{"id":19416,"date":"2025-06-25T11:51:26","date_gmt":"2025-06-25T15:51:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/?p=19416"},"modified":"2025-07-17T14:01:24","modified_gmt":"2025-07-17T18:01:24","slug":"optimizing-saas-forecasting-and-budgeting-to-slash-uncertainty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/optimizing-saas-forecasting-and-budgeting-to-slash-uncertainty\/","title":{"rendered":"How a strategic SaaS budget and forecasting help reduce uncertainty and boost recurring revenue"},"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-us\/blog\/category\/technology-innovation\/\" class=\"entry-header__link\">Technology &amp; Innovation<\/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 a strategic SaaS budget and forecasting help reduce uncertainty and boost recurring revenue\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 \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2025-06-25T11:51:26-04:00\">June 25, 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 a strategic SaaS budget and forecasting help reduce uncertainty and boost recurring revenue\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-url=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/optimizing-saas-forecasting-and-budgeting-to-slash-uncertainty\/\"\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-us\/blog\/author\/joechurchwoods\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Joe-Yard-2-crop-350x350.jpg\" class=\"entry-author__image\" alt=\"Joe Church Woods\" \/>\t\t\t\t<span class=\"entry-author__name\">Joe Church Woods<\/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>SaaS budgeting and forecasting are two essential strategies that can help your business navigate uncertainty and drive long-term growth\u2014each serving a distinct purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Strategic budgeting enables you to allocate capital effectively, ensuring every department has the resources it needs to achieve its goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Forecasting, on the other hand, helps anticipate future trends and performance, allowing you to prepare for both revenue surges and slowdowns\u2014an especially critical capability in a subscription-based SaaS model.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With the right SaaS budget planning in place, you can scale operations confidently, minimize unnecessary spending, and stay ahead of cash flow challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This guide will walk you through a practical SaaS budgeting framework\u2014designed to help you plan smarter, spend more efficiently, and grow with confidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Here\u2019s what we\u2019ll cover:<\/strong><\/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-saas-budgeting\" data-level=\"2\">What is SaaS budgeting?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-why-every-saas-business-needs-a-solid-budget\" data-level=\"2\">Why every SaaS business needs a solid budget<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#h-key-budgeting-challenges-in-the-saas-model\" data-level=\"3\">Key budgeting challenges in the SaaS model<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-the-fundamentals-of-saas-budgeting\" data-level=\"2\">The fundamentals of SaaS budgeting<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#h-what-happens-without-a-budget\" data-level=\"3\">What happens without a budget?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-key-components-of-a-saas-budget\" data-level=\"2\">Key components of a SaaS budget<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#h-1-revenue-projections-forecasting-recurring-revenue-accurately\" data-level=\"3\">1. Revenue projections: Forecasting recurring revenue accurately<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-2-expense-planning-managing-saas-spending\" data-level=\"3\">2. Expense planning: Managing SaaS spending<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-how-to-create-a-scalable-saas-budget\" data-level=\"2\">How to create a scalable SaaS budget<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#h-1-analyze-current-spending\" data-level=\"3\">1. Analyze current spending<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-2-involve-stakeholders\" data-level=\"3\">2. Involve stakeholders<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-3-choose-the-right-budgeting-framework\" data-level=\"3\">3. Choose the right budgeting framework<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-4-use-saas-budgeting-software-for-smarter-planning\" data-level=\"3\">4. Use SaaS budgeting software for smarter planning<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-5-enhance-continuous-budget-optimization\" data-level=\"3\">5. Enhance continuous budget optimization<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-6-build-saas-budgets-for-each-growth-stage\" data-level=\"3\">6. Build SaaS budgets for each growth stage<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-7-aligning-your-budget-with-fundraising-goals\" data-level=\"3\">7. Aligning your budget with fundraising goals<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-saas-budgeting-missteps-to-look-out-for\" data-level=\"2\">SaaS budgeting missteps to look out for<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#h-1-underestimating-your-saas-budget\" data-level=\"3\">1. Underestimating your SaaS budget<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-2-creating-your-saas-budget-in-a-silo\" data-level=\"3\">2. Creating your SaaS budget in a silo<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-3-relying-on-spreadsheets\" data-level=\"3\">3. Relying on spreadsheets<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-taking-control-of-your-saas-budget\" data-level=\"2\">Taking control of your SaaS budget<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-final-thoughts\" data-level=\"2\">Final thoughts<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-saas-budgeting\">What is SaaS budgeting?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>SaaS budgeting is the process of planning, allocating, and tracking financial resources specifically for Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>SaaS budget planning must account for subscription-based revenue, high upfront acquisition costs, and fast-paced growth cycles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Rather than relying on static annual budgets, SaaS businesses often benefit from flexible, rolling forecasts and real-time data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The goal? To create a scalable financial plan that supports your company\u2019s sustainable growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-why-every-saas-business-needs-a-solid-budget\">Why every SaaS business needs a solid budget<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Wondering why your SaaS business needs a strong budget?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Common budgeting frameworks\u2014designed for companies with stable income and predictable expenses\u2014don\u2019t quite fit the SaaS model.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s because your SaaS business operates under a unique set of financial dynamics, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/glossary\/what-is-recurring-billing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Recurring revenue<\/a> instead of one-time sales.