Lesson 1Profit and cash flow simple parts: easy monthly gross profit and work profit lines; basic cash flow things (delayed income, collect lag)Make simple but helpful monthly profit and cash views, including gross profit, work profit, and basic cash flow drivers like collect lag, delayed income, and pay time for big expense groups.
Modeling revenue, COGS, and gross marginEstimating operating expenses and EBITDACollections lag and accounts receivable logicDeferred revenue and prepayment handlingCash timing for payroll and vendor paymentsLesson 2Case and feel setup: setting case switches, data tables, and one-click changes for other ideasLook at good ways to test other ideas using case switches, driver cells, and data tables, letting one-click check of low, main, and high cases without breaking main plan ways.
Defining base, downside, and upside casesBuilding scenario selector and driver cellsUsing Excel and Sheets data tables safelyDesigning one-click assumption switchoversTracking and documenting scenario changesLesson 3Customer flow and group making: simple group setup, keep curves, group-based income versus total waysUnderstand how to make customer moves over time using groups, from getting to churn and growth, and match group-based income plans with easier total ways for different business types.
Mapping customer lifecycle and key statesSetting up monthly acquisition cohortsDesigning and applying retention curvesModeling expansion, downgrades, and churnComparing cohort vs aggregate revenueLesson 4Picking the sheet tool and file ways: Google Sheets versus Excel Online, naming and folder setupChoose between Google Sheets and Excel Online for working together, speed, and links, then set clear file naming, versions, and folder setups that keep your 12-month plan in order and checkable.
Comparing Google Sheets and Excel OnlineCollaboration, permissions, and access controlPerformance limits and add-in integrationsFile naming and versioning standardsFolder structure for models and exportsLesson 5Plan strength and reuse: using named ranges, set input table, split of inputs/calcs/outputsUse plan best ways that make your forecast strong and reusable, including named ranges, set input tables, same formulas, and strict split of inputs, calcs, and report outputs.
Using named ranges and structured referencesSeparating inputs, calculations, and outputsColor-coding and labeling modeling conventionsError checks, alerts, and reasonableness testsPreparing the model for reuse and handoffLesson 6Income counts: link between new MRR, growth, churn; monthly MRR roll-forward formulas and ARR changeLearn to link new sales, growth, and churn into a monthly MRR roll-forward, change MRR to ARR, and match income with customer counts, making sure formulas are clear, testable, and easy to check.
Defining MRR, ARR, and related metricsLinking new, expansion, and churned MRRBuilding monthly MRR roll-forward schedulesConverting MRR to ARR and revenue linesReconciling revenue with customer countsLesson 7Sheet setup: suggested tabs (Ideas, Input Board, Monthly Income Plan, Customer Flow/Groups, Cost Plan, P&L Summary, Feel Cases, Check and Logs)Design a clean sheet layout with special tabs for ideas, inputs, income, customers, costs, P&L, and cases, making sure same flows, clear moves, and split between calcs and show.
Standard tab list and naming conventionsAssumptions and input dashboard structureMonthly revenue and customer flow schedulesCost schedules and P&L summary layoutScenario, audit, and log worksheet designLesson 8Main inputs and cases: defining and setting key ideas (starting MRR, new MRR growth, churn, ARPA, price levels, season changes)Define and set the main business drivers that power your plan, including starting MRR, new sales, churn, price levels, ARPA, and season changes, and learn how to set them for easy updates and case use.
Identifying essential revenue driver inputsCapturing starting MRR and opening balancesModeling new MRR growth and sales capacityRepresenting churn, downgrades, and reactivationHandling ARPA, pricing tiers, and seasonalityLesson 9Cost making: making salaries, hosting, marketing, and tools by month; mapping hires and ramp; changing costs tied to use or incomeLearn how to turn headcount plans, seller deals, and marketing plans into a monthly cost model, including fixed and changing costs, hire ramps, and use-based expenses that grow with income or work.
Classifying fixed vs variable operating costsModeling salary, benefits, and payroll taxesPlanning hiring dates, ramps, and backfillsScheduling marketing, software, and hosting spendLinking variable costs to usage or revenue
