30 Claude Prompts That Build Financial Models

You are an FP&A modeler who builds linked P&L and cash-flow models. <context> I need a self-contained, linked P&L and cash-flow model as a ready-to-use set of tables where the profit line and cash balance stay consistent month to month. </context> <inputs> - Monthly revenue plan: [$ / GROWTH RULE] - COGS as % of revenue: [%] - Operating expenses by category: [PAYROLL, MARKETING, G&A] - Opening cash and any collection delay: [$ AND DAYS/MONTHS] - Capex or financing events: [$ AND MONTH] </inputs> <task> Build a monthly P&L (revenue, COGS, gross profit, opex lines, operating profit, net income) and a linked cash-flow table (net income, + non-cash/working-capital timing, - capex, + financing, = net cash, running balance). Add margin % rows and a min-cash flag. Keep the P&L net income flowing into the cash statement. </task> <constraints> - The two tables must reconcile: net income links into cash flow; running balance carries forward. - Show key formulas (gross margin, operating margin, ending cash) explicitly; assumptions labeled. - Ground in the inputs; state any working-capital timing assumption. </constraints> <format> Return the P&L table and the linked cash-flow table, then a note on the months where profit and cash diverge and why. </format>

You are a controller who builds monthly income statements. <context> I need a self-contained monthly P&L as a ready-to-use table with proper line structure and margin analysis. </context> <inputs> - Revenue streams: [LIST WITH MONTHLY AMOUNTS OR GROWTH] - COGS components: [$ OR % OF REVENUE] - Operating expenses by category: [SALES, MARKETING, R&D, G&A] - Other income/expense (interest, tax): [$ IF ANY] - Horizon: [12 MONTHS] </inputs> <task> Build a monthly income statement: total revenue (by stream), COGS, gross profit, gross margin %, each opex category, total opex, operating income (EBIT), EBIT margin %, other income/expense, and net income with net margin %. Add a full-year total column and month-over-month revenue growth %. </task> <constraints> - Standard P&L ordering; margins computed, never hardcoded; show margin formulas. - Yearly total column must equal the sum of the twelve months. - Use the inputs; clearly label any assumption. </constraints> <format> Return the monthly P&L as a markdown table with a totals column, then a note on the two expense lines growing fastest relative to revenue. </format>

You are a treasury analyst who builds 13-week direct cash-flow forecasts. <context> I need a self-contained 13-week cash forecast (direct method) as a ready-to-use table for near-term liquidity management. </context> <inputs> - Opening cash: [$] - Expected weekly cash receipts (by source): [$ OR PATTERN] - Weekly payroll and its schedule: [$ AND WHICH WEEKS] - Recurring disbursements (rent, vendors, taxes): [$ AND TIMING] - One-off inflows/outflows: [$ AND WEEK] </inputs> <task> Build a 13-week table with weeks as columns: opening cash, itemized receipts, total inflows, itemized disbursements, total outflows, net cash flow, and ending cash carried to the next week. Flag any week the balance goes negative and show the lowest weekly balance. </task> <constraints> - Direct method (actual receipts and payments, not accrual); running balance links week to week. - Payroll and recurring items land in the correct weeks; label all timing assumptions. - Use the inputs; flag estimated lines. </constraints> <format> Return the 13-week cash table and a low-point summary, then a note on which week is tightest and what to defer or accelerate. </format>

You are a financial analyst who builds break-even models. <context> I need a self-contained break-even model as a ready-to-use table showing the revenue and volume where profit turns positive. </context> <inputs> - Selling price per unit (or ARPU): [$] - Variable cost per unit (or as % of price): [$ OR %] - Total fixed costs per month: [$] - Current or target monthly volume: [UNITS] </inputs> <task> Compute contribution margin per unit and contribution margin %, then break-even units (fixed / CM per unit) and break-even revenue (fixed / CM %). Build a table across a range of volumes (e.g., 0 to 2x break-even) showing revenue, variable cost, contribution, fixed cost, and profit, so the crossover point is visible. Add the margin of safety at the target volume. </task> <constraints> - Show every formula (CM, break-even units/revenue, margin of safety) explicitly. - The volume table must clearly cross from loss to profit at the break-even point. - Use the inputs; label assumptions. </constraints> <format> Return the break-even figures and the volume-range profit table, then a note on how a 10% price change shifts the break-even point. </format>

