How to Forecast and Plan Your Sales

Introduction

A sales forecast is an essential tool for managing a business of any size. It is a month-by-month prediction of the level of sales you expect to achieve. Most businesses draw up a sales forecast once a year.

Armed with this information you can rapidly identify problems and opportunities - and do something about them.

For example, accurately forecasting your sales and building a sales plan can help you manage your production, staff and financing needs more effectively and possibly avoid unforeseen cashflow problems.

While it's always wise to expect the unexpected, a well-constructed sales plan, combined with accurate sales forecasting, can allow you to spend more time developing your business rather than responding to day-to-day developments in sales and marketing.

This guide shows you how to put together a sales forecast and a sales plan.

Read on to learn more about

• Basic sales forecasts
• Sales assumptions
• Sales forecast development
• Avoiding sales forecast pitfalls
• Creating a sales plan
• Sales forecast case study