Incremental Cash Flow

Capital Budgeting

Turkish: Artımsal Nakit Akışı

Short definition

Incremental cash flow is the firm’s cash with the project minus cash without it. Accrual profit, allocated overhead and sunk cost are not that difference.

Detailed explanation

Write after-tax cash, ΔNWC, capex, salvage and tax effects — not “project profit”. Allocated head-office cost stays out if cash does not change; extra headcount comes in.

Cannibalisation, complementary sales, cash collateral and NWC release are side effects. Inflation and FX must match nominal cash to a consistent discount rate and currency.

Why it matters for the CFO

A wrong incremental definition flips the NPV sign: inflated EBITDA or forgotten inventory lets a reject through.

How it is calculated

CFₜ = Δ(nakit FAVÖK − nakit vergi − ΔNWC − CapEx) + hurda ve yan etkiler

Every line is with-minus-without. Sunk I₀ is in the past; opportunity cost is written in I₀ or CF₀.

Variables in the formula

  • Δ: with-project minus without-project

How to read it

Only cash that changes counts. A “fair share” overhead accrual that is not cash punishes the project; a truly scarce resource enters as opportunity cost.

Related calculators

Güven Sayılgan’s writing on this topic

Read these first

FCF

What to learn next

  1. Net Present Value (NPV)
  2. Sunk Cost
  3. Opportunity Cost
  4. Cannibalization
  5. Salvage Value

Definitions are educational. They are not investment, credit or tax advice.