Which of the following best describes the use of an income statement projection?

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An income statement projection is about estimating what the business will earn and spend in a future period. This pro forma income statement lays out expected revenues, costs of goods sold, operating expenses, and the net income you anticipate. It’s a planning tool: by forecasting these items you can see how different sales levels, pricing, or cost assumptions affect profitability, determine how much financing you might need, and develop a compelling forecast to share with lenders or investors when seeking funding. It isn’t about tracking current cash on hand—that’s handled by cash flow statements and the balance sheet. It also isn’t intended to forecast broad economic trends, nor is it primarily used to set salaries; payroll is part of the expenses, but the projection’s purpose is to plan and communicate future profitability and funding needs.