{"id":16180,"date":"2025-03-13T14:19:54","date_gmt":"2025-03-13T14:19:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/?p=16180"},"modified":"2026-07-09T15:36:54","modified_gmt":"2026-07-09T14:36:54","slug":"small-business-budget","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/small-business-budget\/","title":{"rendered":"How to create a small business budget"},"content":{"rendered":"<header class=\"entry-header has-dark-background-color entry-header--has-illustration entry-header--has-illustration--generic\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__row row align-center\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-lg-7 col-xlg-6 entry-header__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"component component-single-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__misc text--subtitle text--uppercase text--small\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/category\/money-matters\/\" class=\"entry-header__link\">Money Matters<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-title-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"entry-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tHow to create a small business budget\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"entry-header__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"single-post-details container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"posted-on \">Published <time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2025-03-13T14:19:54+00:00\">13 March, 2025<\/time><\/span><span class=\"reading-time\"> min read<\/span>\n\t\t<button\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"social-share-button button button--icon button--secondary js-social-share-button\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-title=\"How to create a small business budget\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-url=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/small-business-budget\/\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-text=\"Please read this interesting article\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__share-label\">Share<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-label\" hidden>Copy Link<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\" hidden>Copied<\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/header>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author has-dark-background-color alignfull\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"co-authors\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-author-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"entry-author\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/author\/kieronjohnson\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/01\/Kieron-Johnson-350x350.jpg\" class=\"entry-author__image\" alt=\"kieron-johnson-profile-picture\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/01\/Kieron-Johnson-350x350.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/01\/Kieron-Johnson.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 40px) 100vw, 40px\" \/>\t\t\t\t<span class=\"entry-author__name\">Kieron Johnson<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There\u2019s an old saying, \u201cIf you fail to plan, you plan to fail.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The same rings true when creating a budget for your small business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And research supports this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the leading causes of small business failure is the underestimation of running costs, according to a study by UK accounting body the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Having a budget\u2014and sticking to it\u2014makes your business less likely to underestimate its expenses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this article, we explain what a small business budget is, why it\u2019s important, and how to create one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here\u2019s what we cover:<\/p>\n\n\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><div class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-table-of-contents yoast-table-of-contents\"><ul><li><a href=\"#h-what-is-a-small-business-budget-and-why-is-it-important\" data-level=\"2\">What is a small business budget and why is it important?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-what-should-you-include-in-a-small-business-budget\" data-level=\"2\">What should you include in a small business budget?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-how-to-create-a-small-business-budget\" data-level=\"2\">How to create a small business budget<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-who-can-help-with-small-business-budgeting\" data-level=\"2\">Who can help with small business budgeting?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-final-thoughts-on-business-budgets\" data-level=\"2\">Final thoughts on business budgets<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><div class=\"single-cta\">\n\t<a\n\t\tclass=\"button button--primary gate-73c0a131-e4f3-485b-a6c6-62c451003a2f\"\n\t\trole=\"button\"\n\t\tdata-button-location=\"content_area\"\n\t\thref=\"#gate-73c0a131-e4f3-485b-a6c6-62c451003a2f\"\n\t>Download your free small business toolkit: a guide, business plan template and cash flow forecast template so you can manage your business effectively<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-a-small-business-budget-and-why-is-it-important\">What is a small business budget and why is it important?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A budget is a spending plan for your business based on its projected income and expenditure over a certain timeframe, typically a month, quarter or year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition to preventing overspending, here are five reasons why it\u2019s important to have a budget:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-budgeting-promotes-sound-financial-decision-making\">1. Budgeting promotes sound financial decision-making<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As a small business owner, it\u2019s tempting to rely on your instincts to make judgement calls about your business, such as recruiting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But it\u2019s best to make financial decisions based on facts and figures rather than intuition. This is where a budget comes in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-budgeting-highlights-revenue-and-saving-opportunities\">2. Budgeting highlights revenue and saving opportunities<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A budget will help you identify areas where you can make money and save it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For instance, it can influence pivotal business decisions, such as whether to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/create-hr-strategy\/\">recruit staff<\/a> or trim some of your business expenses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-budgeting-provides-an-overview-of-your-business-finances\">3. Budgeting provides an overview of your business finances<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A budget gives you a bird\u2019s-eye view of how your business is spending and saving over time, and what kind of trajectory it\u2019s on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s also handy if your business is seeking finance. Having a budget gives you a head