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What is a sales forecast in a business plan?
A sales forecast is a prediction of future performance for any business that sells goods and services. This forecasting tool is commonly included in business plans, as it helps to analyze the current state of the industry, identify potential risks and opportunities, prepare budgets, and plan for overall growth.
A sales forecast typically includes the following components: sales goals, customer demand estimates (quantity/volume or revenue), pricing points/strategies, market trends analysis (including competition), and customer segmentation information. For instance, a retail business might include product-specific forecasts based on inventory levels; while a service-oriented company may include customer service statistics as part of its forecasting strategy.
It’s important to remember that while there are certainly best practices when it comes to creating an effective sales forecast – such as basing assumptions off past performance and being mindful of seasonal downtimes – predicting future performance can still be largely unpredictable. Therefore it’s important to review your forecasts regularly and make adjustments where necessary in order to remain competitive in your industry. Ultimately this will give you the best chance of staying ahead of any changes or trends in consumer behavior before they occur.
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