Budget Your Small Business the Easy Way 1-2-3
Setting up a business budget will of course help you organize your finances, but ultimately it will help you
save money.
By monitoring how much money is coming in and where it is going out, you can regulate and adjust accordingly
without being completely blind to what is going on.
When you set up a budget, begin with a spreadsheet or some sort of budgeting software that helps you keep
everything organized with minimal effort. If you already have accounting software, like Quickbooks Pro, you
can use the same software to prepare your budget without having to buy new software.
When inputting numbers into your spreadsheet, be flexible and allow some slack, as there may be some
unexpected expenses. Look for ways you can cut costs by combining services or switching the service
providers.
Make a plan to review your budget on a routine basis so that you can revise it and make changes as you need
to - and of course check to make sure you are staying within your budget. That said, budgets are not meant to
be followed to the T. They are usually ever-changing, but are a way you can better track your finances and end
up ahead in the long run.
Below are some software programs and worksheets that can better guide you in the budget set-up process:
 If you already own Microsoft Office software, you can download the following budget templates for free and
then input your own data:
Quicken Home & Business
Perfect for home based entrepreneurs - you essentially get two products in one - so you can budget your
business expenses and home expenses with one piece of software. Quicken is a trusted name, and I find their
software so easy to use, I actually enjoy it.
You can also try Quicken Online Free for personal finances only. It's
a great way to test out their budget program.
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