Effective financial planning is the backbone of any successful business, but creating detailed forecasts and budgets from a blank spreadsheet is time consuming and prone to error. A high quality forecast and budget template provides the structure you need, saving hours and ensuring you cover all critical financial areas from revenue projections to operating expenses. This guide curates the 12 best resources for ready to use templates, ranging from simple small business budgets in Excel and Google Sheets to sophisticated models for detailed financial analysis.
To truly unlock the power of these templates, it is essential to first grasp the core principles, such as those found in a practical guide to budgeting and forecasting. Understanding these fundamentals will help you select and customize the right framework for your specific operational needs.
We will explore each platform's ideal use case, key features, and practical limitations, helping you choose the right tool to gain clarity and control over your finances. Each entry includes direct links and screenshots to simplify your search, whether you need a comprehensive forecast and budget template for FinOps analysis or a straightforward planner for a small team. This resource is designed to help you quickly find the perfect starting point for managing your financial future.
1. Microsoft Create – Budget Templates
Microsoft Create is the official, first-party source for a vast library of Excel-based templates, making it an excellent starting point for anyone already using the Microsoft 365 ecosystem. This platform stands out for its reliability and seamless integration. You can find everything from simple personal budgets to more complex small business financial planners, all designed by Microsoft to work flawlessly across Excel on desktop, web, and Mac. The templates come with pre-built formulas and professional, consistent formatting, removing much of the initial setup work.
This repository is ideal for users who prioritize trust and ease of use over highly specialized forecasting features. While many templates are free, some premium designs require a Microsoft 365 subscription. A key benefit is the direct link to Microsoft's support documentation, offering guidance right within your workflow. For businesses creating a technology-specific financial plan, these templates provide a solid foundation. You can adapt a general business budget template by adding line items for cloud spend, a critical step detailed in modern information technology budgeting strategies.
Website: Microsoft Create – Budget Templates
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Best For | Individuals and small businesses seeking reliable, easy-to-use budget templates within the Microsoft ecosystem. |
| Pricing | Many free templates available; premium designs require a Microsoft 365 subscription. |
| Key Offering | Officially supported Excel templates with built-in formulas and consistent, professional designs. |
2. Google Sheets Template Gallery (official)
For teams deeply embedded in the Google Workspace ecosystem, the official Google Sheets Template Gallery is the most logical and efficient starting point. This platform offers a curated selection of ready-to-use templates directly within the Google Sheets interface, emphasizing simplicity and real-time collaboration. You can find essential monthly, annual, and project budget templates that are perfect for immediate use, allowing teams to work on the same document simultaneously from any device. The templates are designed by Google, ensuring they function perfectly within the Sheets environment.
This gallery is ideal for users who value collaborative features and accessibility over complex, pre-built forecasting models. While the catalog is less extensive than dedicated marketplaces, its strength lies in its seamless integration and ease of use. A key benefit is the ability to instantly duplicate and customize a forecast and budget template for different departments or projects without any compatibility issues. Accessing the templates is straightforward for anyone with a Google account, and they are backed by official support documentation to guide new users.
Website: Google Sheets Template Gallery (official)
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Best For | Teams using Google Workspace who need simple, collaborative budget templates with no learning curve. |
| Pricing | Free with a Google account. |
| Key Offering | Native Google Sheets templates that support real-time collaboration and are accessible from any device. |
3. Smartsheet Template Gallery
Smartsheet offers a comprehensive template gallery that serves as a bridge between simple spreadsheets and powerful project management software. It provides hundreds of free, downloadable forecast and budget template options for Excel and Google Sheets, alongside native Smartsheet templates designed for collaborative work. This dual offering makes it an excellent choice for teams that want to start with a familiar spreadsheet format but may need to scale up to a more dynamic, automated system with alerts, dashboards, and real-time collaboration. The library is well organized by business function, from project budgets to annual business plans.
The platform is ideal for businesses seeking a clear upgrade path. You can begin with a free template and, when ready, transition the data into a Smartsheet environment to enhance visibility and control. While the advanced automation features require a paid plan, the free templates themselves are robust and valuable. This approach aligns well with modern financial management, where clear visibility into spending is crucial, a core principle you can explore further by understanding what FinOps is. The main site heavily promotes the 30-day trial, but the free downloadable files are easily accessible.
