This pro forma template is intended to aid cooperative entrepreneurs (and the developers who serve them) in making a preliminary financial assessment of their worker cooperative startup. Many worker cooperative startups are learning business finances for the first time. This tool offers a framework to think about their business and some labor-saving, pre-built Excel formulas. The spreasheet will ask for assumptions about the business and allow the user to produce a basic Profit and Loss Statement and Cash Flow Statement.
These two financial statements are some of the building blocks needed for a startup loan application. However, every business is different and this tool may need to be adapted and customized for those serious about approaching a lender. DAWI can connect start-up entrepreneurs to local technical assistance or offer some direct support to rural cooperatives and development centers.