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>High Customer Acquisition Costs (CAC) are paid upfront.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Revenue recognition over time, not immediately.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Without a tailored approach, using conventional methods can lead to cash flow blind spots, inefficient spending, and misaligned priorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-key-budgeting-challenges-in-the-saas-model\">Key budgeting challenges in the SaaS model<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Recurring revenue complexity:<\/strong> unlike traditional sales, SaaS revenue is collected over time. Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR) and Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) must be accurately forecasted and adjusted for churn, downgrades, or expansions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Variable expenses:<\/strong> costs like marketing, infrastructure, and software tools often scale as your company grows, making them more unpredictable and harder to manage.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Investment-driven growth: <\/strong>like many SaaS businesses, yours probably invests heavily in research and development, as well as customer acquisition, long before you see a return. This can stretch budgets thin without careful planning.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-fundamentals-of-saas-budgeting\">The fundamentals of SaaS budgeting<strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To excel at SaaS budgeting, you must understand the unique dynamics of your business model.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Anticipate customer turnover, identify growth opportunities, and make sure your spending supports your growth strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are the four core categories every SaaS budget should cover:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Revenue forecasting: <\/strong>estimate Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR) and Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR), while factoring in churn, upgrades, and downgrades.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Operating expenses:<\/strong> account for ongoing costs like infrastructure, salaries, marketing, and your own SaaS stack.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Customer Acquisition Costs (CAC):<\/strong> crucial for calculating payback periods and determining the sustainability of your sales and marketing efforts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>R&amp;D investment: <\/strong>your SaaS company probably invests heavily in product development. Budgeting here plays a key role in maintaining innovation and staying competitive.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-happens-without-a-budget\">What happens without a budget?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Without a structured budget in place, your business risks:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Overspending without visibility.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cash flow issues from mismatched revenue recognition.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Stalled growth due to underfunded initiatives.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-key-components-of-a-saas-budget\">Key components of a SaaS budget<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Two components make up the ideal SaaS budget:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-revenue-projections-forecasting-recurring-revenue-accurately\">1. Revenue projections: Forecasting recurring revenue accurately<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A reliable revenue forecast lies at the core of every effective SaaS budget. Begin by estimating:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>MRR: <\/strong>the predictable income from subscriptions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>ARR: <\/strong>your MRR times 12\u2014but adjusted for churn and expansion.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Also consider:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Churn rate: <\/strong>the percentage of customers you lose in each period.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Expansion revenue:<\/strong> income from upselling or cross-selling to existing users.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-expense-planning-managing-saas-spending\">2. Expense planning: Managing SaaS spending<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re not keeping a close eye on your expenses, your SaaS business can burn through cash faster than expected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As a finance or leadership decision-maker, you need visibility into the areas where spending tends to spiral.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Key categories to monitor include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Infrastructure costs: <\/strong>hosting, cloud services, APIs, and other backend essentials.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Payroll:<\/strong> often the largest expense, especially as your team scales.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Marketing and sales:<\/strong> everything from advertising campaigns to CRMs and content production.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>One area that\u2019s frequently underestimated is Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re not accurately tracking CAC, it can quietly erode your margins and delay your path to profitability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is where SaaS spend management software becomes a critical tool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It helps you uncover underused platforms, eliminate duplicate subscriptions, and monitor department-level spending\u2014giving you the clarity you need to allocate resources more strategically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner\">\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\">10 reasons SaaS companies shouldn\u2019t use QuickBooks<\/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><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p class=\"\">There is efficient and effective SaaS accounting software out there that provides what startup companies need to grow, but QuickBooks is not one of them.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/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=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/sage-business-cloud\/intacct\/resources\/ebooks\/10-reasons-saas-companies-shouldnt-use-quickbooks\/\"\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\tid=\"cta-id-20409\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-button-location=\"cta_box\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>E-book<\/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-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1430627448-1215x810.