You are an FP&A analyst who builds budget-versus-actual variance reports. <context> I need a self-contained budget-vs-actual P&L as a ready-to-use table that shows variances by line with clear favorable/unfavorable flags. </context> <inputs> - Budgeted P&L lines (revenue, COGS, opex): [AMOUNTS] - Actual P&L lines for the period: [AMOUNTS] - Period covered: [MONTH OR QUARTER] - Materiality threshold to flag: [E.G. 5% OR $ AMOUNT] </inputs> <task> Build a table with columns: line item, budget, actual, variance ($), variance (%), and a favorable/unfavorable flag (revenue up = favorable, cost up = unfavorable). Include revenue, COGS, gross profit, each opex line, and net income. Flag any line breaching the materiality threshold and add a totals/variance summary. </task> <constraints> - Apply the correct sign convention (over-budget cost is unfavorable, over-budget revenue is favorable). - Show variance formulas; only flag lines past the materiality threshold. - Use the inputs; do not invent lines not provided. </constraints> <format> Return the variance table with flags, then a short note explaining the top two material variances and likely drivers. </format>

You are a valuation analyst who builds discounted cash-flow models. <context> I need a self-contained DCF valuation as a ready-to-use table that discounts projected free cash flows to a present value and enterprise value. </context> <inputs> - Projected free cash flow per year (or revenue + margin to derive it): [5 YEARS] - Discount rate (WACC): [%] - Terminal growth rate: [%] - Net debt (for equity value): [$] - Shares outstanding (for per-share): [NUMBER, OPTIONAL] </inputs> <task> Build a table with years as columns: free cash flow, discount factor (1/(1+WACC)^n), and present value of each year's FCF. Compute the terminal value (Gordon growth: FCF_final x (1+g) / (WACC - g)), discount it back, and sum to enterprise value. Subtract net debt for equity value and, if shares are given, per-share value. Show the % of value from terminal. </task> <constraints> - Show the discount-factor, terminal-value, and equity-value formulas explicitly. - WACC must exceed terminal growth; state the assumption if the user's inputs violate this. - Use the inputs; label any derived FCF assumption. </constraints> <format> Return the DCF table and valuation summary, then a note on how sensitive the value is to WACC and terminal growth. </format>

You are an equity analyst who builds comparable-company (multiples) valuations. <context> I need a self-contained comps valuation as a ready-to-use table that values my company against peer trading multiples. </context> <inputs> - Peer companies with a valuation metric: [E.G. EV/REVENUE OR EV/EBITDA MULTIPLES] - My company's revenue and EBITDA: [$] - My net debt: [$] - Any premium/discount vs peers and why: [% AND RATIONALE] </inputs> <task> Build a comps table listing each peer and its multiple, then compute the peer set's min, median, mean, and max multiple. Apply the median (and a low/high range) to my metric to get enterprise value, subtract net debt for equity value, and adjust for the stated premium/discount. Present a valuation range (low / median / high). </task> <constraints> - Use a consistent multiple across peers; show the applied-multiple and equity-value formulas. - Present a range, not a single point; label the premium/discount rationale. - Use the inputs; do not fabricate peer multiples not provided. </constraints> <format> Return the comps table and a low/median/high valuation range, then a note on why your company deserves a premium or discount to the median. </format>

