How to use RowCast
Everything you need, from your first upload to your monthly routine. It takes about two minutes to read.
Quick start
Create your account
Sign up with your business name and email, then click the link we email you. Every account starts with 2 free reports.
Create a free accountUpload your sheet
Choose Upload a sheet and pick the Excel or CSV file you already keep. No file handy? Choose Try sample data to explore with a made-up hardware store.
Match your columns
Tell RowCast which column holds the date, which numbers to analyse and how to group them. We suggest choices for you; check them and save. More about columns.
Explore the dashboard
Charts and key figures appear straight away. Filter by period, number, branch or product as much as you like. Exploring never uses credits.
Generate a report
On the sheet's page, add notes about anything unusual, then choose Generate report. In about a minute you get a headline, a summary, what went well, what to watch and a forecast.
Repeat each month
Upload the updated sheet next month. RowCast recognises the layout, fills in your column choices and adds the new months to your history. We'll email a reminder (you can turn it off in Settings).
Preparing your sheet
A layout that works well
One row per sale, job, expense or month, with a date and the numbers in their own columns:
| Date | Branch | Product | Units | Sales (R) | Cost (R) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-01 | Centurion | Cement | 40 | 4 200 | 3 100 |
| 2026-09-01 | Midrand | Paint | 12 | 5 640 | 3 900 |
| 2026-09-02 | Centurion | Timber | 25 | 6 875 | 5 200 |
A monthly summary (one row per month) works too.
Good to know
- Headings in one row at the top of the table. Titles above it are fine; we find the headings.
- Dates in a date column, such as 2026-09-01, 1 Sep 2026 or Sep 2026.
- Totals rows (e.g. "Total" or "Totaal") are skipped automatically.
- .xlsx, .xls or .csv, up to 10 MB, 10 sheets and 50,000 rows per sheet.
- Password-protected files can't be read. Save a copy without the password first.
Matching your columns
After you upload, you choose how each column is used. You only do this once per layout.
The date
Pick the column with the date of each row. RowCast works out whether to show months or weeks.
Number to analyse
Each number column gets a kind, so RowCast knows what "good" looks like:
- Money in (sales, income): going up is good.
- Money out (costs, expenses): going up is a concern unless sales rose faster.
- A count (units, orders, visits): going up is usually good.
- Something else: described without calling it good or bad.
Group by
Columns such as branch, product, category or customer. They power the breakdowns and the Filter by option on the dashboard. Tick Hide real values from the AI to send stand-ins such as "Customer 3" instead of real names.
Don't use
Anything you leave on Don't use is never stored. Columns that look like personal information (names, ID or phone numbers, emails) are flagged so you can leave them out.
Using the dashboard
- Period shows all time, the last 12, 6 or 3 months, or this year.
- Number chooses which figure the breakdown charts use, for example Sales or Cost.
- Filter by narrows everything to one branch, product or customer.
- Show as table under any chart lists the exact numbers.
- A hollow point marks a month that isn't finished yet. Changes are worked out on complete months, so a half-finished month never looks like a drop.
Reports
What's in a report
- A one-line headline and a short summary
- What went well and what to watch
- A forecast with a likely range
- The charts that tell the story best
- Questions about anything unusual
Make the next one better
Add notes on the sheet's page, such as "Two delivery trucks broke down in March", and answer the report's questions. The next report uses them to explain the numbers instead of guessing.
Use Download PDF or Email me a PDF to share a report. Every number in the text is checked against your data, and a report that fails is refunded automatically.
Credits and billing
- One report uses one credit. Uploading, charts and filters are free.
- Monthly plans add credits every month; credit packs are once-off. Credits never expire.
- You pay on PayFast's secure page. Your card details never reach RowCast.
- Cancel a plan any time under Credits & billing. Credits you already have stay in your account.
Your data and security
- Your file is read in memory and never stored. Only the columns you choose are kept, encrypted.
- The AI sees totals and trends only, never your rows, and names you hide become stand-ins.
- Delete an upload's data on its sheet page, or your whole account under Account & security › Personal data.
- Turn on two-step sign-in under Account & security so a password alone can't open your account.
Read the full Privacy Policy.
Where to find things
| I want to… | Go to |
|---|---|
| Upload a new or updated sheet | Upload a sheet (top of the menu) |
| See charts for a sheet | Home›your sheet›Dashboard |
| Add a note or generate a report | Home›your sheet›Notes & report |
| Read, download or email a past report | Reports |
| Check my credits or buy more | Credits & billing |
| Cancel my monthly plan | Credits & billing›Cancel plan |
| Change my business name, currency or reminders | Settings |
| Switch between light and dark | Settings›Appearance |
| Change my password or turn on two-step sign-in | Account & security |
| Delete an upload's data | your sheet›Uploads›Delete data |
| Download or delete all my data | Account & security›Personal data |
On a phone, the main places are in the bar at the bottom of the screen; everything else is under More.
Frequently asked questions
My upload says some rows have no date. What should I do?
Those rows are left out of the charts. Check the date column in your sheet for blanks or text such as "TBC", fix them, and upload again. The newest upload replaces older data for the same dates, so nothing is counted twice.
I picked the wrong columns. Can I change them?
Yes. Upload the file again and choose differently. To start completely fresh, delete the upload's data on the sheet's page first.
Why does the latest month look low?
It's probably not finished yet. RowCast shows it with a hollow point and compares the last two complete months instead.
How long does a report take?
Usually under a minute. The page updates by itself, and we email you when it's ready.
Can my bookkeeper or partner see the report?
Download the PDF or email it to yourself and pass it on. Shared logins for several people are planned.
Is this financial advice?
No. RowCast explains what your own numbers show. Please check important decisions with your accountant or adviser.