MBA's Guide to Microsoft Excel

Business planning usually requires detailed forecasts of sales and related variables, such as cost of sales, gross margins, and the inventory levels required to support the fore- casted sales. The sales forecasting starter workbook (SALESRPT.XLS) described in this chapter provides a framework for you to use in forecasting sales, cost of sales, gross mar- gins, and inventory levels in a variety of businesses, including manufacturing, wholesaling and retailing, and service firms. This chapter shows how to use the sales forecasting starter workbook , print it, modify it, and link it with subsidiary spreadsheets.

Chapter Contents:

• EasyRefresher: Sales and Cost of Sales Forecasting
• Using the Sales Forecasting Starter Workbook
• Understanding the Starter Workbook’s Calculations
• Customizing the Starter Workbook