You are a SaaS valuation analyst who values companies on ARR multiples and growth quality. <context> I need a self-contained SaaS valuation as a ready-to-use table that applies an ARR multiple informed by growth and profitability (Rule of 40). </context> <inputs> - Current ARR: [$] - YoY growth rate: [%] - FCF or profit margin %: [%] - Net revenue retention: [%] - Baseline ARR multiple range for the sector: [E.G. 5x-8x] </inputs> <task> Compute the Rule of 40 score (growth % + margin %) and net retention quality. Build a table that adjusts the baseline ARR multiple up or down based on growth, Rule of 40, and NRR (state the adjustment logic). Apply low/mid/high adjusted multiples to ARR for an enterprise-value range. Add implied revenue multiple and a quality summary. </task> <constraints> - Show the Rule of 40 calc and the multiple-adjustment logic explicitly. - Present a valuation range tied to the adjusted multiples; label assumptions. - Use the inputs; do not invent sector multiples beyond the provided range. </constraints> <format> Return the Rule-of-40 and multiple-adjustment table plus a valuation range, then a note on which metric most limits the multiple. </format>

You are a startup finance advisor who models pre-money valuation and its cap-table impact. <context> I need a self-contained model as a ready-to-use table that tests different pre-money valuations against a fixed raise and shows the ownership outcome. </context> <inputs> - Raise amount (fixed): [$] - Pre-money valuations to test: [E.G. $8M, $10M, $12M] - Current fully-diluted shares: [NUMBER OR OWNERSHIP %] - New option pool to add (post): [% IF ANY] </inputs> <task> For each pre-money scenario, build a table computing: post-money valuation (pre + raise), investor ownership % (raise / post-money), price per share, new shares issued, pool shares, and resulting founder ownership %. Compare scenarios side by side so the dilution trade-off of a higher valuation is visible. </task> <constraints> - Show post-money, investor %, and price-per-share formulas; handle the pool consistently across scenarios. - Percentages within each scenario must sum to 100%. - Use the inputs; state the pool-timing assumption. </constraints> <format> Return a scenario-comparison table across the pre-money values, then a note on the valuation vs dilution trade-off for the founders. </format>

You are a valuation analyst who builds sensitivity and scenario tables. <context> I need a self-contained two-way sensitivity table as a ready-to-use artifact that shows how valuation shifts with two key drivers. </context> <inputs> - Base valuation and the model behind it: [$ AND DCF OR MULTIPLE] - Driver 1 and its range: [E.G. WACC 9%-13%] - Driver 2 and its range: [E.G. TERMINAL GROWTH 1%-4% OR REVENUE GROWTH] - Base-case values of each driver: [VALUES] </inputs> <task> Build a two-way data table with Driver 1 across the top and Driver 2 down the side, each cell showing the resulting valuation. Highlight the base case, min, and max. Add a separate three-scenario summary (bear / base / bull) listing the driver assumptions and resulting valuation for each. State the valuation formula used to fill each cell. </task> <constraints> - Every cell must be computed from the stated valuation logic, not interpolated by hand. - Clearly mark the base-case cell; label driver ranges and units. - Use the inputs; state the underlying model assumption. </constraints> <format> Return the two-way sensitivity grid and the bear/base/bull table, then a note on which driver the valuation is most sensitive to. </format>

You are an FP&A analyst who builds annual operating budgets. <context> I need a self-contained annual operating budget as a ready-to-use table broken out by month and by category. </context> <inputs> - Revenue plan (monthly or annual with seasonality): [$ / PATTERN] - COGS assumption: [% OF REVENUE OR $] - Expense categories with budgets: [PAYROLL, MARKETING, TOOLS, RENT, ETC] - Planned one-off spends: [$ AND MONTH] - Target operating margin (optional): [%] </inputs> <task> Build a monthly budget for 12 months: revenue, COGS, gross profit, each expense category, total expenses, and operating profit, with a full-year total column. Add operating margin % per month. If a target margin is given, show the gap between planned and target profit each month. </task> <constraints> - Categories consistent across all months; yearly column equals the sum of months. - Show margin and total formulas; apply any seasonality pattern to revenue explicitly. - Use the inputs; label assumptions. </constraints> <format> Return the 12-month budget table with a totals column, then a note on which category has the most room to cut if revenue misses plan. </format>

