Welcome!
Welcome to Castaway Cloud. Thank you for choosing to evaluate our software - our Customer Success team are here to support you throughout the process: support@castawayforecasting.com
What is Castaway?
Castaway is a monthly three-way forecasting platform, built on accounting principles that are applied consistently throughout your model. Unlike single-statement forecasting tools, Castaway produces fully integrated Profit and Loss, Balance Sheet and Cash Flow statements (amongst many other report types) that move together in real time. When you change an assumption or number, the entire model responds dynamically, with every connected balance, cash flow movement and reporting figure updating instantly to reflect the new position.
It connects directly to your accounting system via Xero, MYOB, QuickBooks or Excel, mapping your existing chart of accounts and importing historical data as the foundation for your monthly forecast. From there, a flexible element-based modelling system gives you precise control over how income, costs, assets, liabilities and equity are structured and projected.
Reporting is built in from day one - inbuilt Dashboards, KPIs and Storyboards mean you can start reporting immediately, with powerful custom options also available . Whether you are preparing a forecast for a client, building a business case, stress-testing a growth scenario or presenting to a board, Castaway gives you the tools to do it accurately, efficiently and with confidence in your numbers.
14-Day Free Trail
Castaway offers a 14-day, no-obligation, free trial. No credit card details are required to sign up. The goal of the evaluation is for you to determine whether Castaway's quality, usability and effectiveness meet your needs. To support this, the majority of Castaway's core features are enabled during the evaluation period.
Getting Started
Follow these steps to make the most of your evaluation period:
- Register for an account and activate it - Register for Castaway Cloud
- Log in to Castaway Cloud - Accessing Castaway Cloud
- Set up your first Project - Setting up a New Project
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Work through the evaluation exercises to experience Castaway hands-on:
- Consider Building a file with your own financial data (see below)
- Browse our Help Centre for additional guidance as you explore the product
Evaluating with your Data
If you would like to go beyond the exercises and evaluate Castaway using your own financial data, you can connect your accounting system and begin to build your own file during your evaluation period. This is a great way to assess how Castaway handles your specific chart of accounts, reporting requirements and modelling needs.
For guidance on this please refer to Process: Building your Forecast and the connected articles.
What is Available During Evaluation
Castaway enables the vast majority of its functioning features during evaluation so you can experience the software as fully as possible. The following limitations apply:
| Area | Detail |
|---|---|
| Admin and file functions | Some admin and file functions are limited during evaluation, including printing and exporting from the software. |
| Professional work | Evaluators are not entitled or supported to complete professional client work during an evaluation period. The evaluation is designed for assessment purposes only. |
Webinars & Training
Registration for any of the webinars mentioned below is available here: Cloud Webinars
Introduction Webinars
Free webinars are available to all evaluators and run regularly. Options can include an Intro to Castaway Cloud session and a Castaway Cloud User Group.
Cloud Training Webinars
Castaway Cloud training is available in short, live, instructor-led sessions designed to build practical forecasting skills. Sessions are structured around four courses, each suited to a different stage of your Castaway journey:
| Course | Best Suited For |
|---|---|
| Baseline | New users wanting to understand how Castaway works and follow the build process |
| Build | Users who need to build forecasts. Baseline is a prerequisite. |
| Maintain | Users responsible for end of month or end of year maintenance on existing files. Baseline is a prerequisite. |
| Deliver | Users who need to present, explain and defend a forecast to clients or stakeholders. Baseline is a prerequisite. |
Subscribing
You can purchase a subscription at any time during your evaluation directly in-app. Full access to Cloud continues and all work completed during evaluation is retained: Subscribe to Castaway Cloud
If you choose not to subscribe to Castaway, rest assured that your files and any uploaded information or modelling work will be securely destroyed at the end of the evaluation period.
If you are part of an Organisation that already has a Castaway subscription or evaluation account, do not register for a separate account. Contact your Org Owner and request to be invited to the existing Organisation account instead. Creating a separate account may result in loss of work when you are later transferred to your correct Organisation. Refer to the article 'Defining Access and Invitations' for more detail.