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Use the Budget vs Actual template

Generate automated budget vs actual reports.

Karoline Fernezlian avatar
Written by Karoline Fernezlian
Updated over 3 weeks ago

Unlike a standard spreadsheet template, Sheetgo’s Budget vs Actual template is a workflow of connected files that consolidates data automatically.

This template will:

  • Help you compare your budget with what you've earned and spent.

  • Generate automated reports with your income and expenses data.

How the template works

When you install the Budget vs Actual template, three Google Sheets files with pre-built Sheetgo connections are saved to your Google Drive.

File breakdown

  • File 1: Budget vs Actual (master sheet)

    This file has an automated analysis of forecasted and actual income and expenses data across the company.

  • File 2: Expenses spreadsheet

    These expenses might include fixed monthly costs, one-off purchases, or other outgoings. Share this with people responsible for payments.

  • File 3: Income spreadsheet

    Every time an invoice is paid, it should be logged in this spreadsheet. Share this with people responsible for processing income.

  • Dashboard

    This includes key information such as an income forecast, profit trends, income and expense breakdowns by department.

How to use the template

Step 1: install and explore

  • Wait as Sheetgo saves a copy of the files to your Google Drive and creates the automations.

  • When the installation is finished, the template will open.

Step 2: enter your data

  • Open the Budget vs Actual (master sheet).

  • In the Inputs tab, select the year for which you want to view reports.

  • Go back to the Workflow tab and open Expenses.

  • Replace sample data in the Categories Input tab.

  • Repeat this for the Budget Detail and Expenses Detail tabs.

  • Go back to the Workflow tab and open Income.

  • Change sample data in the Categories Input tab.

  • Repeat this in Forecast Detail and Income Detail tabs.

Step 3: update your connections

  • Go back to the Workflow tab and click Run all automations to update your workflow.

  • Open the master sheet. Go to Budget analysis, Income analysis or Expenses analysis to view consolidated data from the Expense and Income sheets.

Step 4: share files

Learn how to share files from your Google Drive or learn how to share workflows and collaborate with your colleagues in Sheetgo.

Step 5: automate transfers

Set triggers for your workflow to always have the most recent data in your master sheet. Learn more.

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