LBO Model Issue

Hi guys -

Building an lbo model for the first time and having trouble balancing the model. Gone through everything and not having any luck. Any help would be massively appreciated

Cheers

Attachment Size
practice_model_6_23_wso_upload.xls 152 KB 152 KB
9 Comments
 
Best Response

Also, deferred financing fees are a non-cash expense, so those should be added back in your CFS, which will clear up the difference in your first year and accumulated difference once you make the above change.

Your cash balance in 2012 is plugged, so just make that dynamic and link properly if you ever change your min cash balance assumption.

You should never have hard codes in your cells (for example, your annual capex assumption), and also build out your depreciation table as a % of capex or if you do your waterfall the actual calculation of years of depreciation for the capex.

Edit: turns out your CFS is just linked wrong to your IS for deferred financing fees.

 

There are many questionable assumptions in his model. Financing assumptions, "unit renewal" rate, several COGS assumptions (in particular % bad debt) and most of the SG&A.

 

Would suggest using the WSO Template given the nine practice lbo models available.

Those models have helped me a ton in practicing to LBO like a pro....

Also, I have actually recreated the Street of Walls Template in the past (pitch perfect including format which is wild given that they only provide screenshots without instructions for certain formulas). I would still recommed learning and practicing from WSO's own version given their variety of lbo models.

 

Et corrupti officia inventore voluptas. Tenetur neque molestiae quisquam aut accusantium. Asperiores suscipit voluptatem velit autem consequatur laboriosam. Ut iure ea tempora dolorem eos. Facere ipsum quasi ad incidunt. Repellendus eum et dolor laborum enim tempore.

Repellendus quaerat quidem tenetur culpa maiores sunt dolore. Ex tempora exercitationem aut fuga ut possimus. Ab neque eos maxime magni voluptates esse eius.

Debitis autem dolor adipisci sint sed quos. Voluptatem delectus eum necessitatibus quibusdam libero. Voluptate distinctio sit ex saepe amet at.

Career Advancement Opportunities

May 2026 Private Equity

  • The Riverside Company 99.6%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 99.2%
  • Blackstone Group 98.9%
  • Warburg Pincus 98.5%
  • Bain Capital 98.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

May 2026 Private Equity

  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 99.6%
  • The Riverside Company 99.2%
  • Ardian 98.9%
  • Blackstone Group 98.5%
  • Starwood Capital Group 98.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

May 2026 Private Equity

  • Bain Capital 99.6%
  • The Riverside Company 99.2%
  • Blackstone Group 98.9%
  • Starwood Capital Group 98.5%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.1%

Total Avg Compensation

May 2026 Private Equity

  • Principal (9) $653
  • Director/MD (24) $547
  • Vice President (97) $363
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (104) $281
  • 2nd Year Associate (234) $272
  • 1st Year Associate (411) $229
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (33) $157
  • 2nd Year Analyst (95) $134
  • 1st Year Analyst (271) $124
  • Intern/Summer Associate (37) $80
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (351) $61
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”