls as the LP pays in cash and rises as the fund pays cash back.

Maximum exposure: $8.2m
Cumulative net cash flowMaximum exposureBreak-even

Where the commitment sits over time

Unfunded is money still available to be called. NAV is the estimated value left in the fund. Cumulative distributions are all cash returned so far. These measures overlap, so the chart does not stack them.

Ending NAV: $0
Remaining unfundedEstimated NAVCumulative distributions

Annual forecast table

The figures used in every chart. Totals may differ slightly when displayed because of rounding.

YearCapital calledDistributionsNet cash flowCumulative net cash flowEstimated NAVUnfunded
2026 (Y1)$20m$0m−$20m−$20m$22.2m$80m
2027 (Y2)$25m$0m−$25m−$45m$55.9m$55m
2028 (Y3)$20m$0m−$20m−$65m$91.4m$35m
2029 (Y4)$15m$19.2m+$4.2m−$60.8m$110m$20m
2030 (Y5)$10m$36.9m+$26.9m−$33.9m$109m$10m
2031 (Y6)$4m$44.8m+$40.8m+$7m$92m$6m
2032 (Y7)$3m$45.1m+$42.1m+$49.1m$69.8m$3m
2033 (Y8)$3m$40.9m+$37.9m+$87m$46.6m$0m
2034 (Y9)$0m$34.8m+$34.8m+$122m$22.8m$0m
2035 (Y10)$0m$28.2m+$28.2m+$150m$0m$0m

How the private-equity cash-flow model works

The selected strategy sets a sample call schedule. The net multiple sets total value. Early, Typical and Delayed change when cash comes back. The model then updates NAV so calls, distributions and ending value reconcile. Use it for liquidity planning, not as a forecast of fund returns or timing.

Frequently asked questions

Is an unfunded commitment the same as NAV?

No. Unfunded is the contractual commitment not yet called. NAV is the estimated value of investments already held inside the fund.

What is peak cash exposure?

It is the lowest point in the running net cash balance. It shows the most cash the LP has paid in and not yet received back.

Does a 2.5x net multiple mean $250m of distributions?

For a fully called $100m commitment with no residual NAV, yes. If NAV remains at the end, cash returned plus that NAV equals $250m.

Why can secondaries distribute earlier?

A secondary fund may buy older assets. In this example, it starts paying cash back sooner than a primary early-stage venture fund.

What changes when distributions are delayed?

Total modeled value stays fixed. Less cash comes back in the early years, so peak cash needs may rise. Cash-flow break-even may also move later.

How is this different from commitment pacing?

This forecast models one fund commitment. A commitment-pacing tool plans across funds with different start years. It helps manage the share of the whole LP portfolio held in these funds.