Website: Smartsheet Template Gallery
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Best For | Teams wanting free Excel/Sheets templates with a clear option to upgrade to a collaborative, automated platform. |
| Pricing | Free downloadable templates for Excel and Google Sheets; native Smartsheet features require a trial or paid plan. |
| Key Offering | A vast, organized library of traditional spreadsheet templates and a pathway to advanced collaborative budgeting tools. |
4. Vertex42
Vertex42 is a long-standing and highly respected publisher of spreadsheet templates, known for its practical and robust designs. This platform excels at providing high-quality, no-frills forecast and budget template options for users who are comfortable working directly in Excel. Its extensive library covers personal finance, project management, and small business needs, with popular downloads including cash flow statements, profit and loss (P&L) projections, and detailed annual business budgets. The templates are celebrated for their logical structure, clear documentation, and lightweight performance.
This resource is ideal for spreadsheet-savvy users who value function over flashy aesthetics and appreciate well-documented formulas. While the design is utilitarian, the real value lies in the well-thought-out layouts and pre-built calculations that save significant time. Each template comes with detailed usage notes and version history, providing a level of transparency not always found in free resources. For businesses managing cloud expenses, these templates can be easily customized to track specific infrastructure costs, a key component of effective financial oversight.
Website: Vertex42
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Best For | Spreadsheet-focused individuals and businesses wanting well-structured, practical templates with clear documentation. |
| Pricing | Most templates are free to download; some premium or pro versions are available for purchase. |
| Key Offering | A comprehensive library of free, high-quality Excel templates for budgeting, forecasting, and financial statements. |
5. Spreadsheet123
Spreadsheet123 offers a vast repository of Excel templates, making it a go-to resource for users seeking variety without the commitment of a software subscription. The platform shines with its sheer breadth of options, covering everything from detailed departmental business budgets to specific event and personal finance trackers. While the designs are more functional than stylish, each template is built to be a straightforward, ready-to-use solution, often including descriptive notes to guide users. This makes it an excellent source for a functional forecast and budget template.
This site is ideal for those who want a quick, no-frills Excel file that they can download and start using immediately. The clear categorization allows for easy browsing, and the availability of many free templates is a significant advantage. However, users should be aware that the level of support and documentation can vary between templates, and the overall presentation is quite basic compared to more polished platforms. For many, the utility and extensive selection outweigh the aesthetic limitations, providing a practical foundation for financial planning.
Website: Spreadsheet123
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Best For | Users needing a wide variety of specific, no-cost budget templates in a simple Excel format. |
| Pricing | Many free templates are available; some advanced versions are offered for a one-time fee. |
| Key Offering | A large, well-organized library of downloadable Excel templates for business, personal, and project budgeting. |
6. Template.net – Forecast Budget Template
Template.net provides a massive library of documents for business and personal use, including a dedicated section for financial planning. Its forecast budget template offerings stand out for their accessibility and format variety, catering to users who need a quick and functional starting point without committing to a specific software ecosystem. The platform offers downloadable files in common formats like Excel and Google Sheets, ensuring broad compatibility for teams with diverse toolsets. This flexibility makes it a practical choice for assembling a quick forecast and budget template.
This resource is best for users who prioritize speed and format options over deep, complex functionality. While the quality can vary across the extensive library, the core financial templates are generally well structured and easy to adapt. Many templates are available for direct download, though some may require a free account sign up or a premium subscription for access. The straightforward design is an excellent canvas for incorporating advanced metrics, such as calculating potential savings from cloud optimization policies that manage idle resources, a key component of modern IT financial governance.
Website: Template.net – Forecast Budget Template
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Best For | Users needing a quick, no-frills forecast template with multi-format support (Excel, Google Sheets). |
| Pricing | Many free templates available; premium access requires a subscription. |
| Key Offering | A large collection of ready-to-use, editable, and printable forecast budget templates. |
7. Corporate Finance Institute (CFI) – Financial Projection Template
The Corporate Finance Institute (CFI) offers a professional-grade financial projection template that serves as an excellent educational tool and a functional starting point for small and midsize businesses. This free Excel-based resource stands out by integrating schedules for sales, payroll, and operating expenses directly into a three-statement model, covering the income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement. Its structure is designed to teach users the fundamentals of financial modeling while providing a robust framework for their own business.
This forecast and budget template is ideal for those who want to understand the mechanics behind the numbers, not just populate cells. While the base model is generic, its true value lies in its adaptability. It requires users to customize inputs for their specific industry, a process that inherently deepens their financial understanding. For complex businesses, significant tailoring will be necessary, but for startups and SMBs seeking a foundational, logic-driven model, CFI provides an unparalleled free resource that builds both a forecast and financial literacy.