start on making a loan application or attracting investment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-4-budgeting-assists-cash-flow-management\">4. Budgeting assists cash flow management<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nobody likes to face the prospect of a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/what-is-cash-flow-management\/\">cash flow<\/a> crunch\u2014least of all small business owners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A budget sets up your business to distribute its resources efficiently, identify trends and make adjustments, so it doesn\u2019t end up with a cash flow shortage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-5-budgeting-identifies-growth-challenges-and-opportunities\">5. Budgeting identifies growth challenges and opportunities<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/size\/small-business\/\">small businesses<\/a>, growth is good but not all growth is created equal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s all about timing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Grow too fast, too soon and your business can crash and burn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A budget enables you to forecast a sustainable pace at which your business can grow. It can also help you spot factors that can make growth a bit more challenging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-should-you-include-in-a-small-business-budget\">What should you include in a small business budget?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The bare bones of a budget should include the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-income\">Income<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Income refers to how much revenue your business expects to generate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Examples include income from the sale of a product or service and other income, such as investments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-fixed-costs\">Fixed costs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fixed costs are incurred on a regular basis, irrespective of how much revenue your business generates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Rent<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Payroll<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Insurance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-variable-costs\">Variable costs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Variable costs are the opposite of fixed costs. They\u2019re incurred by your business proportionate to the revenue it generates. As such, they fluctuate monthly. Examples of variable costs include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Inventory<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Office supplies<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Commissions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-one-off-expenses\">One-off expenses<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One-off expenses are occasional payments your business makes, ranging from minor purchases, such as office supplies, to major ones, such as equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-emergency-fund\">Emergency fund<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is \u201crainy day\u201d money your business has for unforeseen expenses, such as replacing equipment sooner than expected (you can include this section as part of your one-off expenses).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><div class=\"single-cta\">\n\t<a\n\t\tclass=\"button button--primary gate-73c0a131-e4f3-485b-a6c6-62c451003a2f\"\n\t\trole=\"button\"\n\t\tdata-button-location=\"content_area\"\n\t\thref=\"#gate-73c0a131-e4f3-485b-a6c6-62c451003a2f\"\n\t>Download your free small business toolkit: a guide, business plan template and cash flow forecast template so you can manage your business effectively<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-create-a-small-business-budget\">How to create a small business budget<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now it\u2019s time to create a budget. Here\u2019s six simple steps for you to follow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-assess-the-financial-health-of-your-business\">1. Assess the financial health of your business<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A budget uncovers the financial condition of your business, so you can determine if you need to plough more funds into a certain area or cut back in others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The first step is to work out if your business is making a profit, a loss or breaking even.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pull up your business\u2019s financial statements over the past year and look for patterns when its income and expenses are higher or lower, such as at certain times in the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you have access to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/accounting-software\/\">accounting or bookkeeping software<\/a>, this process is even quicker and simpler.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-set-financial-targets-for-your-business\">2. Set financial targets for your business<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now you\u2019re in the know about the state of your business finances, you can set short term and long-term financial goals that determine how you distribute income to different expense categories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-calculate-your-business-revenue\">3. Calculate your business revenue<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To work out the average monthly revenue for your business, add up its revenue sources over the past year and divide it by 12.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019re just starting out in business, research your industry to find out what revenue is typical and use it as the basis of an estimate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-4-calculate-your-business-expenses\">4. Calculate your business expenses<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To calculate the average monthly expenses for your business, add its fixed and variable costs over the past year, then divide it by 12.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-5-determine-if-your-business-has-a-profit-or-loss\">5. Determine if your business has a profit or loss<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To find out if your business has an operating profit or loss, subtract its fixed and variable costs from its revenue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The resulting number shows you how much it costs to produce your product or service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can use any money left over to invest in growing your business, repay debt, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-6-allocate-your-business-funds\">6. Allocate your business funds<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The final step involves allocating funds for your business based on its financial goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To do this, create a budget with the following columns:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Expenses<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Budget<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Actual<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Difference.