Your First Financial Forecast: A Step-by-Step Guide to Planning the Next 12 Months

Budgeting help for businesses scaling to six or seven figures. Part of the Mac Neal LLC Resource Series: practical, plain-English guides for freelancers, side hustlers and small-business owners.

Inside this guide:

• The difference between a forecast, a budget and a projection
• What you need before you start
• Seven steps: baseline, revenue drivers, costs and hiring, taxes and owner pay, cash flow, scenarios and break-even, and monthly reviews
• How to use your forecast with lenders and investors, and the mistakes to avoid
• Printable templates: revenue drivers, a hiring plan, a 12-month P&L forecast and a monthly variance review

16-page PDF with checklists and printable worksheets. Updated October 2026 for tax year 2026.

General education, not tax or legal advice. Have a question about your own situation? Book a consultation at www.macnealllc.com.