---
title: Creating a Company, Project, and Scenario
description: This guide walks you through creating a company, setting up a project, and adding a scenario in PlanGuru. You’ll also learn how to configure your chart of accounts and prepare for forecasting.
---

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# Creating a Company, Project, and Scenario

## This guide walks you through creating a company, setting up a project, and adding a scenario in PlanGuru. You’ll also learn how to configure your chart of accounts and prepare for forecasting.

 

 

---

### 1️⃣ Creating a Company

From the **Home Page**:

1. In the **Select a Scenario** window, click the **green “Create Company” button** at the bottom.
   
   ![Company Button](https://help.planguru.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Company%20Button.png?width=688&height=358&name=Company%20Button.png)
2. Enter:
   
     - **Company Name**
     - **Entity Type**
     - **Geographical Information** (Optional)![Create-a-Company](https://help.planguru.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Create-a-Company.png?width=688&height=199&name=Create-a-Company.png)
3. Select your **Starting Month** for the fiscal year.
   
   > ⚠️ **Important**: This setting is inherited by all projects and scenarios within the company and cannot be changed later.
   
     - Default is **January**
     - Adjust to match your fiscal year

---

### 2️⃣ Creating a Project

![Create-a-Project](https://help.planguru.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Create-a-Project.png?width=688&height=233&name=Create-a-Project.png)After creating your Company, you’ll be prompted to create a Project. Choose from three project types:

| Project Type | Purpose | Common Use |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Budget** | Sets business goals for the year and creates a baseline for comparison | Annual planning |
| **Forecast** | Updates budget assumptions and supports scenario planning month-to-month | Rolling forecasts |
| **Strategic Plan** | Long-term direction with high-level projections | Multi-year strategy |

 

💡 Each option has tooltips that explain its purpose and default settings.  
You can select **one**, **a combination**, or **all three**.

Your selection will:

- Set the default model structure (projected years, monthly vs. annual breakdown)
- Generate a default **Project Name** (you can edit this later)
- Prompt you to specify **organizational structure** (Single Entity; Multi-Departmental available in Free Trial via special request)
- Ask if you use **Account Numbers** (check the box if yes and define your account mask per the provided legend)

![Account-Numbers](https://help.planguru.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Account-Numbers.png?width=651&height=269&name=Account-Numbers.png)

---

### 3️⃣ Adding a Scenario

Once the project is created:

1. Enter a **Scenario Name** (default: *Base Case*)
2. Set the **Budget Year** (first year for projections)
3. Choose **Number of Years** to plan (up to 10 years)
4. Select how many years are **broken down by month** (up to 3 years; remaining are annual totals)
5. Define the **Forecast Month** (first projection month; useful if starting mid-fiscal year)
6. Select **Historical Years** to include (default: 3; up to 5) and whether they are monthly or annual

![Add-Scenario](https://help.planguru.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Add-Scenario.png?width=688&height=230&name=Add-Scenario.png)

> Example: If your fiscal year starts in January but you start in April, set Forecast Month to April so you can include actuals for Jan–Mar.

Click **Submit** to generate your model based on these settings.

---

### 4️⃣ Setting Up Your Chart of Accounts

Once the model is loaded, set up your chart of accounts:

#### **Importing Accounts**

- Use PlanGuru's import integrations with **QuickBooks Online**, **Xero**, or **Excel**  
  *See these separate tutorials for step-by-step instructions: *
  
    - [Import from QuickBooks Online](https://help.planguru.com/knowledge/planguru-app-online/qbo-import?hsLang=en)
    - [Import from Xero](https://help.planguru.com/knowledge/planguru-app-online/xero-import?hsLang=en)
    - [Import from Excel](https://help.planguru.com/knowledge/planguru-app-online/excel-import?hsLang=en)

#### **Creating Accounts Manually**

1. Right-click → **Add Account**
   
   ![Add-Account](https://help.planguru.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Add-Account.png?width=423&height=285&name=Add-Account.png)
2. Enter:
   
     - **Account Number** (if applicable)
     - **Account Description**
     - **Account Type** (e.g., Trade Receivables, Inventory, Other Current Assets)
3. Choosing an **Account Type** will display relevant projection methods.

![Method-Selector](https://help.planguru.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Method-Selector.png?width=688&height=388&name=Method-Selector.png)

---

### 5️⃣ Adding Historical Data

To manually input historical data:

1. Open **Viewing Options**
2. Check **Historical Years**
3. Expand the year and enter numbers in beige cells (beige = editable)

![Historical](https://help.planguru.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Historical.png?width=688&height=284&name=Historical.png)

---

### 6️⃣ Creating Account Groups

To organize accounts:

1. Highlight the accounts
2. Right-click → **Create Group**
3. Assign subaccounts to roll up into their respective parent accounts

This lets you plan and report at both subaccount and parent account levels.

![Grouping](https://help.planguru.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Grouping.png?width=688&height=215&name=Grouping.png)

---

### 7️⃣ Next Steps: Selecting Projection Methods

Once your chart of accounts is ready:

- Begin selecting your **Projection Methods**
- See our [Forecasting & Modeling Overview video](https://help.planguru.com/knowledge/planguru-app-online/budgeting-forecasting-overview?hsLang=en) for detailed guidance

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