Free small business budget template to manage your finances

Running a small business is no small feat. It’s one of the most demanding, yet rewarding, ventures you can take on. You’re juggling everything from hiring and payroll to managing suppliers and keeping cash flow healthy. With so many moving parts, staying on top of your finances can start to feel like a full-time job.

To help you get an overview of your business numbers, we’ve put together this small business budgeting template. It can help you plan ahead by knowing exactly how your finances are tracking, helping you make smart decisions about your people and cash flow.

What’s included in this small business budget template?

In this template, you’ll get access to popular templates, including: 

• Business income tracker
• Annual operating expenses template (fixed and variable)
• Total employment cost template
• Cash flow summary

Download the small business budgeting template now.

When to use the small business budgeting template

Our small business budget template is designed to support you at every stage of your small business journey, whether you’re just starting out or have been running a business for years. 

Be confident you can lean on this template to set your first financial goals, review your finances before tax time, plan for a period of growth or manage those slower periods when cash flow feels a little tight.

What is a business budget?

A business budget is a financial plan that outlines your income and expenses over a set period, typically a financial year. It helps small business owners track cash flow, prepare for unexpected expenses and be secure in their financial stability.

Having a good budget means knowing exactly where your money is going, so you can stay in control of spending and set financial goals confidently. A well-prepared business budget can also make financial planning, forecasting and reporting a whole lot easier.

How to use your small business budget template

This budgeting template gives you a clear overview of your business finances across the financial year, from the cash coming in to where it’s going out. Start by filling out your business overview, then map out your expected income each month to understand your revenue patterns.

From here, list out your ongoing expenses to see what’s absolutely essential for your business to operate. You can then compare this to your flexible costs. By separating out your fixed costs from your variable expenses, you can easily spot opportunities to reduce spending and save money in tighter cash flow periods.

You also need to factor in your total employment costs to see how your team wages impact your bottom line. Then you can wrap it all up in the cashflow summary to get a picture of how your business finances are tracking.

Types of budget templates small businesses can use

Every small business has different needs. That’s why there are several types of budget templates you can use to help you manage your business budget effectively.

12-month business budget template

If you want to see the bigger picture of your business’s financial health, a 12-month budget template could be your best friend. It helps you map out your income and expenses across the entire financial year, giving you a month-by-month snapshot of performance. 

By tracking patterns and seasonal trends, you can plan ahead for quieter periods, allocate resources strategically and make informed growth decisions. This template is ideal for businesses that want to stay agile and financially organised without being caught off guard by cash flow surprises. 

With clear visibility into where your money’s coming from (and where it’s going) you can take control of your financial goals and build long-term stability.

Business budget template for multiple products

When your business offers multiple products or services, knowing which ones drive profitability is key. A business budget template for multiple products helps you break down income and expenses by product line, giving you a clear picture of what’s performing well and what might need extra attention. 

Businesses might use this to compare revenue streams, identify top sellers and make data-backed decisions about where to invest or scale back. It’s useful for multi-channel retailers, service-based businesses or any operation with diverse offerings. 

By understanding the contribution of each product or service, you can fine-tune your pricing, optimise marketing spend and focus your energy on driving profit and growth across the board.

Annual business budget template

For business owners who like to keep their eye on the big picture, an annual budget template provides a strategic view of the year ahead. It’s designed to help you measure performance against annual goals, track overall profitability, and plan confidently for sustainable growth. 

Businesses use it to compare forecasts with real results, ensuring every decision, from hiring to investment, aligns with their financial objectives. Whether you’re preparing for board reporting, securing funding or just making sure your business stays on track, this annual overview gives you what you need. 

Expense budget template

Keeping costs under control is one of the smartest moves a business can make. An expense budget template helps you do exactly that. Use it to monitor fixed and variable expenses, identify spending patterns and find opportunities to cut unnecessary costs. 

Many businesses rely on this template to maintain healthy cash flow and avoid financial surprises. It’s especially useful for startups and growing businesses that need to understand their spending habits and manage budgets carefully. 

By keeping your expenses organised, you’ll have more flexibility to invest where you need, whether that’s new equipment, marketing initiatives or additional headcount. 

Startup budget template

Starting a new business is exciting, but it also comes with big financial decisions. A startup budget template helps new founders stay in control by mapping out essential setup costs, funding sources and early operational expenses.

It’s designed to give startups the oversight they need to manage their runway, forecast growth and plan for the unexpected. Entrepreneurs use this template to stay on top of everything from contractor payments to marketing spend, ensuring no dollar goes untracked. 

Why small business budgeting matters in Australia

For Australian small businesses, budgeting helps give an overview of financial stability and plan sustainable growth. A well-prepared budget gives you visibility, control and peace of mind, helping you steer your business through both the highs and the lows. It’s what keeps your cash flow healthy, your operations agile and your decision-making grounded in data, not guesswork.

But for many small business owners, getting budgeting right can be one of the hardest parts of running a business. With so many competing demands, like managing staff, customers, suppliers and compliance, it’s easy for financial planning to fall down the priority list. Yet, overlooking it can have serious consequences.

When a business has cash flow issues the stress can start to pile on. Slower trading periods or delayed invoices can leave you scrambling to cover expenses. Seasonality can also play a big role, with many industries experiencing fluctuations in revenue that need to be planned for months in advance. And then there are rising costs, from wages and superannuation to utilities and insurance, which can quickly eat into profits if not budgeted properly.

That’s why an effective business budget is so powerful. It helps you predict challenges before they happen, allocate resources where they’re needed most and make smarter, more confident financial decisions. 

Common budgeting mistakes to avoid

Even with the best budget templates in your toolkit, the reality is that you’re still human and mistakes can still happen. Here are some common mistakes you could fall victim to if you don’t keep a close eye on how you’re tracking. 

• Underestimating costs or forgetting to include smaller, one-off expenses.
• Not tracking expenses regularly or reviewing actual results.
• Failing to set aside a cash buffer for unexpected expenses.
• Not keeping an eye on variable costs that can push you into the red. 
• Not regularly updating your budget or factoring in business goals. 

Download your free small business budget template

Ready to take control of your business finances? Download your free small business budget template today.

Download the small business budgeting template now.

The information in this guide and template is current as at 9 October 2025, and has been prepared by Employment Hero Pty Ltd (ABN 11 160 047 709) and its related bodies corporate (Employment Hero). The content is general information only, is provided in good faith to assist employers and their employees, and should not be relied on as professional advice. Some information is based on data supplied by third parties. While such data is believed to be accurate, it has not been independently verified and no warranties are given that it is complete, accurate, up to date or fit for the purpose for which it is required. Employment Hero does not accept responsibility for any inaccuracy in such data and is not liable for any loss or damages arising directly or indirectly as a result of reliance on, use of or inability to use any information provided in this guide and template. You should undertake your own research and seek professional advice before making any decisions or relying on the information in this guide and template.