How to Prepare Financial Projections: A Practical Guide to Revenue, EBITDA and Cash Flow Forecasting

By Bill Anderson, FCCA, Chief Executive Officer, Assetica — 2026-08-08

Direct Answer: A financial projection is only as useful as the assumptions underneath it, and most of the projections put in front of banks, investors and boards do not survive the first hard question about those assumptions. Here is how to build a revenue, EBITDA and cash flow forecast that holds up to scrutiny, and how expectations differ across the UAE, UK, Europe, Saudi Arabia and Australia.

A financial projection is only as useful as the assumptions underneath it, and most of the projections put in front of banks, investors and boards do not survive the first hard question about those assumptions. Here is how to build a revenue, EBITDA and cash flow forecast that holds up to scrutiny, and how expectations differ across the UAE, UK, Europe, Saudi Arabia and Australia.