The usual starting point for a master budget is:

A) the direct materials purchase budget.
B) the budgeted income statement.
C) the sales forecast or sales budget.
D) the production budget.

Master Budget

A comprehensive financial planning document that includes all of a company's budgets, combining sales, production, and financial aspects to overview performance.

Sales Forecast

An estimate of the amount of sales a company expects to achieve over a specific period, often used for strategic planning and resource allocation.