Website: Corporate Finance Institute (CFI) – Financial Projection Template
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Best For | SMBs and finance professionals looking for a free, educational, three-statement financial modeling template. |
| Pricing | Completely free to download and use. |
| Key Offering | An Excel template with pre-built schedules for sales, payroll, and OPEX that feed into a comprehensive financial statement forecast. |
8. Eloquens – Budgeting and Forecast Templates Marketplace
Eloquens operates as a specialized marketplace where business experts and creators offer their custom-built Excel models. This platform is a significant step up from standard template galleries, providing access to highly advanced and niche financial tools. You can find everything from a detailed P&L forecast and budget template to sophisticated marketing budget models, each developed by an industry professional. The marketplace structure allows you to browse creator profiles, read user reviews, and often preview documentation or sample files before purchasing.
This model is perfect for businesses needing a robust, industry-specific forecast and budget template without the resources to build one from scratch. While most models are paid, the cost often reflects the complexity and value they provide, saving countless hours of development time. The key is to carefully vet the creator and the model's documentation to ensure it aligns with your specific financial planning requirements. The transparency of ratings and creator profiles helps mitigate the risk associated with the variable quality of third-party content.
Website: Eloquens – Budgeting and Forecast Templates Marketplace
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Best For | Businesses seeking advanced, specialized, or industry-specific financial models created by vetted experts. |
| Pricing | Mostly paid templates with prices varying by creator and model complexity; some free options are available. |
| Key Offering | A curated marketplace of expert-made Excel models with creator profiles, user reviews, and detailed documentation. |
9. Airtable Templates Gallery
Airtable’s official template gallery offers a modern, database-centric approach to financial planning. Moving beyond traditional spreadsheets, Airtable provides ready-to-use "bases" that are ideal for collaborative budgeting and forecasting. You can find templates for specific needs like event production, film budgets, and small business expense tracking, all built with powerful features like custom views, user permissions, and workflow automations. This makes it an excellent choice for teams that need to manage a dynamic budget with multiple contributors.
The platform shines where standard spreadsheets fall short: managing complex, interconnected data. While the templates are primarily trackers, they can be customized to create a robust forecast and budget template for tracking actuals against projections. It is particularly useful for teams that need a central, accessible hub for financial data on both web and mobile. The free tier provides a great entry point, though you will need to invest time in adapting the bases for advanced financial modeling or creating comprehensive statements from scratch.
Website: Airtable Templates Gallery
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Best For | Teams seeking a collaborative, database-style budget tracker with workflow automations. |
| Pricing | A free tier is available; paid plans unlock more advanced features and capacity. |
| Key Offering | Flexible, ready-to-use bases with views, permissions, and automations for multi-user financial planning. |
10. Notion Template Marketplace – Budget Planning
The Notion Template Marketplace offers a unique approach to financial planning by integrating budgeting directly into a company's knowledge base and project management hub. This platform is ideal for teams that live inside Notion and want to connect their financial tracking with meeting notes, company policies, and project wikis. Unlike traditional spreadsheets, Notion’s templates for budget planning are highly visual and can be customized with databases, views, and relations, providing powerful contextual links between financial data and operational activities.
This setup is best suited for light budgeting and expense tracking rather than complex financial modeling. The key advantage is having a single source of truth where a team can view budget allocations alongside the projects they fund. While Notion’s database formulas are powerful, they are not a direct replacement for Excel's complex calculation capabilities. For those seeking an all-in-one workspace, a Notion forecast and budget template provides unmatched integration, though businesses with heavy forecasting needs may eventually require a dedicated spreadsheet tool for more advanced analysis.
Website: Notion Template Marketplace – Budget Planning
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Best For | Teams seeking to integrate light budgeting and expense tracking directly within their documentation and project management workspace. |
| Pricing | A mix of free and paid templates created by the community and Notion. |
| Key Offering | Highly customizable templates that connect financial data with notes, wikis, and project boards within the Notion ecosystem. |
11. LiveFlow – P&L Budget vs Actuals Template (Excel & Google Sheets)
LiveFlow specializes in automating financial reporting and offers a powerful P&L Budget vs Actuals template for both Excel and Google Sheets. This resource is designed for small to midsize businesses that need to streamline their monthly and quarterly variance analysis. The template’s main strength lies in its potential for automation; when connected to LiveFlow’s paid service, it can pull data directly from QuickBooks Online, dramatically reducing manual data entry and the risk of human error. This makes it an excellent tool for finance teams aiming for greater efficiency.
The template itself is clean, providing a clear layout for comparing planned financials against actual performance with highlighted variances. It’s particularly useful for FinOps reporting where timely, accurate data is crucial. For those looking to improve their financial reporting workflows, understanding the difference between various financial models is key, a topic covered extensively in modern guides on budgets and forecasts. While the template is free, its true value is unlocked when integrated with LiveFlow’s platform, making it a great entry point to automated financial management.
