Pro Excel Financial Modeling: Building Models for Technology Startups (Expert's Voice in Office) [Paperback]

Tom Sawyer (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1430218983 | ISBN-13: 978-1430218982 | Publication Date: March 26, 2009 | Edition: 1

Financial Modeling is a key part of any successful business, large or small. This book introduces the reader to the core ideas behind the successful financial modeling of technology startups and small businesses.

The book begins by providing the reader with extensive instruction in the thinking behind good financial models before explaining how best this thinking can be communicated to investors. The remainder of the book concentrates on providing detailed examples and templates of how successful models can be built in Microsoft Excel to equip the reader with everything they need to know to build models of their own.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Mr. Sawyer has a proven track record as a principal architect, leader, and strategist for successful business and technology ventures. He currently provides management and technology consulting services to technology focused enterprises, specializing in early stage organization, product development, ‘go to market’ strategies and financial modeling. A serial entrepreneur, Mr. Sawyer founded and sold an Internet data storage dot com, served as President of a regional Colorado Internet Service Provider where he directed the strategic sale of the company, and served as the first President of Mover's Suite Software, today the largest enterprise software and consulting company in the moving industry. He also served as Chief Technology Officer and on the Board of Directors of Guardian ProStar, a provider of advanced GPS/GIS services to the utility industry. Tom gained Fortune 100 senior management experience as Director of Information Technology for the Martin Marietta Space Launch Systems Titan IV missile program where he received the Outstanding Achievement Award for Information Technology Management in his last year of service. Prior to his Fortune 100 career, he served in progressively more responsible financial management and financial planning positions in banking, technology services and computer manufacturing. He holds a BSBA degree in Finance from the University of Florida.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Apress; 1 edition (March 26, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1430218983
• ISBN-13: 978-1430218982
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,001,368 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Tom Y. Sawyer is a serial entrepreneur, business strategist, author, inventor, coach and speaker. In the mid 90's he left a perfectly good corporate job (and a steady paycheck) to become a high tech entrepreneur. He has a proven track record as a principal architect, leader, and strategist for successful business and technology ventures. Tom is currently President and Managing Partner of RSW Partners, a hybrid marketing and business development consulting company located in Grand Junction, Colorado. He provides management consulting services specializing in organizational strategies, product development, profitability strategies and financial modeling. When he had an opportunity to write a book and share his technology start up experience he dived right in. He studies philosophy, economics and history to balance out his mania for old fashioned capitalist enterprise. He travels the world, teaches meditation and loves to share the excitement of the Wild West outdoors with his three young grandsons.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Best layman's book I've come across for modeling startups, May 17, 2009

By 

Darrell Ross (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Pro Excel Financial Modeling: Building Models for Technology Startups (Expert's Voice in Office) (Paperback)

I've been searching for a book like this for quite a while.

I'm not a CPA.....I'm a software guy. More specially, I run a software development firm. In recent past, five of my clients have been raw start-ups, where they have enlisted my firm to help create their product. As their trusted advisor, I get to peek at their financial models. In some cases, I have to help them create components of their models, especially as they forecast out their product development costs.

There aren't many resources for entrepreneurs to help them do a comprehensive financial model in excel. I've come across a few websites offering pre-built excel models. But they definitely lack the depth that is presented in this book. A couple of my clients have spent waaay too much money with CPAs to turn out lack-luster, hard to follow, models. I will start handing this out to my clients and save them money.

The only knock I have towards the book is that it is geared towards product-based ventures. I didn't see much support for services-based or subscription-based internet offerings.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a must read for all financial model developers!, April 20, 2009

By 

M. Salogga - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Pro Excel Financial Modeling: Building Models for Technology Startups (Expert's Voice in Office) (Paperback)

This is a must read for anyone attempting to develop a comprehensive financial model of their business. While the book is focused on technology startups, you will find that it is very applicable to many other business and at different stages other than startup. It is easy to read with real life explanations as to why each section is important and the critical connection the model has to real parts of the business. This one will be a key reference on my bookshelf for a long time (right next to my college statistics text).

The best part of this book is the structure that Tom has chosen. With detailed explanation of why each section of the model is important followed by examples of the spreadsheets, charts and process flowcharts, each chapter is finished off with detailed exercises that walk you through the steps to create what you have just covered. You'll be modeling in no time!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great resource for entrepreneurs, April 10, 2009

By 

C. Reddin (Grand Junction, CO United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Pro Excel Financial Modeling: Building Models for Technology Startups (Expert's Voice in Office) (Paperback)

Pro Excel Financial Modeling is an excellent work. The Excel model is wonderfully compressive and detailed. It puts all the tools you need to analyze business growth in one place. The book is easy to read and tracks you step by step through the Excel model. This book is a great resource for all growing companies, not just technology-based organizations.