The Forecast Model supports leadership conversations in identifying and setting Market Center budget goals for the coming year.  While one person, such as the MCA, may be responsible for entering the information, the Forecast Model is a tool for the entire leadership team. Use the Market Center Multi-year Trends report to find key numbers that will need to be entered into the worksheet. 

• Access the 2024 US and Canada Market Center Forecast worksheet (Coming soon)
• Access your Market Center Multi-year Trend Report

Once you have completed the worksheet, submit the goals to your Region per their guidelines. Once the Region has approved your goals, you will enter your budgets into AccountEdge/Lonewolf during the year end process.

Setting Your Budget

As you complete this worksheet, you may copy and paste values from one cell to another.

Warning: Do not drag a value from one cell to another. This action will corrupt formulas. You can copy and paste a value to another cell, just don’t click and drag a value.

Step 1: Info Tab

Enter your Market Center Name and Number, then select the accounting package (accounting software) that you use for your market center (AccountEdge or Lonewolf). The entry year should be entered, ensure 2024 is entered. This selection will set the account number format displayed on the budget tab.

Step 2: Production Metrics

1. Units:   
   Using your Multi-Year Trends Report, enter the required information.  For 2021 and 2022 enter the number from the total column for that metric.   For 2023, using the YOY percentage, project where you expect to end 2023 (2022 Total increased/decreased based on YOY percentage for 2023).  After that enter your 2024 Goal.
   
   Add the current year, as well as the past two years from your Multi-Year Trends Report. Export your Trend report to an Excel workbook, and then copy and paste values into the fields highlighted in yellow on the Forecast Model.
   
   
2. Average Price:
   Using your Multi-Year Trends Report, use the numbers in the total column for the given year and divide your volume by the units to determine average price.  Enter the calculated average in the designated cell.
   
   
3. Volume:
   This number is calculated based on units x average price.
   
   
4. Financial Metrics:
   Using your Multi-Year Trends Report, enter the requested percentages. GCI, Royalty and Company Dollar all have specific percentages calculated for you on the Multi-Year Trends Report report. For Profit Share as a % of GCI, divide your total profit share for the year by the total GCI for the year.
   
   
5. Financial Goals:
   These numbers are calculated based on your entries above. If you need to adjust your 2023 projected amount, you will need to change your estimated units, average price, or one of the financial metrics to affect your 2023 Projected Financial Goals.

Step 3: Upcoming Year Budget

1. For 2022 enter the values based on your final 2022 Income Statement.
2. For 2023, use your most recent transmitted income statement plus the budgeted amounts for the months remaining.
   
   NOTE:  If you have concessions or E&O in your COGS section on your 2021 or 2022 financials, add that amount to either listings commissions or sales commissions (or split evenly between the two) in the Cost of Sales section.  Company Dollar is the main goal, the sales data is there only for your accounting program to calculate out Company Dollar for your budgets.
   
   
3. Enter your 2024 budget amount for each expense account.
   
   NOTE:  For any line item with an increase in the budget, the percentage change field will be red, decreases in budget less than 10% will be yellow, and decreases greater than 10% will be green. (Income accounts are the reverse, 10% increases in income will be green, etc.).