Excel is certainly by far the most used tool for calculation. In Excel, we can perform almost all the calculations that we require in our daily life. We will try to learn how to calculate the percentage increase from zero in Excel. Basically, it is very simple to calculate percentage increases in Excel. However, things seem a bit complex when we calculate the percentage increase from zero. In this article, I am going to show you four methods on how to calculate percentage increase from zero in Excel.
Basics of Percentage Increase
Generally, the formula to calculate percentage change is given below.
Change(%)=(Final Value-Initial Value)/Initial Value*100Mathematically when we divide any number by zero, the result is undefined. So in this article, while calculating the percentage increase from zero in Excel, we have assumed that the percentage change is 100%. That means, if any parameter (Revenue in our case) increases from zero to a certain value, no matter what the value is, we will consider the percentage change to be 100%. That’s how we deal with when calculating percentage increase from zero in Excel.
How to Calculate Percentage Increase from Zero in Excel: 4 Methods
1. How to Calculate Percentage Increase from Zero in Excel using IF Function
We can use the IF function to calculate the percentage increase from zero in Excel.
- First, select cell D5. Then write down the formula.
=IF(C4=0,1,C5/C4-1)
Here, we have set the logical test that our initial value (C4) is zero. Now, if the statement is TRUE, the output will be 1, which is 100%. In other cases, Excel will return the percentage increase following the percentage change formula.
- Now, press ENTER. Excel will return the change in Revenue according to the formula in the Formula Bar.
Since, C4 <> 0, Excel returns -1 by calculating $(0.00/1348.00)-1.
- Now convert the number into percentages. To do so, select the Percentage (%) sign from the Number group of Home tab.
Excel will convert the number into percentages.
- Then use the Fill Handle to AutoFill the formula up to cell D15.
A positive percentage indicates an increase in Revenue whereas a negative percentage indicates a decrease in Revenue.
We have no change in percentage for the month of January. That’s because we do not have the data before January to compare with.
Read More: How to Calculate Percentage Decrease in Excel
2. How to Calculate Percentage Increase from Zero in Excel using SIGN Function
In this method, I will show you how to calculate the percentage increase from zero in Excel using the SIGN function.
- Go to cell D5 and write down the formula.
=IF(C4=0,SIGN(C5),C5/C4-1)
To understand the formula, let’s first concentrate on the logical test.
Here, the logical test is C4=0. Now, if this statement is TRUE, Excel will return the result of SIGN(C5) as output. If the statement is FALSE, Excel will return the output by calculating C5/C4-1 to get the percentage increase.
Formula Breakdown
SIGN(C5) ⟶ It returns the result to represent the sign of the number in cell C5.
    Output ⟶ 0
C5/C4-1 ⟶ It will calculate the increase in Revenue.
    Output ⟶ -1
IF(C4=0,SIGN(C5),C5/C4-1) ➡ It returns us the result by analyzing the logical test.
  IF(C4=0,0,-1)
  IF(FALSE,0,-1)
    Output ➡ -1
- Let’s press ENTER to see and understand the result.
Excel returns the value -1 as the result. That’s because C4 is $1348.00. Hence, the statement C4=0 is FALSE. So, Excel is returning us the output by calculating C5/C4-1.
- Now to convert the number into a percentage follow the steps explained in method 1.
- Then use Fill Handle to AutoFill up to cell D15.
Read More: How to Calculate Average Percentage Increase in Excel
3. Calculating Percentage Increase from Zero in Excel using AND Function
You can also use the AND function to calculate the percentage increase from zero in Excel. Notice that, we have set the revenue to be zero in May in this method. We have added some varieties to the dataset.
- Go to cell D5 and write down the formula.
=IF(AND(C4=0,(C5-C4)<>0),1,C5/C4-1)
Here, the logical test is AND(C4=0,(C5-C4)<>0). Now, if this statement is TRUE, Excel will return 1 as output. If the statement is FALSE, Excel will return the output by calculating C5/C4-1 to get the increase in Revenue.
Formula Breakdown
C5-C4 → Subtracts C4 from C5.
    Output: -12
C5/C4-1 ⇒ Calculates the change in Revenue.
    Output: -0.008902077
AND(C4=0,(C5-C4)<>0) → Checks if all the arguments (C4=0 and C5-C4<>0) are TRUE. Returns TRUE if all the arguments are TRUE and FALSE if not.
  AND(C4=0,(-12)<>0)
    Output: FALSE (since the first argument is FALSE)
IF(AND(C4=0,(C5-C4)<>0),1,C5/C4-1) ⇒ Returns the result after analyzing the logical test.
  IF(AND(C4=0,(C5-C4)<>0),1,-0.008902077)
  IF(FALSE,1,-0.008902077)
    Output: -0.008902077
- Then, press ENTER. Excel will return the output as -0.008902077.
- Now to convert the number into a percentage follow the steps explained in method 1.
- Then use Fill Handle to AutoFill up to cell D15.
Read More: How Do You Calculate Percentage Increase or Decrease in Excel
4. Calculating Percentage Increase from Zero in Excel using ISERROR Function
In this section, I will show you how to calculate the percentage increase from zero in Excel using the ISERROR function.
- First, go to cell D5 and write down the formula.
=IF(ISERROR((C5-C4)/C4),1,(C5-C4)/C4)Formula Breakdown
(C5-C4)/C4 ⇒ Calculates the change in Revenue.
    Output : -1
ISERROR((C5-C4)/C4) → This checks whether (C5-C4)/C4 is an error or not. Returns TRUE if it is an error, FALSE if it is not.
    Output: FALSE (since –1 is not undefined or has any other error)
IF(ISERROR((C5-C4)/C4),1,(C5-C4)/C4) ⇾ Returns the result by analyzing the logical test.
  IF((ISERROR((C5-C4)/C4),1,-1)
  IF(FALSE,1,-1)
    Output: -1
- Now press ENTER. Excel will return the final output as -1.
- Now to convert the number into a percentage follow the steps explained in method 1.
- Then use Fill Handle to AutoFill up to cell D15.
Read More: Calculate Average Percentage Increase for Marks in Excel Formula
Practice Workbook
Though calculating the percentage increase from zero in Excel is a bit complex, it is interesting. So I believe that you should practice properly to learn how to calculate percentage increases from zero in Excel. I have attached a practice sheet for you to practice.
Practice Workbook
This is the dataset that I am going to use to explain how to calculate the percentage increase from zero in Excel. We have the Revenue of XYZ Company for a particular Month. We have set the Revenue for February as zero. Now, we will calculate the change in Revenue in percentage using this dataset.
Conclusion
In this article, I have explained four methods on how to calculate percentage increase from zero in Excel. I hope these methods will be helpful to you. If you have any comments or suggestions, please leave them in the comment section
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