Building a Manual Forecast in Castaway
The Coffee Shop exercise is a hands-on introduction to Castaway's modelling capabilities. Using a simple, relatable scenario, you will explore how Castaway builds a three-way forecast from scratch and get a practical sense of what the software can do.
The exercise is presented in two parts and is designed to be completed at your own pace. Download the supporting files attached to this page before you begin.
Exercise Steps
- Building a Simple Forecast
- Dynamic Modelling and Growth Scenarios
The Scenario
You are considering an opportunity to open a new coffee shop in your local area. You have identified a location, sketched out the interior and put together a wish list for equipment. It is now time to build the business case.
You start with a simple Castaway forecast to assess whether the business and investment are financially viable.
Part 1: Building a Simple Forecast
Estimated time: 10-20 minutes
Part 1 focuses on building a forecast quickly from scratch. It covers:
- Creating a Chart of Accounts
- Setting element properties
- Adding forecast data to elements
- Linking elements and using KPIs to forecast results
- Modelling different cash flow behaviours
Part 2: Dynamic Modelling and Growth Scenarios
Estimated time: 10-20 minutes
It is not necessary to proceed to Part 2 immediately — continue when you are ready. Part 2 extends the model built in Part 1 and introduces more advanced modelling options for analysing different growth scenarios. It covers:
- Forecasting based on operational and activity drivers
- Creating Driver elements
- Creating element formulas
Manually building a forecast in Castaway is a great way to develop your understanding of how the software works from the ground up. If you have not yet tried the mapping exercise, start there first:
Any questions as you evaluate Castaway Cloud? Contact the team at: support@castawayforecasting.com