Rolling the Forecast Forward

Rolling Your Forecast Forward

Forecasting isn’t a one-and-done event—it’s a continuous, living process. As time passes and new actual data rolls in, you need to update your timeline. CompassForecasting handles this complex process with a single click using the Roll Forecast Forward button (found in the Utilities menu on the sidebar).

When Should I Roll Over?

You should roll your forecast forward when a month completely finishes, and you have fully reconciled your accounts in Xero.

Example: If your current forecast starts in November, you should hit the Roll Forward button in early December, once November’s books are closed in Xero.

(Note: The system has built-in protections preventing you from rolling forward into a strictly future period, ensuring your timeline stays connected to reality).

What Happens Behind the Scenes?

When you click the Roll Forward button, several powerful automated actions happen instantly:

1. The Snapshot (Hidden Sheet)

Before the system changes a single number on your worksheet, it takes a complete copy of exactly what you originally forecasted for that month. It saves this data into a hidden spreadsheet tab called System_Snapshots.

• Why? It keeps a permanent, tamper-proof record of what you predicted, allowing the system to compare your past guesses against reality.
• The Golden Rule: Do not unhide, edit, or delete the System_Snapshots tab. This hidden sheet is critical; if you ever roll forward by mistake, this hidden data is what allows the “Undo Last Rollover” button to magically restore your old forecast!

2. Converting Forecast to Actuals

The system takes the first “Forecast” column on your worksheet and permanently converts it into an “Actual” column. It highlights the column in blue, marking it as “Rolled”, and completely overwrites your old formulas and manual predictions with the hard, actual numbers pulled directly from Xero for that month. (During this step, the system also scans Xero for any brand-new accounts that didn’t exist last month, and will alert you if it finds any so you can add them to your forecast).

3. Extending the Timeline

Because one month just became the past, your future runway just got shorter. To fix this, the system automatically appends a brand new Forecast month at the far right end of your spreadsheet. This ensures your total forecasting horizon stays exactly as long as you originally planned.

The Variance Report

The most powerful part of the rollover process is the automatic generation of the Variance Report (which appears as a new tab called Actual vs Forecast).

Because the system securely stored your original prediction in the hidden Snapshot sheet, it can now mathematically compare those old predictions against the new, real numbers it just fetched from Xero.

This report highlights exactly where your business performed better (or worse) than you expected. It’s the ultimate tool for holding yourself accountable and refining your future predictions.

Example: If you consistently notice in the Variance Report that your actual “Repairs” expenses are always $500 higher than you forecasted, you know it’s time to increase your baseline assumptions for the coming months!

(Note: If you ever need to manually force the system to rebuild this comparison, you can click Refresh Variance Report in the Utilities menu).