Incentivizing Sales People - Multiple Scenario Planning with Comparison Visuals

SmartHelping / Sales Compensation / Google Sheets

Sales Commission Scenario Planner

Compare fixed and scaled commission plans across different sales or gross-profit levels. See salesperson payouts, the amount remaining for the company, and the effect of changing performance targets and commission rates.

Fixed vs. scaled ratesUp to 5 commission buckets5 comparison levels2 analysis tabs
Sales Commission Scenario Planner product artwork
$45One-time purchase / Google Sheets template
Add Sales Commission Planner to Cart

Download includes the Google Sheets link. Open it and choose File > Make a copy.

Immediate download after purchase. By purchasing, you agree to the Terms of Service.

See the planner in action

Walk through the commission comparison.

Open the template screenshots

Two commission approaches

Compare a fixed percentage with a scaled commission plan.

Fixed commission rate

Apply one percentage to the selected commission base. Payouts increase as the salesperson generates more gross profit or revenue.

Scaled commission rate

Define up to five performance buckets with commission rates that increase at higher attainment levels. Compare the resulting payout and company amount with the fixed-rate approach.

Two analysis tabs

Review one result, then compare five performance levels.

Single-result comparison

Enter a revenue and gross-profit result to compare fixed and scaled commissions, including the gross profit remaining for the company after commission.

Sensitivity comparison

Compare commission payouts and company amounts at five revenue or gross-profit levels. Visuals show how the two commission structures behave as performance changes.

Plan the performance targets and payout structure

Compare salesperson earnings and company results together.

Set the performance buckets

Use historical results and sales goals to choose the dollar thresholds for your commission structure.

Adjust the commission rates

Compare the fixed rate with the scaled rates assigned to your buckets, then review the difference in salesperson payouts.

Review the amount retained

Compare the company’s remaining gross profit after commission at different production levels. The analysis shows the outcomes of the performance assumptions you enter.

Choose the commission base

Use gross profit or configure a revenue-based comparison.

Gross-profit-based commissions

Use the default gross-profit focus when that measure is available. Compare commissions with the gross profit generated and the amount remaining after the payout.

Revenue-based commissions

Set revenue and gross profit to the same amount at the top of the Model tab, equivalent to a 100% gross-profit rate. Change the gross-profit labels to revenue. The resulting comparison shows revenue remaining after commission.

Illustrative comparison

Compare total dollars after commission as well as the rate.

ScenarioGross profitCommission rateCommission payoutGross profit after commission
Lower production$3,000,0005%$150,000$2,850,000
Higher production$5,000,00010%$500,000$4,500,000

In this illustration, the higher-production scenario leaves $1,650,000 more gross profit after commission. These amounts are before other company expenses. Use your own performance assumptions to compare proposed plans.

Google Sheets access

Make your own editable copy after purchase.

Open the supplied template link

The download contains a Word document with the view-only Google Sheets link. Open the link and select File > Make a copy to create your editable version.

Reuse the analysis

Duplicate the analysis tabs when you want separate comparisons for additional salespeople. You can continue in Google Sheets or export your copy to Excel if needed.

Also included in the HR bundle

Explore more workforce planning and employee management tools.

HR Management Templates

Browse tools for employee records, schedules, workforce planning, payroll, commissions, and performance tracking.

View the HR bundle

Further reading

Explore the thinking behind financial incentives.

Incentivizing with Money: Employee Motivation Strategies

Read more about financial incentives and employee motivation.

Read the article

Questions before you start

A few useful details.

How many commission buckets are supported?

The scaled commission structure supports up to five performance buckets.

What does the sensitivity tab compare?

It compares salesperson commissions and company amounts at five different revenue or gross-profit levels under fixed and scaled commission structures.

Can I base the analysis on revenue?

Yes. Set the revenue and gross-profit amounts equal and update the labels to revenue. The analysis then compares commission payouts and revenue remaining after those payouts.

Can I use it for multiple salespeople?

Yes. Duplicate the analysis tabs to create separate comparisons for additional salespeople.

How do I edit the Google Sheets template?

Open the link in the downloaded document and select File > Make a copy. Work in your own copy of the template.

Compare payouts and company results

Build a clearer sales commission plan.

Sales Commission Scenario Planner — $45, with Google Sheets access.

Get the Sales Commission Planner

B2B/B2C SaaS Financial Model - Varying Contract Terms

SmartHelping / SaaS & Recurring Revenue / Excel

B2B/B2C SaaS Financial Model

Forecast three customer tiers with different contract lengths, renewal rates, and contract values. Connect customer growth and collection timing to staffing, financial statements, cash flow, and investment returns.

