Free template · Excel · Planning
Free budget template with budget vs actual
An annual budget by month, a matching sheet for actual results, and a budget vs actual summary that compares the year to date for any month you choose.
Budget template
Excel workbook (.xlsx) · 16 KB · 4 sheets
| Account | Type | Budget to date | Actual to date | Difference | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sales | Income | 27,000.00 | 27,900.00 | 900.00 | Better than budget |
| Service income | Income | 9,000.00 | 9,200.00 | 200.00 | Better than budget |
| Cost of goods sold | Expense | 11,400.00 | 12,100.00 | 700.00 | Worse than budget |
| Advertising and marketing | Expense | 1,200.00 | 1,440.00 | 240.00 | Worse than budget |
| Net income | 2,550.00 | 2,540.00 | (10.00) | Worse than budget |
What it is
A budget is your plan for the year in numbers: what you expect to sell and spend each month. Comparing it to what actually happened shows early where the year is drifting.
This template keeps plan and actual in identical layouts and does the comparison for you, line by line, knowing that more income is good and more expense is not.
Who it's for
- Owners planning next year
- Businesses with seasonal swings that need a monthly plan
- Nonprofits and clubs reporting to a board
What's in the file
| Sheet | What it holds |
|---|---|
| Budget | Up to 30 accounts, each marked Income or Expense, with 12 monthly columns, totals, and net income. |
| Actual | The same layout for what really happened. Account names come from the Budget sheet. |
| Budget vs actual | Pick a month (1 to 12); every line shows budget and actual to date, the difference, the difference as a percentage, and Better or Worse than budget. |
| Instructions | How to set up and use it. |
How to use it
- On Budget, enter your company name and the first month of the budget year.
- List your accounts and mark each Income or Expense.
- Enter the plan month by month. Seasonal businesses shouldn't just divide by 12.
- As each month closes, enter actual results on the Actual sheet.
- On Budget vs actual, enter the latest month you have actuals for. Look at the biggest differences first.
Pale yellow cells are for your entries; white cells calculate. Nothing is locked, so you can rename lines, add rows inside a section, or change the layout. Each file has an Instructions sheet with these steps.
Download budget template (.xlsx)
Questions
How do I build a first budget?
Start from last year's actual numbers, month by month. Adjust for what you know is changing: a price increase, a new hire, a lease renewal. Keep it simple; a budget you update beats a perfect one you abandon.
What does better or worse than budget mean?
For income, actual above budget is better. For expenses, actual below budget is better. The Result column applies the right rule to each line from its Type.
Why compare year to date instead of one month?
Single months are noisy: a bill paid early or late swings them. Year to date smooths out timing so real trends stand out. Choose 3 for the first quarter, 6 for the half year, and so on.
Related
- Budget vs actual reports, explained
- 13-week cash flow forecast template
- Profit and loss template
- All free templates
General information, not tax, legal or accounting advice. Check with your accountant before relying on a template for a tax return.
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When the spreadsheet stops being enough
Typing actuals into a spreadsheet each month is the step most budgets die on. AcboBooks takes the actuals from your books.
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