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1430627448-1215x810.jpg 1215w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-create-a-scalable-saas-budget\">How to create a scalable SaaS budget<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Ready to build a budget that grows with you? Here\u2019s how to get started:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-analyze-current-spending\">1. Analyze current spending<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Start with a full audit of your current expenses. Look at:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>What tools are you paying for?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Are you overinvesting in one department?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What expenses directly contribute to growth?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This step gives you a clear view of what to keep, cut, or reallocate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-involve-stakeholders\">2. Involve stakeholders<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Collaboration makes sure your budget supports real business needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to your finance team, loop in department heads, founders or executive leadership, or FP&amp;A and operations teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-choose-the-right-budgeting-framework\">3. Choose the right budgeting framework<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Every business has unique needs, so selecting the right budgeting approach is essential for building a financial plan that supports your goals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are the most common budgeting frameworks used in SaaS:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Zero-based budgeting: <\/strong>start each budgeting cycle from scratch. Every dollar must be justified, making this ideal for lean operations or early-stage startups focused on efficiency.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Growth-driven budgeting: <\/strong>prioritize spending based on Return On Investment (ROI). This model suits VC-backed or fast-growing SaaS companies looking to scale strategically.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Top-down budgeting: <\/strong>senior leadership sets the overall budget, and departments build their plans within that framework. This method is efficient and ensures alignment with high-level business objectives, but it may overlook departmental nuances.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Bottom-up budgeting: <\/strong>each department estimates its own needs, which are then rolled up into the overall company budget. This approach encourages accuracy and team buy-in but can be more time-consuming and challenging to coordinate.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Whatever framework you choose, make sure your budget aligns with both your short-term objectives and long-term growth strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-4-use-saas-budgeting-software-for-smarter-planning\">4. Use SaaS budgeting software for smarter planning<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Let automation handle the heavy lifting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Consider automated SaaS finance software that allows your team to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Build dynamic forecasts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Auto-sync with accounting and CRM systems.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Run \u201cwhat-if\u201d scenarios in seconds.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Provide real-time spend visibility.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This step not only saves time, but it improves forecasting accuracy and cross-team collaboration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-5-enhance-continuous-budget-optimization\">5. Enhance continuous budget optimization<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Your budget should evolve as your business grows, and market conditions change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ongoing optimization helps to make sure your financial plan stays aligned with your goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Use SaaS spend management tools to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Set alerts for budget overruns before they become major issues.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Track usage across departments to identify underutilized or redundant tools.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Analyze ROI on specific software, campaigns, or initiatives to guide smarter investments.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Make monthly or quarterly adjustments based on real-time performance data and shifting priorities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Regular reviews allow you to reallocate resources efficiently, respond to new opportunities, and stay agile in a competitive SaaS landscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-6-build-saas-budgets-for-each-growth-stage\">6. Build SaaS budgets for each growth stage<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As your company grows, your budget should grow with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Each stage of the SaaS journey requires its financial strategy to support evolving priorities and challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Consider these budgeting approaches based on your growth phase:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Early-stage SaaS: <\/strong>prioritize your minimum viable product, track customer acquisition cost payback, and keep the burn rate low. A well-structured SaaS startup budget is essential at this stage, and zero-based or lean budgeting models can help you maximize limited resources.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Scaling stage:<\/strong> allocate resources to support product development, build out your sales team, and expand into new markets. Leverage scenario planning and growth-driven budgeting to stay flexible.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Mature SaaS:<\/strong> shift focus to operational efficiency, global expansion, and customer retention. Forecasting ARR over longer time horizons becomes increasingly valuable.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-7-aligning-your-budget-with-fundraising-goals\">7. Aligning your budget with fundraising goals<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A well-structured budget serves as a financial roadmap for your business and a key indicator of performance and potential for investors. It should demonstrate:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Your burn multiple and trajectory toward profitability.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How expenditures support scalable and sustainable growth.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A strategic plan for deploying new capital across functions and initiatives.