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Enter your expenses in the \u201cexpenses\u201d column, then distribute a certain amount of your monthly revenue to each expense under the \u201cbudget\u201d amount column.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At month end, enter the amounts your business spent on each expense under the \u201cactual\u201d amount column.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Use the \u201cdifference\u201d column to enter the amount your business was over or under budget for each expense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your business goals can change, so it\u2019s important to review your budget regularly to ensure it\u2019s still fit for purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If your budget is no longer aligned with your business goals, adjust it to reflect changes in revenue, expenses and market conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-who-can-help-with-small-business-budgeting\">Who can help with small business budgeting?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you need assistance creating a budget, there are professionals who can help, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Accountants<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bookkeepers<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Financial advisors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition to providing a budget template, they can make realistic forecasts about business performance, forthcoming expenses and tax exposure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They can also advise you on what to do when the actual figures for your business don\u2019t marry up with its predicted numbers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-final-thoughts-on-business-budgets\">Final thoughts on business budgets<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As a small business owner, drawing up a budget is probably one of the best time investments you can make.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Among other things, a budget allows you to manage your business finances efficiently, allocate its resources prudently and plan for future growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But it\u2019s one thing to have a budget and quite another to stick to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If your business is committed to its budget, this increases the chances of staying on track towards growth and longevity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another key is that your budget isn\u2019t static\u2014it should be changed according to the circumstances prevailing at the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ultimately, your budget should always work for your business, not against it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta gated-content\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner on-scroll-highlight__target\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">Small business toolkit<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Get your free guide, business plan template and cash flow forecast template to help you manage your business and achieve your goals.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"#gate-73c0a131-e4f3-485b-a6c6-62c451003a2f\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Download your free toolkit<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1215\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/08\/YBCA_FY19_Intacct_V3_0338-1-1215x810.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/08\/YBCA_FY19_Intacct_V3_0338-1-1215x810.jpg 1215w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner on-scroll-highlight__target\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">Subscribe to the Sage Advice newsletter<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Join 1.5 million subscribers and get the best business admin strategies and tactics, as well as actionable advice to help your company thrive, in your inbox every month.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"#gate-53abbdcc-410c-4c8c-bf97-ca5c6982eebd\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Subscribe now<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"999\" height=\"666\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/04\/z.5E3A0481_All-Uses.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/04\/z.5E3A0481_All-Uses.jpg 999w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<section class=\"more-topics alignfull has-grey-light-background-color wp-block-sage-post-topics\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-12 col-lg-4\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"more-topics__title h2\">Browse more topics from this article<\/h3>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-12 col-lg-8\">\n\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"post-tags__list\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"post-tags__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/tag\/bookkeeping\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBookkeeping\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"post-tags__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/tag\/business-finances\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBusiness finances\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"post-tags__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/tag\/business-performance\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBusiness performance\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"post-tags__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/tag\/cash-flow\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCash flow\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n<div class=\"alignfull wp-block-sage-related-posts\">\n\t<section class=\"related-posts card-grid has-dark-background-color\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"related-posts__heading related-posts__heading--featured h1\">Explore more wisdom<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"row related-posts__featured\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-0 post-18026 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-money-matters category-strategy-legal-operations tag-accounting-102 tag-business-intelligence tag-business-planning tag-cash-flow tag-compliance tag-profit-loss tag-tax tag-vat business_type-small-business business_type-medium-sized-business business_type-accountants card-post--is-clickable\"\n>\n\t<div class=\"card-post__media-wrapper\">\n\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/10\/GettyImages-1254783885-1-1440x810.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/10\/GettyImages-1254783885-1-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/10\/GettyImages-1254783885-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/10\/GettyImages-1254783885-1-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"card-post__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__label\">Recommended<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-06-26T12:03:32+01:00\">26 June, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">6 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__title-link\"\n\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/vat-rates-in-ireland\/\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tVAT rates in Ireland 2026: who qualifies for the 9% rate?