5-year forecast3 customer tiers1–60 month contractsMonthly + annual financials
B2B and B2C SaaS Financial Model with three customer tiers
$99One-time purchase / Excel download
Add B2B/B2C SaaS Model to Cart

Standalone three-tier model. The Advanced Enterprise version is available through the SaaS bundle.

Immediate download after purchase. By purchasing, you agree to the Terms of Service.

See the model in action

Walk through the contract-based SaaS forecast.

Open the model screenshots

Standalone model: three customer tiers

Configure different contract and growth profiles.

Contract length and value

Set each tier’s average contract length from 1 to 60 months. Define the total value of the contract term, with contract-value assumptions adjustable by year.

Retention and renewal expansion

Define renewal retention, annual retention assumptions, retention improvement, and the percentage increase in contract value at renewal.

Starting users and growth

Set the starting customer base and growth assumptions for each tier to build the customer forecast.

Advertising and acquisition costs

Configure advertising spend and cost per acquisition for each customer tier, with values adjustable by year.

Cohort renewals and cash collection

Model contract timing across different customer groups.

Renewals by cohort

Each cohort renews according to its contract term. The model tracks renewal timing, retained customers, and the resulting value per contract as the cohort develops.

Upfront or spread collections

Use the yes/no selector to collect the contract value at the start of each contract or spread collections over its life, then review the effect on cash flow.

Unearned revenue

When upfront collection is selected, the balance sheet includes unearned revenue to reflect the portion of collected contract value still to be earned.

Staffing, operating expenses, and capital spending

Connect the operating plan to customer activity.

Customer support staffing

Configure up to two support staff types with different fully loaded salaries. Staffing ratios are based on active customers by tier; a ratio of 0.1 represents one support person per ten customers.

Sales representative staffing

Configure up to two sales representative types with different fully loaded salaries. Staffing scales using ratios tied to customers added each month.

General operating expenses

Plan General and Administrative, Sales and Marketing, and Research and Development expenses. Each line can have a start month and different cost values by year.

Capital expenditures and depreciation

Include dynamic capital spending and its associated depreciation in the financial model.

Monthly and annual reporting

Review the financial statements, funding, and investment returns.

Three financial statements

Review the income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement on monthly and annual bases over the five-year forecast.

Capital structure and cap table

Set debt and equity contributions and the percentage of the business allocated to investors. Review the included cap table.

Executive summary and DCF

Review revenue, expenses, EBITDA, and cash flow in the executive summary. Analyze project, investor, and owner cash flows through DCF, equity multiples, total ROI, and distribution visuals.

Exit timing and valuation

Set exit timing and a valuation multiple based on trailing 12-month revenue at the exit month.

SaaS performance measures

Review acquisition economics, lifetime value, and churn.

Customer acquisition and lifetime value

Review customer acquisition cost, customer lifetime value, months to pay back CAC, and the LTV-to-CAC ratio through the model’s metrics and visuals.

Expansion and revenue churn

The model shows negative revenue churn when expansion revenue more than offsets lost revenue. Review how renewal value increases affect the monthly churn view.

Choose the version for your business

Standalone model or the Advanced Enterprise version.

This model is included in the SaaS bundle. The bundle also provides access to the specialized Advanced Enterprise version.

Standalone B2B/B2C SaaS Model — $99

Purchase the three-tier model described on this page, with variable contract terms, renewal logic, collection timing, staffing ratios, financial statements, and investment analysis.

Get the standalone model

Advanced Enterprise Version — SaaS Bundle

Available only with the SaaS templates bundle. Adds features for extended sales cycles, customer support timing relative to initial onboarding, and optional one-time setup fees.

Explore the SaaS bundle

Supporting SaaS concepts

Explore acquisition costs and cohort analysis.

How to Calculate CAC for SaaS

Read about customer acquisition cost and related SaaS considerations.

Read the article

Best Practices in Cohort Analysis

Read about cohort analysis for subscription businesses.

Read the article

Questions before you start

A few useful details.

What contract lengths can I model?

Each of the three customer tiers can use an average contract length from 1 to 60 months.

Can customers pay the full contract value upfront?

Yes. The collection selector supports upfront receipts or collections spread over the contract life. Unearned revenue is included on the balance sheet when upfront receipts are selected.

Are financial statements included?

Yes. The model includes monthly and annual income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements, along with a cap table and capital expenditure/depreciation logic.

How are support and sales staffing calculated?

