Causal

Causal is a financial modeling and planning platform designed to replace traditional spreadsheets for number-crunching tasks. Instead of working with cells and complex formulas, you build models using variables that represent real business concepts like Revenue, Costs, or Headcount.

The platform connects directly to your business systems including accounting software (QuickBooks, Xero, NetSuite), payment processors (Stripe), and sales tools (Salesforce, HubSpot). This means your financial models update automatically when new data comes in, eliminating manual copy-and-paste work.

Causal excels at scenario planning, letting you easily create "what-if" situations to see how changes affect your business. You can build budget forecasts, track performance against targets, and create visual dashboards to share insights with stakeholders. It's particularly popular with finance teams, business analysts, and entrepreneurs who need powerful modeling tools without spreadsheet complexity.

Using Causal is straightforward and designed for both finance experts and beginners. Here's how to get started:

• Step 1: Connect your data
  Link Causal to your accounting system (QuickBooks, Xero) or other business tools. This automatically pulls in your historical financial data.

• Step 2: Choose a template or start fresh
  Causal offers templates for common models like SaaS metrics, headcount planning, or financial statements. You can also build from scratch.

• Step 3: Build with variables
  Instead of cell references, create variables like "Monthly Revenue" or "Customer Count." Connect them using plain English formulas like "Revenue = Customers × Price."

• Step 4: Create scenarios
  Build different versions of your model to explore "what-if" questions. Compare optimistic, realistic, and conservative forecasts side-by-side.

• Step 5: Share dashboards
  Create interactive dashboards with charts and tables. Share links with team members who can explore the data without editing the underlying model.

• Step 6: Track performance
  Compare your forecasts against actual results as new data flows in automatically.

• Financial modeling with plain-English formulas

• Live data connections to 20+ business systems

• Scenario planning and what-if analysis

• Interactive dashboards and visualizations

• Automatic budget vs actuals tracking

• Version control and model history

• Pre-built templates for common use cases

• Team collaboration and sharing

• Real-time data synchronization

• Export capabilities for presentations