Small business monthly budget planner
Plan one month of income and expenses by category, see your surplus and how much of your income each category takes, then type actuals at month end to compare.
Summary
| Actual income | |
|---|---|
| Actual expenses | |
| Actual surplus |
Where the money goes (share of income)
How to use this calculator
- List what you expect to earn this month in the income rows.
- Plan each expense category. Pay yourself (owner pay) and set money aside for tax as categories, not leftovers.
- Check the surplus and the bars: any category taking a large share of income is the first place to look for savings.
- At month end, type actual figures. The Diff. and Left columns show where you came in over or under plan.
How the math works
Treating owner pay and tax set-aside as budget lines means the surplus is genuine buffer, not money already spoken for.
Worked example
The sample shop plans 9,000.00 of income: 7,500.00 product sales and 1,500.00 services. Planned expenses, including 2,500.00 owner pay and 900.00 tax set-aside, come to 8,735.00.
- Surplus: 265.00 a month (2.9% of income), 3,180.00 over a year
- Biggest lines: owner pay 28% and materials 23% of income
Frequently asked questions
How do I make a budget for a small business?
Start from what you expect to earn, list fixed costs (rent, software, insurance), then variable costs (materials, shipping, fees, ads), and include owner pay and a tax set-aside. Compare with actuals every month and adjust.
What percentage of revenue should go to expenses?
It depends on the business. Product sellers often spend 30-50% on cost of goods alone, while service businesses spend far less. Watch the trend month to month rather than chasing a fixed rule.
Should I pay myself in my business budget?
Yes. Put owner pay in as a line. If the budget only balances when you pay yourself nothing, the business needs higher prices or lower costs.
How much should a small business keep as a cash buffer?
A common target is three to six months of fixed expenses. A monthly surplus is how you build it.
Is my data saved?
No. The planner runs entirely in your browser and nothing is stored or sent. For a 12-month plan you can keep, use a spreadsheet.
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Last reviewed 2026-11-15.