Factors Affecting Sales Forecasting
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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.

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    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.

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