CREATE a basic Excel spreadsheet to do this.

Include a column for each month, as well as a 'total' column. Include a row for sales and a row for each type of expense. Also include a row for sales less cost of goods, a row for total operating expenses, and a row for gross profile.

Use the following (very simplified) numbers in creating your pro-forma income statement:

Sales start at $1000 for January and increase by 10% per month (so, February sales will be $1100, March sales will be $1210, etc.).

The venture uses a markup of 100%, so the cost of goods is 50% of the sales amount (so, January cost of goods is $500, February cost of goods is $550, etc.).

The venture pays a salary of $500/month for the first 6 months, then hires an additional employee in July and pays $1000/month for the rest of the year.

The venture pays a total overhead cost (including rent, utilities, and insurance) of $50/month.

Payroll taxes start out at $20/month for January-June, then increase to $40/month for July-December.

The venture's assets depreciate by $10/month.

Office expenses are $15/month for January-April, increase to $25/month for May-August, and go back down to $15/month for September-December