You are a revenue-operations analyst who builds rolling forecasts. <context> I need a self-contained rolling 12-month revenue forecast as a ready-to-use table driven by clear growth and pipeline assumptions. </context> <inputs> - Current monthly revenue (starting point): [$] - Revenue streams and their growth rules: [E.G. SUBSCRIPTIONS +5%/MO, SERVICES FLAT] - Known bookings or pipeline to layer in: [$ AND MONTH] - Seasonality or one-off events: [DESCRIBE] - Churn/attrition on recurring revenue: [%] </inputs> <task> Build a rolling 12-month forecast: each revenue stream by month (applying its growth rule and churn), total revenue, month-over-month growth %, and cumulative revenue. Layer known pipeline into the correct months. Add a full-year total and the implied run-rate at month 12. </task> <constraints> - Apply each stream's own growth and churn rule; show the recurring-revenue roll-forward formula. - Pipeline lands in the stated months; label seasonality adjustments. - Use the inputs; flag any assumption. </constraints> <format> Return the rolling forecast table by stream and in total, then a note on how to update it each month as a rolling model. </format>

You are a marketing finance analyst who builds budget-and-ROI models. <context> I need a self-contained marketing budget and ROI forecast as a ready-to-use table tying spend by channel to leads, customers, and revenue. </context> <inputs> - Channels with monthly budget: [E.G. GOOGLE $8K, META $6K, CONTENT $4K] - Cost per lead or conversion rate per channel: [$ OR %] - Lead-to-customer rate: [%] - Average revenue per customer (or LTV): [$] - Horizon: [12 MONTHS] </inputs> <task> Build a table per channel: budget, leads (budget / CPL), customers (leads x close rate), revenue (customers x revenue), CAC, and ROI/ROAS (revenue / spend). Add a monthly roll-up across channels and a full-year total. Rank channels by ROI and show blended CAC and blended ROAS. </task> <constraints> - Show CPL, CAC, and ROAS formulas; keep channel funnels consistent. - Distinguish first-order revenue from LTV if LTV is used; label which. - Use the inputs; flag estimated rates. </constraints> <format> Return the per-channel ROI table and monthly roll-up, then a note on where to reallocate budget for the highest marginal return. </format>

You are a personal finance planner who builds monthly household budgets. <context> I need a self-contained household budget as a ready-to-use table that allocates income across expenses and savings and shows what's left. </context> <inputs> - Monthly take-home income (all earners): [$] - Fixed expenses (rent/mortgage, utilities, insurance, loans): [ITEMIZE] - Variable expenses (groceries, transport, fun): [ITEMIZE] - Savings/investment target: [$ OR %] - Debt balances and rates (optional): [$ AND %] </inputs> <task> Build a budget table: income, each fixed expense, each variable expense, total spending, savings contribution, and leftover (income - spending - savings). Add category subtotals and each category as a % of income. Compare the split against the 50/30/20 rule (needs/wants/savings) and flag categories that are over. </task> <constraints> - Percentages of income computed, not hardcoded; leftover must reconcile. - Map each expense to needs/wants/savings for the 50/30/20 check; label assumptions. - Use the inputs; do not add expenses not provided. </constraints> <format> Return the budget table with % of income and the 50/30/20 comparison, then a note on the fastest realistic way to hit the savings target. </format>

You are a finance analyst who builds zero-based budgets from scratch. <context> I need a self-contained zero-based budget as a ready-to-use table where every dollar of income is assigned a job and the plan nets to zero. </context> <inputs> - Total income to allocate (period): [$] - Required commitments (must-pay): [ITEMIZE WITH AMOUNTS] - Goals to fund (savings, debt payoff, investments): [ITEMIZE] - Discretionary categories to cap: [ITEMIZE] - Priority order if income falls short: [RANKING] </inputs> <task> Build a zero-based table: income at top, then every category with an assigned amount, so total allocations equal income exactly (remaining = 0). Include a % of income column and a priority column. If commitments plus goals exceed income, cut discretionary lines in the stated priority order until it balances, and show what was trimmed. </task> <constraints> - Allocations must sum to income exactly (zero remaining); show the balancing logic if trimming is needed. - Respect the priority ranking when cutting; label assumptions. - Use the inputs; do not invent categories. </constraints> <format> Return the balanced zero-based budget table plus any trim log, then a note on how to roll unspent category funds into the next period. </format>