How to Build a Monthly Sales Report in Excel

1. Prepare the source and scope

Import sales.csv into a new worksheet with headers in row 1. Leave the source columns in their original order for the formulas below. Review the data dictionary before choosing the reporting period. Keep identifiers as text and convert numeric columns explicitly. Save a working copy so you can return to the original fixture.

2. Build the calculation

Import month as a date and revenue as a number. Create a PivotTable grouped by year and month, filter to 2026, and reconcile the annual total.

=SUM(D14:D25)

3. Reconcile and interpret the output

The expected check is 2026 revenue: 234000 USD. Monthly revenue increases from 14,000 to 25,000 in this deliberately simple teaching series. If your result differs, inspect the selected rows, data types and date filters before changing the formula.

4. Adapt the workflow to a recurring report

Replace the sample with a copy of your own source, retaining the same column meanings and units. Extend bounded ranges to include new rows, refresh PivotTables where used, and compare the result to an independent source total. Record the reporting period and any exclusions beside the output. Do not treat missing months as zero sales; verify complete period coverage.