Support staffing uses ratios tied to active customers by tier. Sales staffing uses ratios tied to new customers added each month. Each category supports up to two staff types with different fully loaded salaries.

Is the Advanced Enterprise version included in the $99 purchase?

The $99 purchase is the standalone three-tier model. The specialized Advanced Enterprise version, including extended sales-cycle features, support timing relative to onboarding, and optional setup fees, is available through the SaaS templates bundle.

Connect contract terms to financial outcomes

Build your B2B or B2C SaaS forecast.

Standalone three-tier SaaS Financial Model — $99, delivered as an Excel download.

Get the B2B/B2C SaaS Model

Human Resources (HR) Planner - Track Potential Shortages or Surplus

SmartHelping / Human Resources / Excel

Human Resources (HR) Planner

Plan hires, departures, and expected attrition by department. Compare projected headcounts with your staffing targets to see potential shortages or surpluses today and at future dates.

Up to 28 departmentsAdjustable forecast datesColor-coded staffing gapsPrintable dashboards
Human Resources Planner for tracking hiring, departures, and department staffing gaps
$45One-time purchase / Excel download
Add HR Planner to Cart

Immediate download after purchase. By purchasing, you agree to the Terms of Service.

See the template in action

Walk through the headcount planning process.

Open the template screenshots

Simple workforce planning inputs

Define the staffing changes you expect.

Departments and teams

Use up to 28 department slots. Track broad groups such as General and Administrative, Sales and Marketing, or Research and Development, or use more detailed departments and branches.

Headcount additions and losses

Enter the department, whether an event adds or reduces headcount, and the number of people involved. Include planned hires, departures, and expected attrition.

Expected event dates

Assign an expected date to each addition or loss so the forecast reflects when the staffing change is planned to take effect.

Target headcounts

Define your model headcounts by department. These provide the staffing targets against which projected headcounts are compared.

From event inputs to staffing visibility

Review current and projected headcounts.

Current headcount by department

See headcounts as of the current date based on the information entered in the template.

Future headcount snapshots

Review planned staffing at 30, 60, and 90 days out, or change the forecast intervals to suit your planning needs.

Projected versus target staffing

Compare projected headcounts with your model headcounts. Automatic color coding highlights whether the expected result is above or below the target.

Printable visuals and dashboards

Use the printable reporting views to review staffing plans. The main visual shows expected net shortages or surpluses for the current date and each future period.

Read the staffing gap

See where the plan falls short or runs ahead.

Negative: shortage

A negative difference indicates projected headcount is below the department’s model headcount.

Positive: surplus

A positive difference indicates projected headcount is above the department’s model headcount.

Zero: on target

A zero difference means projected headcount matches the model headcount for that department and date.

Adapt the planning view

Choose the forecast timing and level of detail.

Use your own forecast intervals

The future periods are not fixed at 30, 60, and 90 days. Enter the number of days ahead you want to review; the current and relative future dates update using the TODAY function and your day inputs.

Start with the rows you need

Remove unnecessary starting data and use one or multiple tracking rows according to your plan. Organize departments at a high level or by more granular branches within the 28 available slots.

Included in the HR collection

Explore the HR Management Templates Bundle.

HR Management Templates Bundle

This HR Planner is included in the HR tools bundle. Explore the collection for employee records, training, time tracking, scheduling, payroll, and workforce planning.

Explore the HR bundle

Questions before you start

A few useful details.

How many departments can I track?

The template includes up to 28 department slots. You can use broad business functions or more detailed departments and branches.

Are the forecasts limited to 30, 60, and 90 days?

No. Those are the starting intervals. You can choose other numbers of days ahead, with the reporting dates calculated relative to the current date.

How does the template identify a shortage or surplus?

It compares projected headcount with the model headcount you define for each department. Negative differences indicate shortages, positive differences indicate surpluses, and zero indicates the target is met.

What information do I enter?

Enter the department, an addition or loss event, the headcount value, and the expected date. Define model headcounts by department and set your preferred forecast intervals.

Plan ahead for staffing changes

See your expected headcount gaps.

Human Resources Planner — $45, delivered as an Excel download.

Get the HR Planner

eCommerce Financial Model - For General Use - Up to 3 Revenue Drivers

SmartHelping / eCommerce & Retail / Excel

eCommerce Financial Model

Build a five-year forecast for online product sales driven by advertising, partners, and organic growth. Plan up to ten products or categories, then review costs, inventory, funding needs, financial statements, and investment returns.

5-year forecast3 sales channelsUp to 10 categories3 financial statements
eCommerce Financial Model for advertising, partner, and organic sales
$45One-time purchase / Excel download
Add eCommerce Model to Cart

Immediate download after purchase. By purchasing, you agree to the Terms of Service.