\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"card-post__description\">\n\t\t\t\tUnderstand which goods and services qualify for Ireland\u2019s 9% VAT rate in 2026. Learn key changes from 1 July, common mistakes, and how to apply the correct VAT rate.\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row related-posts__non-featured\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-12\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"related-posts__heading related-posts__heading--more h4\">More on this Topic<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-1 post-17859 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-money-matters category-strategy-legal-operations tag-accounting-102 tag-audit tag-bookkeeping tag-business-management tag-financial-decisions tag-profit-loss business_type-small-business business_type-medium-sized-business business_type-accountants\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/three-way-matching-in-accounts-payable\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/04\/Sage_Cantelowes1444_All-Uses-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/04\/Sage_Cantelowes1444_All-Uses-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/04\/Sage_Cantelowes1444_All-Uses-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/04\/Sage_Cantelowes1444_All-Uses.jpg 999w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-04-13T11:11:45+01:00\">13 April, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">11 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tThree-way matching in accounts payable: What it is and why it matters\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-2 post-17849 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-money-matters tag-bookkeeping tag-cash-flow business_type-small-business\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/what-is-a-pro-forma-invoice\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1171809453-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1171809453-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1171809453-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1171809453-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-04-10T12:10:49+01:00\">10 April, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">7 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tWhat is a pro forma invoice?\u00a0\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-3 post-17843 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-money-matters tag-business-finances tag-business-planning tag-business-strategy business_type-small-business business_type-medium-sized-business\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/budget-forecasting\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1478370853-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1478370853-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1478370853-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1478370853-1215x810.jpg 1215w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-04-10T10:37:52+01:00\">10 April, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">11 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tHow to create accurate budget forecasts: Methods, tools, and real-world examples\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-4 post-17838 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-free-guides-templates category-money-matters tag-business-finances tag-ecommerce tag-electronic-payments business_type-small-business business_type-medium-sized-business industry-ecommerce\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/guide-to-subscription-billing\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1154410198-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1154410198-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1154410198-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1154410198-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" class=\"card-post__meta-icon svg-icon\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path d=\"M11.988 2.989a.75.75 0 0 0-.739.761v10.689l-1.72-1.72a.75.75 0 0 0-.957-.099.75.75 0 0 0-.315.776c.031.146.104.28.211.384l3 3a.75.75 0 0 0 1.06 0l3-3a.76.76 0 0 0 .231-.533.74.74 0 0 0-.22-.538q-.108-.106-.247-.164c-.139-.058-.191-.057-.291-.056s-.198.022-.29.061-.174.097-.243.169l-1.72 1.72V3.75a.76.76 0 0 0-.22-.541.76.76 0 0 0-.542-.22zM5.75 8.5C4.24 8.5 3 9.74 3 11.25v7C3 19.76 4.24 21 5.75 21h12.5c1.51 0 2.75-1.24 2.75-2.75v-7c0-1.51-1.24-2.75-2.75-2.75h-3a.76.76 0 0 0-.537.216.74.74 0 0 0-.223.535.76.76 0 0 0 .223.535.74.74 0 0 0 .537.216h3c.699 0 1.25.551 1.25 1.25v7a1.24 1.24 0 0 1-1.25 1.25H5.75a1.24 1.24 0 0 1-1.25-1.25v-7c0-.699.551-1.25 1.25-1.25h3a.76.76 0 0 0 .537-.216.74.74 0 0 0 .223-.535.76.76 0 0 0-.223-.535.75.75 0 0 0-.537-.216z\" \/><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-04-10T10:12:46+01:00\">10 April, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">12 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tA guide to subscription billing\u00a0\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Discover why a small business budget isn&#8217;t just about the numbers, it&#8217;s your roadmap to financial success. And learn how to create one.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1766,"featured_media":8433,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_sage_video":false,"post_featured_image_hide":false,"sage_hide_published_date":false,"sage_hide_read_time":false,"sage_hide_share_buttons":false,"_pwl_sage_podcast_buzzsprout_src":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[163],"tags":[105,107,313,110],"business_type":[5],"lilypad":[],"context":[],"industry":[],"persona":[232],"imagine_tag":[230],"coauthors":[496],"class_list":["post-16180","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-money-matters","tag-bookkeeping","tag-business-finances","tag-business-performance","tag-cash-flow","business_type-small-business"],"sage_meta":{"region":"en-ie","author_name":"Kieron Johnson","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1279589946.jpg","imagine_tags":{"230":"Small business"}},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Sage Advice Ireland","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16180","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/users\/1766"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16180"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16180\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18269,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16180\/revisions\/18269"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media\/8433"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16180"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16180"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16180"},{"taxonomy":"business_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/business_type?post=16180"},{"taxonomy":"lilypad","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/lilypad?post=16180"},{"taxonomy":"context","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/context?post=16180"},{"taxonomy":"industry","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/industry?post=16180"},{"taxonomy":"persona","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/persona?post=16180"},{"taxonomy":"imagine_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/imagine_tag?post=16180"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=16180"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}