Business Planning and Strategic Forecasting

In this course, you will develop a strong foundation in business and financial forecasting, with practical skills you can apply immediately in real-world scenarios.

You will learn the purpose and function of forecasting and understand how forecasts support strategic planning, operational decisions, and financial performance management. The course covers key forecasting guidelines, helping you improve forecast accuracy, consistency, and reliability across different business contexts.

You will explore products, markets, and situations that are difficult to forecast, including demand volatility, new product introductions, and uncertain market conditions, and learn techniques to manage and reduce forecasting risk. The course also explains how business plans and critical variables influence forecasts, ensuring alignment between strategy, operations, and marketing.

You will gain hands-on knowledge in forecasting sales, including demand drivers, trend analysis, and practical forecasting approaches. Building on this, you will learn how to forecast profit, linking revenue, costs, and operational assumptions.

Industry-based insights and practical forecasting tips are included to bridge theory and real-world application. You will develop a clear understanding of EBITDA, why it is widely used as a performance metric, and how it supports decision-making. Finally, you will learn how to build, analyze, and interpret EBITDA forecasts to support budgeting, planning, and performance tracking.