Financial projections that lenders actually believe.
The financial plan section is the most scrutinized part of any business plan. Vague numbers get rejected. StartNew generates realistic, structured projections - or builds them from your own statements - complete with charts and assumptions.
Why financial projections are where most plans fail
Optimistic numbers without stated assumptions are the fastest way to lose credibility with a lender or investor. "We'll capture 5% of a $10 billion market in year one" tells a reviewer everything they need to know - that you haven't done the work.
SBA loan reviewers and angel investors look for internal consistency: do your revenue assumptions match your pricing? Do your expense projections reflect the team you say you'll hire? Does your cash flow survive a slow first quarter?
Credible projections start with documented assumptions - and StartNew generates both.What StartNew generates for your financial plan
Key Assumptions
Every projection is only as trustworthy as the assumptions behind it. StartNew documents your key assumptions explicitly - pricing model, customer acquisition rate, average contract value, churn - so reviewers can follow the logic, not just the numbers.
This transparency is what separates plans that get approved from plans that raise red flags.
Revenue Forecast
A month-by-month and annual revenue projection built from your pricing, sales channels, and growth assumptions. StartNew generates a conservative base case alongside upside and downside scenarios - showing reviewers that you've stress-tested your numbers.
For existing businesses, upload your historical statements and let StartNew extrapolate from your actual performance.
Expense Forecast
Fixed and variable cost projections aligned with your operational plan - headcount, technology, facilities, marketing spend, and cost of goods sold. Linked to your revenue forecast so margins and burn rate are automatically calculated.
Lenders want to see that you understand your cost structure before you've spent their money. A detailed expense forecast shows you've done that work.
Net Profit / Loss Forecast
The bottom line - literally. StartNew calculates your projected net profit or loss from your revenue and expense forecasts, and presents it in a clean chart that shows the path to profitability (or the runway you need to get there).
For businesses raising outside capital, showing a realistic timeline to break-even is often more important than showing early profit.
Also see: Cash Flow projections →Financing: Use of Funds & Sources of Funds
If you're raising capital, this is the section that matters most to investors and lenders. It answers two questions directly: where is the money coming from, and exactly how will you spend it?
Use of Funds breaks down the allocation: product development, hiring, marketing, working capital, equipment. A specific breakdown signals operational discipline. "General business purposes" signals the opposite.
Sources of Funds shows your capital stack - founder equity, loans, grants, or outside investment - and how each source is structured.
StartNew generates both sections from your inputs, formatted to lender standards.Already have statements? Upload them.
For businesses with operating history, StartNew accepts uploaded financial statements - CSV or Excel - and automatically builds visual charts from your real data. Your P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow populate directly into the business plan, formatted and ready to present.
No more copying numbers into templates. Upload once, and your financials live in the plan.
FAQ (common questions)
What if I'm a new business with no financial history?
That's the most common case. StartNew generates projections from your business model - pricing, expected sales volume, cost structure - using industry benchmarks as a baseline. You review and adjust them in the editor before submitting.
How many years of projections are included?
The standard plan includes a 3-year projection, which is what most SBA lenders require. The first year is presented month-by-month; years 2 and 3 are annual. You can adjust the time horizon in the editor.
Can I change the assumptions after the plan is generated?
Yes - all projections and assumptions are editable in the cloud-based editor. Adjust any input and the dependent charts and calculations update automatically.
What financial statements are included?
The financial plan includes a Profit & Loss statement, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow statement - all three standard documents that lenders and investors require.
Numbers that tell your story.
Build a financial plan that survives scrutiny - without hiring an accountant.
Build My Financial Plan - Free