Welcome! This guide will walk you through the structure and key components of your new financial model. Designed to be comprehensive yet user-friendly, this model will empower you to forecast your financials, understand key business drivers, and make informed decisions.
Step 1: Set Your Foundation
A couple of sheets to set up the basics:
- Settings Sheet: Fill in your company details – name, currency, start date, and key tax info. You'll also plug in some historical company data here.
- Assumptions Sheet: This is where you’ll input the core drivers for your business – from customer acquisition and revenue conversions to costs, expenses, and even inflation. Think of these as the main levers for your model.
Understanding the Colors (Nomenclature)
Your model uses specific colors to tell you what's what in the cells. This helps you know where to type and what's calculated for you. Always refer to your "Intro" sheet for the definitive color key. Generally, you'll see something like:
- 🔵 Blue (or similar): These are Input Cells. This is where you'll type your numbers, assumptions, and historical data.
- ⚫ Black (or similar): These are Formula Cells. They do the calculations automatically based on your inputs. Best not to type over these!
- 🟣 Purple/Green (or similar): These often show Links from Other Sheets or fixed historical data.
Step 2: Build Out Your Numbers
Now, let's get into the specifics of your projections:
- Revenue Sheet: Forecast your sales and track the KPIs that drive them (like traffic, sign-ups, and MRR).
- COGS (Cost of Goods Sold) Sheet: Detail the direct costs tied to making your sales.
- SG&A Sheet: Cover all your other operating expenses like marketing, rent, and utilities.
- SG&A > Staff Sheet: Plan your team – roles, salaries, start dates, and related costs.
- CAPEX Sheet: Manage your investments in assets, depreciation, loans, and inventory.
Step 3: See Your Financial Picture
Once your inputs are in, these sheets show you the results:
- Dashboard Sheet: Your go-to for a visual snapshot! See charts on cash flow, runway, and key profit metrics.
- FS-Month Sheet: Get the detailed monthly view of your Income Statement, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow Statement.
- FS-Annual Sheet: See the bigger picture with yearly financial statements and your DCF valuation.
Hidden Sheets
Your model has some sheets working behind the scenes. You generally won't edit these directly, but it's good to know they're there:
- Model Map: A flowchart showing how the model is structured.
- Change Log: Keeps a record of versions and updates to the template.
- FS-Month (AI Summary): Simplified monthly financials, sometimes used for AI tool integration.
- Data Inputs: A place to paste in KPI data from other sources if needed.
- Taxes: Where the detailed calculations for VAT, Sales, and Income Tax happen.
- Consolidated models: Super useful! Contains pre-set assumptions and structures for different business types (like SaaS, eCommerce, etc.) that can give you a head start.
- Dashboard Charts: The data that feeds the graphs and tables on your main "Dashboard."
Welcome! This guide will walk you through the structure and key components of your new financial model. Designed to be comprehensive yet user-friendly, this model will empower you to forecast your financials, understand key business drivers, and make informed decisions.
Step 1: Set Your Foundation
A couple of sheets to set up the basics:
- Settings Sheet: Fill in your company details – name, currency, start date, and key tax info. You'll also plug in some historical company data here.
- Assumptions Sheet: This is where you’ll input the core drivers for your business – from customer acquisition and revenue conversions to costs, expenses, and even inflation. Think of these as the main levers for your model.
Understanding the Colors (Nomenclature)
Your model uses specific colors to tell you what's what in the cells. This helps you know where to type and what's calculated for you. Always refer to your "Intro" sheet for the definitive color key. Generally, you'll see something like:
- 🔵 Blue (or similar): These are Input Cells. This is where you'll type your numbers, assumptions, and historical data.
- ⚫ Black (or similar): These are Formula Cells. They do the calculations automatically based on your inputs. Best not to type over these!
- 🟣 Purple/Green (or similar): These often show Links from Other Sheets or fixed historical data.
Step 2: Build Out Your Numbers
Now, let's get into the specifics of your projections:
- Revenue Sheet: Forecast your sales and track the KPIs that drive them (like traffic, sign-ups, and MRR).
- COGS (Cost of Goods Sold) Sheet: Detail the direct costs tied to making your sales.
- SG&A Sheet: Cover all your other operating expenses like marketing, rent, and utilities.
- SG&A > Staff Sheet: Plan your team – roles, salaries, start dates, and related costs.
- CAPEX Sheet: Manage your investments in assets, depreciation, loans, and inventory.
Step 3: See Your Financial Picture
Once your inputs are in, these sheets show you the results:
- Dashboard Sheet: Your go-to for a visual snapshot! See charts on cash flow, runway, and key profit metrics.
- FS-Month Sheet: Get the detailed monthly view of your Income Statement, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow Statement.
- FS-Annual Sheet: See the bigger picture with yearly financial statements and your DCF valuation.
Hidden Sheets
Your model has some sheets working behind the scenes. You generally won't edit these directly, but it's good to know they're there:
- Model Map: A flowchart showing how the model is structured.
- Change Log: Keeps a record of versions and updates to the template.
- FS-Month (AI Summary): Simplified monthly financials, sometimes used for AI tool integration.
- Data Inputs: A place to paste in KPI data from other sources if needed.
- Taxes: Where the detailed calculations for VAT, Sales, and Income Tax happen.
- Consolidated models: Super useful! Contains pre-set assumptions and structures for different business types (like SaaS, eCommerce, etc.) that can give you a head start.
- Dashboard Charts: The data that feeds the graphs and tables on your main "Dashboard."
