Startup Financial Model
Startup Financial Model
ff Venture Capital
ffvc.com
@ffvc
About
We developed this model as a simple end-to-end financial model for an early-stage startup,
although it is useful to anyone building a model for a company. The model outputs standard
financial statements and key operating metrics based on a wide range of user inputs, and is highly
customizable and entirely transparent.
Credits
This model was developed by Rodi Blokh in association with ff Venture Capital (www.ffvc.com)
based on a sanitized version of a financial model developed by David Teten (www.teten.com) for
the startups he has run. Rodi is a Berkeley MBA student (Haas MBA '13) and former corporate
banker at Bank of America Merrill Lynch ([email protected]). David is a Partner at ff Venture
Capital, Chair of Harvard Business School Angels of Greater New York, and former Bear Stearns
investment banker ([email protected]). Thank you to Adam Kalamchi (Columbia MBA ’13) for
some initial input on this model.
If you have feedback on the model, contact [email protected] . We are very interested in
suggested additional improvements and will try to reflect them. However, we cannot provide
you with user support.
Instructions
Click on the "Model", "Valuation" and "Funding Rounds" tabs and input relevant data. All input
cells are highlighted yellow with blue-colored text.
To add personnel, add additional rows in the Personnel Assumptions section. Select the columns
where an employee starts to correspond with personnel hiring timing.
The WACC section on the "Valuation" tab and the entire "Funding Rounds" tab is independent of
the "Model" and requires independent inputs.
Non-input cells should not be altered by inexperienced users. Cell A4 on the "Model" tab acts as
a check of the model and will display an error message if the model logic is broken. This error
message tests for most, but definitely not all possible errors.
Model Logic
Revenues in the model are arbitrarily assumed to be based primarily on employee headcount.
However, this is certainly not an accurate approach for all ventures, and in fact as venture
capitalists we prefer companies in which the correlation between headcount and revenues is very
low. A separate row labeled "Other Revenues" may be more relevant for modeling revenue
projections for your particular company.
The default approach to cash shortfalls is a draw-down of the revolver account. For most early-
stage startups, the company doesn't have a bank revolver, but uses the principal's credit cards as
a de facto revolver. This account has no max limit in the model.
The model utilizes a cash flow sweep. Any excess cash flow after dividends and minimum cash
balance is applied to repayment of the revolver account. Any additional cash is applied to the
balance sheet cash balance. You can manually make assumptions about dividends as you wish,
but we assume dividends are zero in perpetuity.
The model utilizes a cash flow sweep. Any excess cash flow after dividends and minimum cash
balance is applied to repayment of the revolver account. Any additional cash is applied to the
balance sheet cash balance. You can manually make assumptions about dividends as you wish,
but we assume dividends are zero in perpetuity.
Any discrepancy in assets vs. liabilities and stockholder's equity at day 1 is applied to the revolver
account.
The model treats all interest rate assumptions as nominal interest rates given this is typically the
interest rate quoted by lending institutions to small business entrepreneurs for revolvers (credit
cards) and bank loans. As such, we convert the annual interest rate into a monthly interest rate
using the formula Rate / 12. If the interest rate being used is an effective interest rate, the
monthly interest rate calculation should be adjusted to (1 + Rate) ^ (1/12) - 1.
The model calculates interest income and interest expense using beginning balances for the
period only. The formula applied is (2 x Beginning Balance x Rate) / (2 - Rate).
This model assumes standard taxation for a C-Corporation using net operating loss carryforwards
and a 40% tax rate. If you structure the company as an LLC, note that LLCs do not pay corporate
tax unless they elect to (which is unlikely). However, the owners of the LLC (when combined with
the underlying asset) would face a similar financial environment to that of a conventional
corporation, so this model is still applicable even if the entity is an LLC.
Annual Nominal Interest Rate earned on Cash 0.5% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.1% 0.1% 0.1% 0.1% 0.1% 0.1% 0.1% 0.1% 0.1% 0.1% 0.1% 0.1% 0.1% 0.1% 0.1% 0.1% 0.1% 0.1% 0.1% 0.1% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% Ok Ok Ok Ok Ok
Annual Nominal Interest Rate on Short-Term Debt 3.5% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.9% 0.9% 0.9% 0.9% 0.9% 0.9% 0.9% 0.9% 0.9% 0.9% 0.9% 0.9% 0.9% 0.9% 0.9% 0.9% 0.9% 0.9% 0.9% 0.9% 3.5% 3.5% 3.5% 3.5% 3.5% Ok Ok Ok Ok Ok
Annual Nominal Interest Rate on Long-Term Debt 5.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 1.4% 1.4% 1.4% 1.4% 1.4% 1.4% 1.4% 1.4% 1.4% 1.4% 1.4% 1.4% 1.4% 1.4% 1.4% 1.4% 1.4% 1.4% 1.4% 1.4% 5.5% 5.5% 5.5% 5.5% 5.5% Ok Ok Ok Ok Ok
Principal Payments on LTD as a % of LTD 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 100.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 100.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 100.0% 0.0% Ok Ok Ok Ok Ok
Federal Tax Rate 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% Ok Ok Ok Ok Ok
State Tax Rate 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% Ok Ok Ok Ok Ok
# of Days Sales Outstanding ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) ( 15) Ok Ok Ok Ok Ok
# of Days Payables Outstanding ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) Ok Ok Ok Ok Ok
# of Days Inventory Outstanding ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) ( 30) Ok Ok Ok Ok Ok
Personnel Assumptions
Initial Funding
Existing Common Shares ( 1,000,000) ( - ) ( - ) ( - ) ( - ) ( - ) ( - ) ( 1,000,000)
Existing Preferred Shares ( - ) ( - ) ( - ) ( - ) ( - ) ( - ) ( - ) ( - )
Existing Options Granted ( - ) ( - ) ( - ) ( - ) ( - ) ( - ) ( - ) ( 200,000) ( 200,000)
Total Cumulative Shares ( 1,000,000) ( - ) ( - ) ( - ) ( - ) ( - ) ( - ) ( 1,200,000)
WACC (SECTION INDEPENDENT OF PRIMARY MODEL; YELLOW CELLS BELOW REQUIRE INDIVIDUAL INPUTS) (1)
(1) Choosing WACC for an early-stage startup is a highly arbitrary exercise. A good baseline is to reflect the average IRR of angel investors. According to three studies of early-stage investors (http://goo.gl/Wcoiw ) , these returns range from 18-37% to 27% to 30%.
(2) Initial placeholder based on the 10-Year Treasury Yield as of 9/9/2011.
(3) Initial placeholder based on the difference between the 1928-2010 arithmetic average return of stocks (Damodaran, January 2011) and the 10-Year Treasury Yield as of 9/9/2011.
(4) Available on Yahoo! Finance under "Key Statistics" for publicly-traded companies .
Valuation