To create the predictions that are specific to you and your company, the formula prediction method is available with a wide range of customisation options to support simple and/or complex future events.
Combine certain accounts, reference certain periods, even use the powerful 'If' option to create variable predictions based on real life results.
In each of the financial tabs, you'll see a button to Add manual prediction. Give that a click, then in the Prediction Method dropdown, select Formula.
Where you go with your formula is completely up to you, the tools are there for you to use as you'd like.
Give the prediction a name, this is how it will be shown in Futrli.
Select which account you'll be creating a prediction for.
Set the VAT/GST rate, if it differs from your default.
Set the output frequency, how often will this prediction be made (this can be daily, monthly or annually)
Select which date for the prediction to be stored on.
Build your formula! This help guide runs through your options in more detail, just scroll down to the next section.
Simply click these commands, they'll then be added into the formula you're building.
Set the impact on cash flow.
Single day payment
Single payment (set the date for payment)
Multi: in days (set varies dates from different percentages on payment)
Non cash transfer (remove any cash flow impact, just select the balancing account)
Get a live view of how your new prediction is impacting various accounts in the Accounts impacted tab, as well as using the Formula values used tab to see the specific numbers being used within your formula.
Building your formula
Selecting what to reference
Starting with the basics. To locate what you'd like to reference in your formula, simply type @ to bring up the entire chart of accounts for the organisation in question.
You'll be able to locate individual accounts (such as Rent in the screenshot below), account categories (Expenses), pre-made account groups (Property cost) and even individual predictions that have already been created (Parking space rent).
Basic operators
Adding ( + ), subtracting ( - ), multiplying ( * ) or dividing ( / ) is available with your keyboard or with these shortcuts.
Alongside those you will see LASTMONTH, LASTYEAR and ON DATE.
LASTMONTH: Use this option to reference the data from the previous month. You could then multiple by 1.1 to add 10% to last month, for example.
LASTYEAR: Exactly the same as with referencing the previous month, but the previous year.
ON DATE: The same principle as last month and last year, but more specific. Here you can reference data from a certain number of month and/or years ago, or you can reference a specific month from a specific year. For example:
To reference April 2019, override year with 2019, and month with 04.
To reference one year and five months ago, override year with -1, and month with -5.
Conditionals
The next level of formula forecasting is creating variable outcome 'if' predictions.
To create an 'if' prediction, start by clicking the IF option. This will create the base of the formula, ready for you to override:
IF(condition=true, option A, option B)
For this example, the formula is going to calculate 20% commission if Income is greater than or equal to £50,000, but 10% if it is less than £50,000.
(Please note, the below screenshot is for comparison purposes only.)
The condition is @Income
The equals is replaced by the variable, in this case greater than or equal to
True for this example is £50,000
Option A is the variable if the condition is hit, so Income multiplied by 0.2 to give 20% of the total of Income
Option B is if the condition is not hit, so Income multiplied by 0.1 to give 10% of the total of Income
Functions
A short step to finding commonly required formulas.
To use these pre-built functions, begin by clicking on the option in question. This will create the base of the formula, you will then be able to add the specifics. The four options available are:
SUM
AVG
MIN
MAX
For each, override the condition with what you're looking to reference, then set a date range.
For this example it is the average of Income between January and June 2022 that you'd like to see.
(Please note, the below screenshot is for comparison purposes only.)
Accounts impacted and Formula values used
The secret weapon to creating formulas and having confidence in what is being calculated. These two tabs enable you to see exactly what the impact of the prediction is going to be.
The Accounts impacted tab shows you all accounts that will see movements, from the initial P&L or Balance Sheet account the prediction is being created against, the the VAT/GST, bank and accounts receivable/payable.
The Formula values used tab will display any account being referenced in the formula, very helpful for sense checking.