SmartHelping / Payroll Forecasting / Excel
Staffing Plan
Build a payroll forecast around your roles, hiring dates and compensation assumptions. Review department costs, compare the plan with your budget and see how headcount changes over time.
Immediate download after purchase. By purchasing, you agree to the Terms of Service.
See the template in action
Follow the staffing assumptions through the payroll forecast.
Watch the walkthrough to review department setup, position-level inputs, budget comparisons and headcount reporting. Open the screenshots below for a closer look at the workbook.
What the template includes
Build the plan by department and position.
Organize your staffing assumptions in one workbook, then review the payroll requirements by month and year.
20 departments, 45 positions each
Use up to 20 department slots, each with room for 45 positions. An on/off selector lets you choose which departments are included in the plan.
Position-level compensation inputs
Configure each position’s job title, start month, base salary, payroll taxes and benefits, and annual salary increase.
Up to 20 years of forecasting
Forecast total payroll costs over a period of up to 20 years. Department totals are summarized by month and year.
Monthly budget comparison
Enter a monthly budget and compare it against the payroll plan to see the difference between planned staffing costs and the available budget.
Annual payroll and variance charts
Review visualizations of the annual payroll plan, budget and variance, including the percentage variance.
Headcount by department
See headcount by department over time, with a visualization alongside the payroll forecast.
Payroll, budget and headcount
See the cost of the team you are planning.
Bring hiring dates and compensation assumptions into a forecast that supports staffing discussions, budget reviews and longer-term resource planning.
Department payroll
Review monthly and annual department totals to understand how the timing of hires and salary assumptions affect future payroll costs.
Plan versus budget
Compare the payroll plan with the monthly budget you enter. Use the annual charts and variance measures to identify periods that need closer attention.
Headcount over time
Review the number of positions in each department over time alongside the payroll costs associated with your staffing plan.
How to use the template
Start with the roles and their expected start dates.
Set up your departments
Choose the departments you want to include using the on/off selectors.
Enter your positions
Add job titles, start months, base salaries, payroll taxes and benefits, and annual increases for the positions in each department.
Enter your monthly budget
Add the monthly payroll budget you want to compare with the staffing plan.
Review the forecast
Check monthly and annual department totals, headcount and the payroll-versus-budget visualizations. Adjust the assumptions to compare alternative staffing plans.
The delivered template has its inputs cleared out, ready for your own staffing data.
Who this template is for
For teams planning future staffing and payroll.
Business owners and department managers
Plan team expansion, salary increases and benefits costs with a view of the future payroll commitment.
Finance, accounting and HR teams
Organize departmental staffing assumptions, compare the plan with budget and support cash-flow and resource-allocation discussions.
Also available in these bundles
Need more budgeting and financial tools?
This template is included in the Accounting Templates collection and the Super Smart Bundle.
Questions before you buy
A few useful details.
How many departments and positions can I include?
The template has 20 department slots and 45 position slots per department. Each department has an on/off selector.
How long is the payroll forecast?
You can forecast up to 20 years, with monthly and annual summaries.
What can I configure for each position?
Inputs include job title, start month, base salary, payroll taxes and benefits, and annual salary increase.
Can I compare the staffing plan with a budget?
Yes. Enter a monthly budget and compare it with the payroll plan. Annual visualizations show the plan, budget and variance, including the percentage variance.
Does the template show headcount?
Yes. It shows headcount per department over time and includes a headcount visualization.
Will the inputs contain example staffing data?
The template is delivered with the inputs cleared out so it is ready for your own data.
Is the template included in a bundle?
Yes. It is included in the Accounting Templates collection and the Super Smart Bundle linked above.
Plan the team with the payroll in view
Turn staffing assumptions into a payroll forecast.
Get the Excel template for a one-time purchase of $45.