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-saas-budgeting-missteps-to-look-out-for\">SaaS budgeting missteps to look out for<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Even with the best intentions, it\u2019s easy to fall into common budgeting traps that can hurt your SaaS company\u2019s performance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are a few to keep on your radar:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-underestimating-your-saas-budget\">1. Underestimating your SaaS budget<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Many teams fail to account for all the costs of running and scaling a SaaS business\u2014especially variable expenses like customer acquisition, infrastructure, and ongoing software subscriptions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This can lead to cash flow issues and stalled growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-creating-your-saas-budget-in-a-silo\">2. Creating your SaaS budget in a silo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Budgeting without cross-functional input often results in misaligned goals and overlooked needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Involving key stakeholders\u2014from product and marketing to sales and support\u2014ensures your budget reflects priorities across the business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-relying-on-spreadsheets\">3. Relying on spreadsheets<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Manual budgeting and forecasting are time-consuming and prone to human error, which can lead to costly miscalculations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Outdated processes reduce efficiency and hinder cross-team collaboration.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Errors may go unnoticed until they cause bigger financial issues.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Spreadsheets don\u2019t allow for real-time updates or agile decision-making.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>By switching to SaaS financial planning software, you gain structure, automation, and data-driven insights\u2014helping you improve accuracy, save time, and adapt quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/automate-saas-budgeting-fpa-business-budgeting-software\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">automating your SaaS budgeting and financial planning<\/a><\/strong> you&#8217;ll also enhance visibility and enable better informed decisions\u2014whether you\u2019re managing internal budgets or presenting to investors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-taking-control-of-your-saas-budget\">Taking control of your SaaS budget<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether you\u2019re bootstrapped or backed by venture capital, your SaaS budget plays a central role in guiding your financial decisions and growth strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s a quick recap of the key takeaways:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>SaaS budgeting requires a unique approach tailored to recurring revenue and fast-paced growth.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Accurate forecasting helps reduce uncertainty and supports better decision-making.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tools like SaaS budgeting and spend management software bring clarity and control to the process.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Collaboration and regular reviews keep your budget aligned with evolving business goals.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-final-thoughts\">Final thoughts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When done right, your budget becomes a growth enabler\u2014not a constraint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, take control, plan purposefully, use technology, and set your business up for long-term success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want an easy solution to streamline your budgeting and forecasting, explore our AI-powered finance and <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/industry\/subscription-saas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">subscription management software<\/a><\/strong> designed specifically for SaaS and tech companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>Editor&#8217;s note:<\/strong> this article was originally published in August 2023 and has been updated and rewritten for relevance.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta gated-content\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner\">\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\">The Definitive SaaS Buyer\u2019s Guide to Planning Software<\/h2>\n\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-5cf8c4bd-86d1-40d3-a7b4-712a65585d3b\"\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 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=\"1215\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1483132604-1215x810.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"Woman using accounts payable KPIs to improve efficiency and reduce costs\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1483132604-1215x810.jpg 1215w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner\">\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 our 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>Get our latest business advice delivered directly to your inbox.<\/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-ab515c6e-7e90-4c2f-a67e-113872516e8b\"\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<\/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=\"1440\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1073797282-1440x810.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"Working from home with tea in hand\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1073797282-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" 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-us\/blog\/hub\/accounting-101\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAccounting 101\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-us\/blog\/hub\/boss-your-business\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBoss your business\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-us\/blog\/hub\/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\t\t<li class=\"post-tags__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/hub\/cfo\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCFO\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-us\/blog\/hub\/cloud-financial-management\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCloud financial management\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-us\/blog\/hub\/cloud-technology\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCloud Technology\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-29310 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-strategy-legal-operations category-technology-innovation tag-artificial-intelligence tag-automation tag-boss-your-business tag-cash-flow tag-cloud-financial-management tag-sage-accounting business_type-small-business business_type-growing-business 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=\"1215\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1190223207-1215x810.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1190223207-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1190223207-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1190223207-1215x810.