Getting Started Guide
Learn the fundamentals of FinanceModel and build your first model.
Reading time: ~10 minutes
1. Introduction
What FinanceModel Helps You Do
FinanceModel is a structured financial modeling platform that helps you build, analyze, and share professional financial models. It provides pre-built model templates, calculation engines, scenario analysis, and export capabilities.
Who This Guide Is For
This guide is for analysts, finance professionals, and business users who want to build or review financial models. Whether you're creating a valuation, building a forecast, or analyzing investment returns, this guide will help you understand the platform's core workflow.
What You'll Learn
- How to navigate the core workflow from data to outputs
- How to build and configure your first model
- How to use Finny, the AI assistant, effectively
- How to generate and export professional outputs
2. Core Workflow Overview
The FinanceModel workflow follows a structured path from data input to professional outputs. Understanding this flow will help you work efficiently and produce reliable results.
Upload Documents or Data
Import existing spreadsheets, financial statements, or raw data. The platform accepts common formats including Excel files and CSV data.
Review Extracted Information
Verify that imported data has been correctly parsed and mapped. Make adjustments as needed before proceeding to modeling.
Build and Explore the Financial Model
Configure your model by setting assumptions, defining inputs, and reviewing calculations. The platform handles the calculation logic automatically.
Use Scenarios and Sensitivities
Test different assumptions and analyze how changes affect outputs. Create multiple scenarios to compare outcomes side by side.
Generate Exports
Export your model and results to Excel, Word, or PowerPoint formats for sharing with stakeholders and further analysis.
Each step builds on the previous one. You can move back and forth as needed, but following this general flow will help you work efficiently.
3. First Model: Step-by-Step
Building your first model involves four key stages. Focus on understanding what you're doing at each stage and why it matters.
Step 1: Create a Model
Start by selecting a model type that matches your analysis goal. FinanceModel offers templates for valuation, forecasting, transaction analysis, and more. Choose a template that aligns with what you're trying to accomplish—this determines the structure and calculations available to you.
Step 2: Add Inputs
Populate the model with your data and assumptions. Inputs include historical data, growth rates, margins, discount rates, and other variables specific to your model type. Clear, well-documented inputs make your model easier to review and update.
Step 3: Review Outputs
Once inputs are configured, the model calculates outputs automatically. Review key metrics, charts, and summary tables to understand the results. Check that outputs appear reasonable given your inputs.
Step 4: Validate Results
Before relying on outputs, verify that the model behaves as expected. Test edge cases, compare against known benchmarks, and review calculation logic. Validation is essential—models are tools that depend on the quality of inputs and assumptions.
Important
Financial models produce outputs based on the inputs and assumptions you provide. Always validate results independently before using them for decisions. The platform does not guarantee the accuracy of outputs.
4. Working with Finny
Finny is the AI assistant built into FinanceModel. Finny can help you work more efficiently, but understanding its role and limitations is important.
What Finny Helps With
- Explaining calculations and model logic
- Guiding you through workflows and features
- Suggesting inputs based on context
- Answering questions about your model
- Helping troubleshoot issues
When to Rely on Finny
- Learning how to use platform features
- Understanding what a calculation means
- Getting suggestions for next steps
- Finding relevant documentation
When to Validate Independently
- Making final decisions based on model outputs
- Verifying calculation accuracy for critical analyses
- Confirming industry-specific assumptions
- Preparing outputs for external stakeholders
For more details, see How Finny Works and the AI Usage Disclosure.
5. Outputs & Exports
FinanceModel generates structured outputs that you can review in the platform or export for use elsewhere.
What Outputs Are Available
- Summary metrics — Key figures like valuation, returns, and margins
- Detailed schedules — Full calculation breakdowns by period
- Charts and visualizations — Graphical representations of results
- Scenario comparisons — Side-by-side analysis of different cases
- Sensitivity tables — Impact of changing key assumptions
When to Export
- Sharing results with colleagues or stakeholders
- Archiving a point-in-time snapshot of your analysis
- Performing additional analysis in other tools
- Creating presentations or reports
Export Formats
- Excel (.xlsx) — Full model with formulas intact
- Word (.docx) — Narrative summary and key findings
- PowerPoint (.pptx) — Presentation-ready slides
Using Exports Responsibly
Exported files reflect the state of your model at the time of export. If you update inputs or assumptions later, remember to re-export to ensure stakeholders have the latest version. Always review exports before sharing to confirm they contain the intended information.
For detailed export instructions, see Exports (Excel / Word / PPT).
6. What to Do Next
Now that you understand the basics, explore these topics to deepen your knowledge: