Students will construct a set of forecasted financial statements for a start-up business.

Note: Please read the documents related to forecasting financial statements under Documents & Resources in Week 4. Additionally, search online for information regarding forecasting financial statements. [Dont skip this step! It will provide background context and insight into what youll be doing for this assignment.] You will notice that there are many methods to use to forecast financials. Some are quantitative while others are qualitative. Often times, a mix of the two are used. There is no one exact way to perform forecasting.

For the purpose of this assignment, you will be relying on the directions given under Forecasting Assumptions to complete the Excel workbook.

Case Overview

Janelle Higgins has decided to start her own event planning business (JH Events) in the upcoming year. She believes that she has an innovative business model and is seeking a business loan. Therefore, Janelle is in the process of putting together a business plan. As part of her business plan, Janelle must include forecasted financial statements for the first 5 years. The forecasted financial statements to be included are: Income Statement, Balance Sheet, and Statement of Cash Flows.

Forecasting Assumptions

• First year sales are projected to be $150,000 and grow 3% for the next two years and 5% in year 4 and 5.
• Cost of sales are projected to be 45% of revenue in the first year and is expected to grow at the same rate as sales.
• Advertising expenses are projected to be 4% of each years projected revenue.
• Janelle will need to rent equipment for the events she puts on. She has an agreement with a rental company for a flat rate of $500 per month and is sufficient to cover all of her estimated events. Starting in Year 3, she expects to be able to handle more events and the rental rate will increase to $750 per month.
• Janelle plans to start off by hiring 2 people to work the events with her. Each person will be paid $100 per event and is expected to work 4 events per month. After Year 3, Janelle plans to hire 2 additional people. (At this point, each person will be paid $100 per event and is expected to work 3 events per month).
• Office rent is estimated to be a flat rate of $1,200 per month.
• Utilities for the rented office space are estimated to be $300 per month.
• The office space Janelle plans to rent is unfurnished. She plans to purchase $15,000 worth of furniture and fixtures at the beginning of Year 1. The furniture and fixtures will have a useful life of 15 years. Janelle will also need to buy some computers and other office equipment that she will purchase for $10,000 also at the beginning of Year 1. The office equipment will have a useful life of 5 years. Both the furniture and fixtures as well as the equipment will be depreciated on a straight-line basis (Assume zero salvage value for calculations). HINT: Fixed Assets Accumulated Depreciation = Net Fixed Assets
• Janelle is asking for a 3-year bank loan for $60,000. The estimated interest on the loan is 3% (assume simple interest). She will pay the loan back in $20,000 installments starting in Year 2. Interest is due at the end of each year and paid in January of the following year.
• The tax rate for JH Events is 35%. Taxes for the year just ended are payed in the first quarter of the following year.
• Janelle will invest $30,000 of her own money and from family and friends to start the business. This $30,000 investment of capital is also the beginning bank balance of Year 1.
• Schedule of expected year-end balances of selected accounts:

	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5
Accounts Receivable	10,000	12,000	8,000	6,000	10,000
Accounts Payable	2,000	4,000	5,000	6,000	9,000
Customer Deposits	1,500	2,000	3,000	4,000	5,000

• At the end of Year 2, Janelle will purchase an insurance policy to help cover the business. The policy has a term of 3 years and coverage starts at the beginning of Year 3. The policy costs $12,000.
• During Year 3, Janelle plans to personally invest $10,000 of additional capital into the business.