Using Percent of Other Accounts Projection Method
The "% of other Accounts" method is perfect for forecasting revenue and expense categories that can be expressed as a % of some other line item.
The % of Other Accounts projection method allows you to forecast an account by making it a percentage of one or more other accounts.
This method is most commonly used for:
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Cost of Sales
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Variable expenses such as employee benefits or payroll taxes
1️⃣ Selecting the Method
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Double-click on the account, or right-click and select Edit.
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Choose % of Other Accounts.
2️⃣ Linking to Accounts
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Select one or more accounts that the chosen account will be based on.
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These can be:
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Individual accounts
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Subtotal groupings
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Section totals (e.g., Total Revenue)
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3️⃣ Entering Percentages
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In the grid, enter the percentage you want to apply.
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Example: Set 25% of a revenue line item.
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Right-click → Copy to Right to apply the same % to all months.
4️⃣ Reviewing Historical Relationships
The grid also displays:
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Historical monthly percentages
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Calculated averages across years
These insights help you choose a realistic rate based on actual past performance.
This method is especially powerful for seasonal businesses.
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Instead of applying a flat annual % average,
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You can replicate monthly percentage patterns from prior years.
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This creates more precise forecasts that align with seasonal revenue fluctuations.
Example:
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Historical data shows costs average 45% of revenue.
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Use this as a guide for setting future projections.
6️⃣ Month-to-Use Setting
At the top of the method window, choose which month’s values to base the calculation on:
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Current Month
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Prior Month
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Subsequent Month
Applying the Method
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After linking accounts and setting percentages, click Update.
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The forecasted account will now move in sync with its linked accounts.
Example:
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Revenue rises from March through June.
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Cost account (25% of revenue) increases proportionally.