Factors Affecting Sales Forecasting
17 Questions
0 Views

Choose a study mode

Play Quiz
Study Flashcards
Spaced Repetition
Chat to lesson

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What is the main purpose of creating a sales budget?

  • To forecast the cash inflows and outflows for the company
  • To provide the most important forecast for the financial statements (correct)
  • To determine the company's capital structure
  • To set the production targets for the company
  • Which of the following is NOT typically included in a short-term financial plan?

  • Projected capital expenditures
  • Planned acquisitions
  • Projected cash flow from operations (correct)
  • Planned research and development activities
  • Which of the following budgets is used to forecast the company's future cash inflows and outflows?

  • Cash budget (correct)
  • Sales budget
  • Production budget
  • Operating budget
  • What is the primary purpose of preparing pro forma financial statements?

    <p>To forecast the company's future financial performance</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is the most important factor in forecasting a company's sales?

    <p>The company's past sales performance</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of Projected Financial Statements?

    <p>To set overall goals for the company's future performance</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How are sales projections typically calculated?

    <p>By using a combination of internal and external factors</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key step in projecting the cost of sales and operating expenses?

    <p>Identifying variable and fixed costs</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which financial statement may be included in projected financial statements?

    <p>Projected Statement of Cash Flows</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How can one project the cost of sales using a ratio?

    <p>By calculating the percentage of cost to total sales</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What helps determine the growth assumption for forecasting sales?

    <p>Assessment of internal and external factors</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT an external factor that should be considered in forecasting sales?

    <p>Human resources</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is an internal factor that should be considered in forecasting sales?

    <p>Pricing</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the formula for calculating the required production in units?

    <p>Required production in units = Expected Sales + Target Ending Inventories - Beginning Inventories</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to the example, what is Bethany Company's beginning inventory at the start of January?

    <p>50 units</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the target ending inventory that Bethany Company would like to maintain at the end of each month?

    <p>100 units</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How many units should Bethany Company produce in order to fulfill the expected sales?

    <p>325 units</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Financial Planning and Budgeting

    • Financial planning involves considering proposed outlays for fixed assets, research and development activities, marketing and product development actions, capital structure, and major sources of financing.
    • It also includes termination of existing projects, product lines, or lines of business, repayment or retirement of outstanding debts, and any planned acquisitions.

    Short-term Financial Plans

    • Short-term financial plans include setting sales forecasts and other forms of operating and financial data.
    • This translates into operating budgets, cash budgets, and pro forma financial statements.

    Budget Preparation

    • Budget preparation involves:
      • Sales budget
      • Production budget
      • Operating budget
      • Cash budget

    Sales Budget

    • The sales budget is the most important account in making a forecast, as most expenses are correlated with sales.
    • The financial manager must support the sales forecast with reasonable assumptions.

    Projected Financial Statements

    • Projected financial statements are a tool for setting an overall goal of what the company's performance and position will be for and as of the end of the year.
    • They set targets to control and monitor the activities of the company.
    • Projected financial statements include:
      • Projected Income Statement
      • Projected Statement of Financial Position
      • Projected Statement of Cash Flows

    Steps on Financial Statement Projection (Projected Income Statement)

    • Forecast sales based on the assessment of external and internal factors related to the company and historical growth.
    • Forecast cost of sales and operating expenses by identifying variable and fixed costs.

    Forecasting Cost of Sales and Operating Expenses

    • Cost of sales are direct costs associated with the generation of sales.
    • Operating costs are a mix of variable and fixed costs.
    • External and internal factors should be considered in forecasting sales, including:
      • GDP growth rate
      • Interest rate
      • Foreign exchange rate
      • Income tax rates
      • Inflation
      • Competition
      • Economic crisis
      • Regulatory environment
      • Political crisis
      • Internal factors such as pricing, promotion activities, distribution, area/outlet coverage, production capacity, human resources, management style, reputation, and network of the controlling stockholders and financial resources.

    Production Budget

    • A production budget provides information regarding the number of units that should be produced over a given accounting period based on expected sales and targeted level of ending inventories.
    • It is computed as: Required production in units = Expected Sales + Target Ending Inventories - Beginning Inventories.

    Studying That Suits You

    Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

    Quiz Team

    Description

    Learn about the external and internal factors that need to be considered in sales forecasting, including GDP growth rate, interest rate, pricing, promotion activities, production capacity, and more.

    More Like This

    Sales Forecasting Quiz
    10 questions

    Sales Forecasting Quiz

    TerrificKyanite avatar
    TerrificKyanite
    Sales Forecasting Process Overview Quiz
    10 questions
    Sales Forecasting and Participative Budgeting
    30 questions
    Use Quizgecko on...
    Browser
    Browser