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How to Conduct a Plan Vs Actual Analysis With Spreadsheets

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I’ve spent decades working with plan v. I used plan vs. actual analysis once a month, comparing forecasts and budgets to actual results since I started Palo Alto Software back in the 1980s. Forecasting and budget math is usually simple. actual in spreadsheets. For the record, this method still works.

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How to Forecast Sales

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Sales forecasting is much easier than you think, and much more useful than you imagine. You review and revise your forecast regularly. Since sales are intimate with costs and expenses, the forecast helps you budget and manage. Since sales are intimate with costs and expenses, the forecast helps you budget and manage.

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How to Write a Business Plan

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You’ve reviewed what a business plan is , and why you need one to start and grow your business. It’s time to dig into the process of actually writing a business plan. In this step-by-step guide, I’ll take you through every stage of writing a business plan that will actually help you achieve your goals.

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How to Get the Most Out of a Sample Business Plan

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The basic idea of a sample business plan makes perfect sense. If you haven’t done a business plan before, a sample plan gives you an instant idea of what you should include, how to structure it, and even what to write. Here’s how to get the most of any sample business plan.

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How to Forecast Sales

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First, allow me to deal with a very common problem: Business owners are often afraid to forecast sales. I was a vice president of a market research firm for several years, doing expensive forecasts, and I saw many times that there’s nothing better than the educated guess of somebody who knows the business well.

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Episode 9: Lean Business Planning with Tim Berry | The Bcast

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This week Peter and Jonathan talk to Tim Berry, founder of Palo Alto Software, about lean business planning, strategy, tactics, specifics (milestones), and the forecast. Free Download: The One Page Business Pitch Template. Strategy, Tactics, Specifics, and the Forecast – (11:45). Listen to episode 8 here.

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The Different Types of Business Plans

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Business plans go by many names: Strategic plans, operational plans, internal plans, and many others. Lately, I’ve been focusing on lean business plans. There are also one-page business plans, although those are really more summaries. Business plans for startups.