A pro forma balance sheet is prepared to

• A. It is a historical financial statement.
• B. It projects assets, liabilities, and equity in future periods under scenario assumptions; used for planning and lenders.
• C. It only forecasts revenue.
• D. It is used to determine tax obligations.

Answer: (B)

A pro forma balance sheet represents a forward-looking view of the company’s financial position by projecting assets, liabilities, and equity for future periods based on planned actions and scenario assumptions. This tool is used for planning and for lenders because it shows how strategic moves—like new financing, capital investments, or changes in operations—would affect liquidity, leverage, and capital structure. Unlike historical statements, which reflect what happened in the past, the pro forma helps management test how different scenarios will shape the balance sheet, guiding decisions about funding needs, affordability of projects, and whether the organization will stay within desired debt and equity targets. In healthcare, this is especially helpful when evaluating expansions, new equipment purchases, or service line changes, to demonstrate potential cash flow and balance sheet impacts to lenders and stakeholders.