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\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=\"2026-06-10T12:23:35-04:00\">June 10, 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\">12 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-us\/blog\/order-to-cash-process-otc-o2c\/\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWhat is the Order to Cash process?\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\tIf you manage business finances or operations, the order to cash process shapes how quickly you invoice, collect payment, and convert revenue into working capital. Learn the key steps, KPIs, and how to improve your O2C cycle with automation.\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-29062 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-strategy-legal-operations tag-boss-your-business tag-business-intelligence tag-growing-a-business tag-inventory-management tag-productivity tag-staying-competitive tag-supply-chain-management business_type-small-business business_type-growing-business\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/what-is-an-order-management-system-oms\/\"\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-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1417607997-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1417607997-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1417607997-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1417607997-1215x810.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=\"2026-06-10T10:25:03-04:00\">June 10, 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\">19 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 an order management system?\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-28210 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-growth-customers category-strategy-legal-operations tag-boss-your-business tag-business-intelligence tag-business-strategy tag-distribution tag-growing-a-business tag-inventory-management tag-productivity tag-supply-chain-management business_type-small-business business_type-growing-business industry-distribution industry-wholesale-distribution\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/what-is-order-processing\/\"\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-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-841574854-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-841574854-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-841574854-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-841574854-1215x810.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=\"2026-06-02T11:22:21-04:00\">June 2, 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\">19 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\tOrder processing explained: Steps, systems and best practices\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-28775 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-money-matters category-strategy-legal-operations tag-business-strategy tag-cash-flow tag-growing-a-business tag-small-business business_type-small-business business_type-growing-business industry-nonprofit\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/peer-to-peer-fundraising-best-practices\/\"\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-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1414263386-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1414263386-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1414263386-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1414263386-1215x810.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=\"2026-06-02T05:54:37-04:00\">June 2, 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\">15 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\tPeer-to-peer fundraising guide: Best practices for success\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-29487 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-money-matters category-strategy-legal-operations tag-accounting-101 tag-boss-your-business tag-business-continuity tag-business-intelligence tag-cash-flow tag-sage-accounting tag-small-business tag-starting-a-business business_type-small-business business_type-growing-business\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/accounts-payable-vs-notes-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-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/10\/BrandShoot-LND_June2024_Financial-Services_0474-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/10\/BrandShoot-LND_June2024_Financial-Services_0474-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/10\/BrandShoot-LND_June2024_Financial-Services_0474-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/10\/BrandShoot-LND_June2024_Financial-Services_0474-1214x810.jpg 1214w\" 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=\"2026-05-22T12:03:36-04:00\">May 22, 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\">8 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\tNotes payable vs accounts payable: Differences and 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\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Set your SaaS business up for future success with smarter forecasting. Discover practical budgeting tips to stay ahead in a fast-moving, competitive market.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1847,"featured_media":25069,"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,"footnotes":""},"categories":[48],"tags":[110,195,299,427,420,346],"business_type":[41],"lilypad":[],"context":[],"industry":[450],"persona":[100,98],"imagine_tag":[209,461,233,471],"coauthors":[592],"class_list":["post-19416","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology-innovation","tag-accounting-101","tag-boss-your-business","tag-cash-flow","tag-cfo","tag-cloud-financial-management","tag-cloud-technology","business_type-growing-business","industry-software-saas"],"sage_meta":{"region":"en-us","author_name":"Joe Church Woods","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/08\/BrandShootSF_Oct2021_ProfSvcs_C8626.jpeg","imagine_tags":{"209":"Accounting","461":"Cloud","233":"Medium Businesses","471":"SaaS"}},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Sage Advice US","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19416","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/users\/1847"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19416"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19416\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media\/25069"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19416"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19416"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19416"},{"taxonomy":"business_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/business_type?post=19416"},{"taxonomy":"lilypad","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/lilypad?post=19416"},{"taxonomy":"context","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/context?post=19416"},{"taxonomy":"industry","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/industry?post=19416"},{"taxonomy":"persona","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/persona?post=19416"},{"taxonomy":"imagine_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/imagine_tag?post=19416"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=19416"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}