How to Build a Financial Model for Your Startup

One of the most important aspects of business planning is to have a detailed financial model that helps you: 1) forecast the ramp up of your revenue and expenses, 2) understand when the business might breakeven, 3) predict the amount of capital you will require, and 4) clarify the risks you will face based upon various assumptions.

I’ve built many such startup financial models over the past 15 years for the various businesses I’ve founded or invested in and recently I took the time to develop a robust Excel spreadsheet-based model that can easily be “tweaked” to the specific situation of nearly any startup.  The model is a multi-sheet, completely integrated model that includes the following worksheets: index, summary, income statement, balance sheet, cash flow, sales detail, miscellaneous revenue, staff, working capital, capital expenditure and depreciation, and scenario analysis.  I’ve used this same type of model framework to raise millions of capital for a number of ventures as a venture capital venture partner, venture-backed startup CEO and capital-raising consultant (my most recent use of the model was for the AgStrong capital raise).  Go to our companion site, Startup Financial Model, to learn more, to purchase the financial model, and to learn how to build a model for your business.

Please let us know if you have any questions or require any assistance in building your financial model for your startup.


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