Free, no sign-up to start: the plan opens as a live, editable Gantt chart. 11 tasks across 4 phases, about 9 weeks if every task runs in sequence.
What's in the template
Prior-year actuals review
Budget guidelines and templates
Kickoff with department heads
Department budget drafts
Headcount and capital requests
Finance consolidation
Leadership review meetings
Revisions
Final budget approval
Communicate budgets to departments
Load budget into accounting system
| Phase | Task | Example duration |
|---|---|---|
| Prepare | Prior-year actuals review | 5 days |
| Prepare | Budget guidelines and templates | 5 days |
| Prepare | Kickoff with department heads | 1 day |
| Submit | Department budget drafts | 15 days |
| Submit | Headcount and capital requests | 10 days |
| Consolidate | Finance consolidation | 7 days |
| Consolidate | Leadership review meetings | 5 days |
| Consolidate | Revisions | 7 days |
| Approve | Final budget approval | 2 days |
| Approve | Communicate budgets to departments | 2 days |
| Approve | Load budget into accounting system | 3 days |
Durations are examples to replace with your own estimates, not benchmarks.
About this annual budget planning
Budget season runs on deadlines that depend on each other: finance can't consolidate until departments submit, and leadership can't approve until reviews finish. This plan lays out that cycle so department heads know when their inputs are due.
It fits small and mid-sized organizations. Rename the phases to match your fiscal calendar.
Who it's for: Finance managers, controllers, CFOs and nonprofit finance teams.
How to use it
- Open the plan. Click Open in the editor.
- Anchor the approval date. Set the first task's start date, then adjust durations until final approval lands on your board or leadership date.
- Run requests in parallel. Select headcount and capital requests, remove the predecessor in the task panel, then set its start date to match department drafts.
- Share deadlines. Send a read-only link to every department head.
Planning tips
- Give departments templates with last year's actuals filled in.
- Leave time for a second round of revisions.
- Mark the approval meeting as a milestone.
Frequently asked questions
- When should budget planning start?
- It depends on your fiscal year and approval process. This template spans about two months.
- Can I export the timeline?
- Sharing is free. PDF and CSV downloads are on Solo ($12/month).
- Does this connect to accounting software?
- No. It is a timeline for the budget process, not a budgeting tool.
Related templates
The free plan saves one project. Downloads (PDF, CSV) and more projects are on Solo, $12/month.