02Budgeting & Forecasting

A budget you set once and a forecast you keep current.

We work with you to build robust annual budgets and long-term forecasts that line up with your strategic goals, so you're prepared for what's ahead and can adjust as market conditions change.

Budgeting & Forecasting

Sample data
  • Revenue vs. budget

    +3.2%

    Year to date

  • Forecast horizon

    12 mo

    Rolling

  • Budget owners

    6

    One per department

Illustrative chart and figures for Budgeting & Forecasting. Sample data, not a client's.

What you get

Four deliverables you keep.

An annual budget tied to your goals and a rolling forecast that adjusts as the year moves.

  • Annual budget

    By month, by department or location, built with the people who own each line.

  • Rolling forecast

    Updated monthly so the year-end number is always your best current estimate.

  • Budget vs. actual

    A monthly view of where you're ahead, behind and why.

  • Planning calendar

    Who does what, when, so the next budget takes days instead of weeks.

How it works

Three steps from first call to handover.

  1. Step 01

    Set the targets

    We start from where you want the year to end.

  2. Step 02

    Build bottom-up

    Each owner shapes their part, and we roll it into one plan.

  3. Step 03

    Keep it current

    We refresh the forecast monthly and flag the gaps.

Sample output

What the work looks like.

A simplified mock of one deliverable from this service. The figures are sample data for a made-up business, not a client's.

  • Annual budget
  • Rolling forecast
  • Budget vs. actual
  • Planning calendar

Budget vs. actual: March

Monthly variance view, $K

Sample data
Budget vs. actual: March. Monthly variance view, $K. Sample data.
LineBudgetActualVariance
Revenue480502+22
Cost of sales190204(14)
Payroll150148+2
Overhead6266(4)
Operating profit7884+6
Illustrative mock of a deliverable. All figures are sample data for a made-up business.

FAQ

Questions about budgeting & forecasting

What's the difference between a budget and a forecast?

A budget says where you intend to go. A forecast says where you're actually heading. You need both, and we keep them side by side.

Do we need to change our accounting software?

No. We work from what you already use, such as QuickBooks, Xero or spreadsheets, and connect cloud FP&A tools on top when they help.

How long until we see something useful?

It depends on your data and scope. Before any work starts, you get a written plan with dates for each deliverable.

Book a call

Let's look at your numbers.

Tell us what's going on with your business. We'll email you to set up a free 30-minute discovery call about budgeting & forecasting.

Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm

Prefer the full form? Go to Book a call

Your details go only to Analytic Edge Consulting.

Health CheckBook a call