> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.finluency.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Set Up Recurring Transactions for Accurate Forecasts

> Define repeating income and expenses — rent, subscriptions, payroll — so Finluency can project your forward balance with confidence.

Recurring transactions are the backbone of your cash flow forecast. These are the predictable, repeating financial events that happen on a regular schedule: monthly rent, weekly payroll, quarterly insurance premiums, annual SaaS renewals. Because they happen reliably, they're the most powerful input you can give Finluency — the more recurring transactions you define, the more accurately the platform can chart where your balance is headed days, weeks, and months from now.

<Note>
  The more recurring transactions you define, the more accurate your cash flow timeline becomes. Even adding a few high-value items — rent, payroll, and a major subscription — immediately sharpens your projections. Don't wait until your list is perfect; start with the transactions that move the most money.
</Note>

## What Counts as a Recurring Transaction

A recurring transaction is any income or expense that repeats on a predictable schedule. Common examples include:

* **Rent or mortgage payment** — typically monthly, on a fixed date
* **Software subscriptions** — SaaS tools, cloud services, project management software
* **Insurance premiums** — health, liability, business owner's policy
* **Loan or credit card payments** — minimum or scheduled payment amounts
* **Payroll** — if you pay employees or contractors on a regular schedule
* **Client retainers** — recurring revenue from clients on monthly or quarterly agreements
* **Utilities** — phone, internet, electricity (use an average amount if the bill varies)
* **Platform or marketplace fees** — recurring fees from payment processors or selling platforms

## Why Recurring Transactions Matter for Forecasting

When Finluency builds your forward balance projection, it starts with what it knows for certain — your posted balance — and then layers in everything expected. Recurring transactions are the scheduled layer: they tell the model "on the 1st of every month, subtract $2,200 for rent" or "every Friday, add $1,500 for client retainer income." Without that layer, your forecast is little more than your current balance with no visibility into what's coming.

<Tip>
  Review your recurring transactions at least once a month. Subscriptions get added, retainers change, and loan balances shift. Keeping your recurring list current is the single most effective way to maintain accurate projections.
</Tip>

## How to Add a Recurring Transaction

<Steps>
  <Step title="Navigate to Recurring Transactions">
    From the main navigation, go to the **Transactions** or **Recurring** section. Look for a dedicated recurring transactions list or tab within that section.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click Add Recurring">
    Select the **Add Recurring** button to open the new recurring transaction form.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enter the payee or description">
    Type a clear, recognizable name for this transaction — for example, "Office Rent," "Gusto Payroll," or "AWS Subscription." This label will appear in your transaction feed and cash flow timeline.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set the amount">
    Enter the transaction amount. Use a positive number for income (money coming in) and a negative number — or select "expense" if the form provides that option — for money going out.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose the frequency">
    Select how often this transaction recurs: **weekly**, **bi-weekly**, **monthly**, **quarterly**, or **annually**. Choose the option that matches how often the transaction actually occurs.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set the start date">
    Enter the date of the next expected occurrence. Finluency will use this as the anchor point and project future occurrences forward based on the frequency you selected.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Assign to an account">
    Select which connected account this transaction should be associated with — for example, your business checking account for payroll, or your personal checking for rent.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save the recurring transaction">
    Click **Save** to add the recurring transaction to your model. It will immediately appear in your recurring list and begin influencing your cash flow timeline and forward balance projections.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## How to Edit a Recurring Transaction

If an amount changes — a subscription price increases, a retainer is renegotiated — you'll want to update the recurring entry to keep your forecast accurate.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open your recurring transactions list">
    Navigate to the Recurring section and find the transaction you want to update.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click to edit">
    Select the transaction and click the **Edit** option (often a pencil icon or an "Edit" button).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Update the details">
    Change the amount, frequency, account, or any other field that has changed. Then save your changes.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## How to Delete a Recurring Transaction

If a subscription is cancelled, a loan is paid off, or a client retainer ends, remove the recurring entry so it no longer distorts your forecast.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Find the recurring transaction">
    Navigate to your recurring transactions list and locate the entry you want to remove.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Delete the entry">
    Select the transaction and choose the **Delete** or **Remove** option. Confirm the deletion when prompted.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Warning>
  Deleting a recurring transaction removes it from all future projections. If a transaction is temporarily paused rather than permanently cancelled — for example, a retainer on hold — consider editing the amount to zero or updating the start date rather than deleting it entirely, so you can easily restore it later.
</Warning>

## Common Recurring Transactions to Set Up First

If you're not sure where to start, these are the high-impact recurring transactions to add first:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Rent or Mortgage" icon="house" href="/guides/recurring-transactions#how-to-add-a-recurring-transaction">
    Usually your largest single monthly expense. Add it first — it has the biggest impact on projected balance dips.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Payroll" icon="users" href="/guides/recurring-transactions#how-to-add-a-recurring-transaction">
    If you pay employees or contractors regularly, this is critical for forecasting business cash position around pay dates.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Subscriptions & SaaS Tools" icon="rotate" href="/guides/recurring-transactions#how-to-add-a-recurring-transaction">
    Individually small but they add up fast. List your software tools, cloud services, and platform memberships.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Client Retainers" icon="handshake" href="/guides/recurring-transactions#how-to-add-a-recurring-transaction">
    Regular recurring income from clients smooths your projected balance and offsets expense dips.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Loan & Credit Card Payments" icon="credit-card" href="/guides/recurring-transactions#how-to-add-a-recurring-transaction">
    Scheduled minimum or full payments on business loans or credit lines affect your available cash each cycle.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Insurance Premiums" icon="shield" href="/guides/recurring-transactions#how-to-add-a-recurring-transaction">
    Monthly or quarterly insurance payments are easy to forget but can cause unexpected balance drops if not modeled.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Next Steps

Once your recurring transactions are in place, explore how Finluency uses them — alongside your other transaction types — to build your complete cash flow picture.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Forecasting" icon="chart-mixed" href="/guides/forecasting">
    Learn how Finluency projects your future balance using recurring transactions and other inputs.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Transaction States" icon="circle-nodes" href="/concepts/transaction-states">
    Understand all five transaction states and how each one contributes to your forecast model.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>
