How to Calculate the Percentage Increase from Zero in Excel – 4 Methods

Percentage Increase

The formula to calculate percentage change is:

Change(%)=(Final Value-Initial Value)/Initial Value*100

Mathematically when we divide any number by zero, the result is undefined.

The percentage change is assumed as 100% to calculate percentage increase from zero, here.


Method 1 – How to Calculate the Percentage Increase from Zero  using IF Function in Excel

  • Select D5. Enter the formula.
=IF(C4=0,1,C5/C4-1)

how to calculate percentage increase from zero in Excel
The logical test sets the initial value (C4) to zero. If the statement is TRUE, the output will be 1, which is 100%. Otherwise, Excel will return the percentage increase following the percentage change formula.

  • Press ENTER. The change in Revenue is displayed.

how to calculate percentage increase from zero in Excel
Since, C4 <> 0, Excel returns -1 by calculating $(0.00/1348.00)-1.

  • Convert the number into a percentage
  • Go to the Home tab and select Number.
  • Select the Percentage (%) sign.


Excel will convert the number into a percentage.

how to calculate percentage increase from zero in Excel

 

Note:
There’s no change in the percentage for January, because there’s no previous data to compare with.

Read More: How to Calculate Percentage Decrease in Excel


Method 2 – How to Calculate the Percentage Increase from Zero using the SIGN Function in Excel 

  • Select D5. Enter the formula.
=IF(C4=0,SIGN(C5),C5/C4-1)

how to calculate percentage increase from zero in Excel
The logical test is C4=0. If the statement is TRUE, Excel will return the result of SIGN(C5). If the statement is FALSE, Excel will return the output by calculating C5/C4-1 to get the percentage increase.

Formula Breakdown

SIGN(C5) ⟶ returns the result to represent the sign of the number in C5.
        Output ⟶ 0
C5/C4-1 ⟶ calculates the increase in Revenue.
        Output ⟶ -1
IF(C4=0,SIGN(C5),C5/C4-1) ➡  returns the result by analyzing the logical test.
    IF(C4=0,0,-1)
    IF(FALSE,0,-1)
        Output-1

  • Press ENTER to see the result.

how to calculate percentage increase from zero in Excel

Excel returns  -1, because C4 is $1348.00. The statement C4=0 is FALSE. The output of C5/C4-1 is returned.

how to calculate percentage increase from zero in Excel

Read More: How to Calculate Average Percentage Increase in Excel


Method 3 – Calculating the Percentage Increase from Zero using the AND Function in Excel

  • Select D5. Enter the formula.
=IF(AND(C4=0,(C5-C4)<>0),1,C5/C4-1)


The logical test is AND(C4=0,(C5-C4)<>0). If the 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 arguments (C4=0 and C5-C4<>0) are TRUE. Returns TRUE if all the arguments are TRUE. Otherwise, FALSE.
    AND(C4=0,(-12)<>0)
        Output: FALSE (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

  • Press ENTER. Excel will return  -0.008902077.

how to calculate percentage increase from zero in Excel

Read More: How Do You Calculate Percentage Increase or Decrease in Excel


Method 4 – Calculating the Percentage Increase from Zero using the ISERROR Function in Excel

  • Select D5. Enter the formula.
=IF(ISERROR((C5-C4)/C4),1,(C5-C4)/C4)
The logical test is ISERROR((C5-C4)/C4. If the statement is TRUE, Excel will return 1 as output. If the statement is FALSE, Excel will return the output by calculating (C5-C4)/C4 to get the percentage increase.

Formula Breakdown

(C5-C4)/C4 ⇒ calculates the change in Revenue.
        Output : -1
ISERROR((C5-C4)/C4) →  checks whether (C5-C4)/C4 is an error. 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

  • Press ENTER.

The final output is -1.

how to calculate percentage increase from zero in Excel


Practice Workbook

Practice here.


Practice Workbook

Practice using this dataset.

how to calculate percentage increase from zero in Excel


 

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Akib Bin Rashid
Akib Bin Rashid

AKIB BIN RASHID, a materials and metallurgical engineer, is passionate about delving into Excel and VBA programming. To him, programming is a valuable time-saving tool for managing data, files, and internet-related tasks. Proficient in MS Office, AutoCAD, Excel, and VBA, he goes beyond the fundamentals. Holding a B.Sc in Materials and Metallurgical Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, MD AKIB has transitioned into a content development role. Specializing in creating technical content centred around Excel and... Read Full Bio

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