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QuickBooks Online For Dummies, 2026 Edition, 10th Edition
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QuickBooks Online For Dummies, 2026 Edition, 10th Edition

by David H. Ringstrom
November 2025
Beginner
400 pages
8h 16m
English
For Dummies
Content preview from QuickBooks Online For Dummies, 2026 Edition, 10th Edition

Chapter 12

Formulating Budgets

IN THIS CHAPTER

Bullet Discovering who can create budgets

Bullet Creating a budget from scratch or prior-year data

Bullet Typing, calculating, or batch-copying budget amounts

Bullet Importing budgets using a spreadsheet template

If you want to create a budget within QuickBooks, you need a Plus or Advanced subscription. Budgets are typically projections of revenues and expenses for the coming year. QuickBooks allows you to choose between that traditional format — known as a Profit and Loss budget — or a Balance Sheet budget, which forecasts assets, liabilities, and cash flow.

As the year progresses, you can compare actual results against your budget to see whether things are staying on track. Do they ever? You can base budgets on current or prior fiscal year results, or you can start from scratch. You can enter budget numbers directly into QuickBooks or import them from a spreadsheet template.

Once your budget is in place, the Budget Overview and Budgets vs. Actual reports help you track how your financial crystal ball is holding up. The final section offers some outside-the-box ...

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Publisher Resources

ISBN: 9781394367177