Definitive Business Plan, Second Edition, The

Chapter 7. About These Numbers

'The time has come', the walrus said, 'to speak of other things'

Varying views of the same numbers

The way that bean counters think

The planning horizon

Looking back

Estimating the present

Crystal ball gazing

Software tools

Putting it to good use

“The bank's accounts show its true position. The actual position is a little better still.”

—Chairman, London and County Bank, The Economist, February 1901

Probably, this is the best part of the book. We are about to arrive at the bottom line. How much money is going to be spent? How much funding is required? For commercial ventures, how much profit will be made? We also see how mischievous planners sometimes massage the figures and hide away the bad news.

I promise a gentle start. ...