Reflect on reverse-engineering profit targets.
Congratulations! You've learned to use Goal Seek to answer the question investors ask most: "What do we need to charge?"
Your New Capabilities
Technical Mastery:
- Navigate to Data → What-If Analysis → Goal Seek
- Select correct Set Cell (Profit formula)
- Enter target value (To Value)
- Choose changing cell (Price or Volume)
- Troubleshoot impossible targets
Strategic Mastery:
- Answer "what price for what profit" questions
- Prepare investor-ready scenario analyses
- Identify realistic vs. unrealistic pricing targets
- Communicate reverse-engineered pricing strategies
Goal Seek gives you one answer at a time. But investors often want to see a whole map of possibilities—what if prices range from $1,200 to $1,600? What if volume varies from 20 to 40 projects?
Next Lesson's Milestone:
In Lesson 6, you'll use Data Tables to calculate 50 different scenarios at once. This transforms your workbook from a calculator into a "Pricing Map" that shows the entire landscape of possibilities.
"Jennifer," Sarah said after the investor meeting, "they loved the scenario analysis. When they asked 'what if we charge X?' I ran Goal Seek and gave them an answer in seconds. They asked how long it took to build— I said 'about an hour.' They were impressed that I could answer any pricing question instantly."