Free template
Free small business budget template
Set a monthly budget for each category, type what actually happened, and see each month and the year against the plan.
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Keeping your own books? Tallyfinch does invoices, bank import and reports on your computer. See Tallyfinch
What is inside
- Budget tab Up to 20 categories, each marked income or expense, with a monthly amount.
- Actuals tab What actually came in and went out, by category and month.
- Summary tab Budget against actual for income, expenses and net, by month and for the year so far.
How to use it
- List your categories on the Budget tab and give each a monthly amount.
- Replace the example January on the Actuals tab with your own numbers.
- At each month end, type that month's actuals.
- Open the Summary tab to see where you are ahead of or behind the plan.
Using it in Google Sheets
- Open Google Sheets and choose File, then Import, then Upload, and pick the downloaded file.
- Choose "Replace spreadsheet" or "Insert new sheet(s)".
- Check the formulas and the dropdown lists after the import. Most carry over, but Google Sheets handles a few functions and formats differently.
Things to watch
- Budget from history. Start from what the last few months actually were, then adjust. A budget built on hope is missed every month.
- Empty months don't count against you. The year-so-far line only counts months with actuals, so a month you have not entered never looks like a miss.
- Same categories on both tabs. Actuals follow the Budget list, so rename categories in one place.
- It plans, it does not predict cash. A budget shows profit against plan. For when cash comes and goes, use a cash flow forecast.
Questions
How is a budget different from a profit and loss?
A profit and loss shows what happened. A budget is the plan you compare it with.
Can I add categories?
Yes, up to 20 on the Budget tab. They appear on the Actuals tab automatically.
Can I use it in Google Sheets?
Yes. Upload the file to Google Sheets and check the totals after the import.
How often should I update it?
Once a month, after you close the month's books, is enough for most small businesses.
Want a fuller version with worked examples? See 13-Week Cash Flow Forecast in the store. This free template stays free either way.
Want more than a template? See Budget vs Actual Workbook.
Want every toolkit? The toolkit membership includes all of them, with a lower rate if you pay yearly.
Related: Free profit and loss template, Free income and expense tracker, Break-even calculator, Bookkeeping health check, or all free templates.
These templates track your own numbers. They are not tax, legal or accounting advice, and MCC Solutions is not a CPA firm. Ask your CPA how rules apply to you.
Tallyfinch
Books you keep on your own computer
Tallyfinch does invoices, bills, bank import, reconciliation and the main reports, in a file you own. $99 once, then $5 a month for updates; the app keeps working if you stop the plan. It does not do payroll or sales tax filing. The free download records up to 60 entries.
See Tallyfinch Download it free Compare the three apps