See the model in action

Walk through the eCommerce forecast.

Open the model screenshots

Three revenue drivers

Build sales from the channels you expect to use.

Advertising

Enter monthly ad spend and cost per sale to estimate sales volume. Apply the selling price to calculate revenue from that activity.

Partners and affiliates

Set the starting partner count by category, monthly partner growth assumptions for each forecast year, and average sales per partner. Define a commission rate to capture partner costs.

Organic sales

Enter starting organic sales and monthly growth assumptions across the five-year forecast. This channel covers sales from web search, word of mouth, and other activity outside the advertising and partner channels.

Products, categories, and launch timing

Choose the detail that fits your online business.

Up to ten products or categories

Model individual products or group a large SKU catalog into up to ten broad categories. If you need fewer categories, set the unused ones to zero.

Physical and digital products

Use the template for dropshipping, digital downloads, or online sales of products your company manufactures or acquires.

Flexible start months

Define start months for revenue categories, partners, and expense categories to reflect the timing of your launch and expansion plans.

An evolving sales mix

Test how the business changes as advertising efficiency improves or partner and organic sales grow. Adjust the assumptions to reflect your expected mix over time.

Operating costs and inventory

Connect sales activity to expenses and cash needs.

Cost of goods sold

Set a cost per unit to model the direct cost of products sold. Zero out this assumption where it does not apply.

Operating expenses

Plan Sales and Marketing, General and Administrative, and Research and Development expenses, with start-month controls for expense categories.

Inventory purchasing

Use the included inventory purchasing schedule when applicable to your business and review its effect within the financial forecast.

Startup costs and capital spending

Include startup costs and capital expenditures in the dedicated schedules to build the initial investment and operating plan.

Financial statements, funding, and returns

See what your operating assumptions mean for the numbers.

Five-year financial forecast

Review monthly and annual projections, including the income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement.

Funding needs and cap table

Estimate funding needs from startup costs and net cash burn. Plan owner and investor equity alongside debt financing, and review the included cap table.

DCF and investment returns

Analyze project, investor, and owner/operator cash flows. Set the discount rate and investor profit share where applicable, then review NPV, IRR, equity multiples, and ROI.

Executive summary and visuals

Review key financial results and cash contributions and distributions through the executive summary and charts.

Additional planning and tracking tools

Explore financial analysis, sales, and inventory tools.

Financial Statement Generator

Explore an Excel accounting system for generating financial statements.

View template details

Ad Network Financial Model

Explore the economics of an advertising network business.

View template details

Printable Sales Tracker

Track sales activity with a printable template.

View template details

Rolling SaaS Revenue Forecast

Explore a rolling revenue forecast for a SaaS business.

View template details

FIFO Cost of Goods Sold Tool

Calculate cost of goods sold using FIFO inventory logic.

View template details

Monthly Discounted Cash Flow Analysis

Explore a separate tool for monthly DCF analysis.

View template details

Included in two model collections

Explore the industry and retail bundles.

Industry-Specific Financial Models

This eCommerce model is included in the industry-specific collection. Explore operating models for a broad range of businesses.

Explore the industry bundle

Retail Trade Financial Models

This eCommerce model is also included in the retail trade collection. Explore models for online sales, storefronts, and retail expansion.

Explore the retail bundle

Planning a subscription business?

Explore the SaaS and recurring-revenue collection.

SaaS & Recurring-Revenue Models

For an online subscription business or mobile app, explore the SaaS collection and its customer acquisition, retention, and recurring-revenue models.

Explore SaaS models

Questions before you start

A few useful details.

What types of eCommerce businesses can use this model?

The template supports dropshipping, digital products, and online sales of products your company manufactures or acquires.

How many products or categories can I model?

Use up to ten individual products or broad categories. Set unused categories to zero if you need fewer.

What drives revenue?

The three channels are advertising spend with a cost-per-sale assumption, partner or affiliate sales, and organic sales growth. These assumptions allow the sales mix to change over the five-year forecast.

Are financial statements and inventory planning included?

Yes. The model includes an income statement, balance sheet, cash flow statement, cap table, and an inventory purchasing schedule for businesses that need it.

Can I include outside funding?

Yes. The model supports owner equity, investor funding, and debt financing, with return analysis for the project, investors, and owners/operators.

Turn your sales plan into a financial forecast

Build your eCommerce business plan.

eCommerce Financial Model — $45, delivered as an Excel download.

Get the eCommerce Model
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