Lesson 1Profit and Cash Flow Basics: Simple Monthly Gross Margin and Operating Profit Lines; Basic Cash Flow Items (Deferred Revenue, Collections Delay)Create simple yet useful monthly profit and cash views, covering gross margin, operating profit, and main cash flow factors like collections delay, deferred revenue, and payment times for big expense types in Zambian business.
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 2Scenario and Sensitivity Setup: Setting Up Scenario Switches, Data Tables, and One-Click Changes for Other AssumptionsLook at useful ways to test other assumptions with scenario switches, driver cells, and data tables, allowing one-click checks of low, base, and high cases without messing up the main model logic for remote Zambian finance.
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 & Group Modelling: Simple Group Setup, Retention Patterns, Group-Based Revenue vs Total MethodsGrasp how to model customer shifts over time using groups, from getting to churn and growth, and compare group-based revenue forecasts with easier total ways for various business types in Zambia.
Mapping customer lifecycle and key statesSetting up monthly acquisition cohortsDesigning and applying retention curvesModeling expansion, downgrades, and churnComparing cohort vs aggregate revenueLesson 4Picking the Spreadsheet Platform and File Rules: Google Sheets vs Excel Online, Naming and Folder SetupChoose between Google Sheets and Excel Online for teamwork, speed, and links, then set clear file names, versions, and folder setups to keep your 12-month forecast neat and checkable in Zambian remote work.
Comparing Google Sheets and Excel OnlineCollaboration, permissions, and access controlPerformance limits and add-in integrationsFile naming and versioning standardsFolder structure for models and exportsLesson 5Model Strength and Reuse: Using Named Ranges, Structured Input Table, Split of Inputs/Calcs/OutputsUse best ways to make your forecast tough and reusable, with named ranges, structured input tables, steady formulas, and clear split of inputs, calculations, and report outputs for Zambian teams.
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 6Revenue Calculations: Link Between New MRR, Growth, Churn; Monthly MRR Roll-Forward Formulas and ARR ChangeLearn to join new sales, growth, and churn into a monthly MRR roll-forward, change MRR to ARR, and match revenue with customer numbers, making formulas clear, testable, and easy to check in Zambia.
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 7Workbook Structure: Suggested Tabs (Assumptions, Input Dashboard, Monthly Revenue Schedule, Customer Flow/Groups, Cost Schedule, P&L Summary, Sensitivity Scenarios, Check & Logs)Plan a neat workbook layout with special tabs for assumptions, inputs, revenue, customers, costs, P&L, and scenarios, ensuring steady flows, easy navigation, and split between calculations and shows for remote Zambian use.
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 Scenarios: Defining and Organising Key Assumptions (Starting MRR, New MRR Growth, Churn, ARPA, Pricing Levels, Season Changes)Define and organise the main business drivers for your forecast, like starting MRR, new sales, churn, pricing levels, ARPA, and season changes, and learn to structure them for easy updates and scenario use in Zambia.
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 Modelling: Modelling Salaries, Hosting, Marketing, and Tools by Month; Mapping Hires and Ramp; Variable Costs Tied to Use or RevenueLearn to turn staff plans, supplier deals, and marketing plans into a monthly cost model, with fixed and variable costs, hiring ramps, and use-based expenses that grow with revenue or work in Zambian contexts.
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
