Lenders and grant panels do not want a hopeful percentage on last year's sales. They want to see what drives revenue, where costs sit, when cash is tightest and what happens if sales fall. This template sets out a plain three-year forecast in that order, starting with the business today and ending with notes on terms and reforecasting.

The sample follows Ironvale Group, a café and wholesale bakery business asking for a £250,000 loan for a central kitchen. It builds sales from covers and spend, shows a monthly cost variance, a three-year cash flow that ties to its totals, and a downside case with 20% less sales. Replace the drivers, tables and notes with your own, keeping the totals tied to cash.