Website: LiveFlow – P&L Budget vs Actuals Template
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Best For | SMBs and FinOps teams seeking to automate budget vs. actuals reporting by integrating with QuickBooks Online. |
| Pricing | The template is free to download; automated data syncing requires a paid LiveFlow subscription. |
| Key Offering | A dual-platform (Excel & Google Sheets) template with direct QuickBooks integration capabilities for real-time reporting. |
12. Etsy – Budget Template Marketplace (Digital Downloads)
Etsy is an expansive global marketplace known for handmade goods, but it also hosts a thriving digital download section filled with thousands of budget and forecast templates. Created by independent sellers, these spreadsheets for Excel and Google Sheets cover an incredible range of specific needs, from personal finance and debt payoff to detailed small business operations. The platform stands out for its sheer variety and the creative, often visually appealing dashboards that many sellers include. Buyer reviews and detailed product images provide a level of transparency not found on many other template sites.
This marketplace is ideal for users who want a highly specialized or aesthetically pleasing forecast and budget template and are willing to browse to find the perfect fit. The quality and support can vary significantly from one seller to another, so it is crucial to read reviews and check seller ratings before purchasing. Many listings come with helpful video guides or detailed documentation, offering a great user experience for a small one-time cost. For businesses, this is a great place to find a unique foundation that can be adapted for specific financial tracking needs.
Website: Etsy – Budget Template Marketplace
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Best For | Individuals and small businesses looking for highly specific, visually driven, or niche budget templates with community reviews. |
| Pricing | Varies by seller; typically a one-time purchase fee for an instant digital download. |
| Key Offering | A massive, diverse marketplace of user-rated budget spreadsheets for Excel and Google Sheets, often with dashboards and guides. |
Top 12 Forecast & Budget Template Comparison
| Template | Core features | Best for | Key strengths | Limitations | Price / Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Create – Budget Templates | Large Excel template catalog, built-in formulas, Microsoft 365 integration | Excel/Microsoft 365 users, small businesses | Trusted first-party, cross-platform Excel/web/Mac, good docs | Some premium designs need M365; not all forecast-specific | Mostly free; some designs require Microsoft 365 |
| Google Sheets Template Gallery (official) | One-click templates, real-time collaboration, web/mobile access | Teams using Google Workspace, collaborative editing | Free with Google account, easy to duplicate & share | Sign-in required for direct links; smaller catalog; fewer advanced models | Free with Google account |
| Smartsheet Template Gallery | Hundreds of Excel/Sheets and native Smartsheet templates, dashboards, alerts | Teams needing workflows, alerts and dashboards | Well-organized library; upgrade path to collaborative workflows | Pushes Smartsheet trial; advanced automations need paid plan | Free downloads; Smartsheet trial; paid plans for full features |
| Vertex42 | Extensive Excel templates with formulas, charts, usage notes | Spreadsheet-focused users and Excel power users | High quality, well-structured templates; many free downloads | Excel-centric; limited Google Sheets options; utilitarian design | Many free; some paid templates |
| Spreadsheet123 | Wide variety of Excel budget types, categorized downloads | Users wanting many ready-to-use Excel files by category | Breadth of template types; quick to download; many freebies | Basic presentation; support/documentation varies by template | Mostly free; some paid |
| Template.net – Forecast Budget Template | Editable forecast layouts in Excel & Google Sheets, fast downloads | Users needing cross-format forecast templates quickly | Supports Excel & Sheets; straightforward starting point | Quality varies across library; some assets require sign-in/membership | Mix of free & paid; account may be required |
| Corporate Finance Institute (CFI) – Financial Projection Template | Three-statement forecast model, sales/payroll/OPEX schedules, tutorials | SMB finance teams and learners building forecasts | Professional-grade model with educational guidance | Generic base that needs industry customization | Free |
| Eloquens – Marketplace | Curated expert Excel models, docs, screenshots, reviews | Buyers seeking advanced or specialized forecasting models | Access to specialized models; creator profiles & reviews aid selection | Quality and complexity vary; mostly paid templates | Paid per model (varies) |
| Airtable Templates Gallery | Ready-to-use bases, tables/views, automations, permissions | Teams needing database-style budgets and workflows | Flexible for multi-team budgeting; automations and permissions | Templates are often trackers; advanced financials need build-out | Free tier; paid plans for advanced features |
| Notion Template Marketplace – Budget Planning | One-click duplicate to workspace, community templates, docs integration | Teams wanting budgets alongside docs and internal wikis | Easy customization; links budgets with policies and notes | Notion formulas/rollups differ from spreadsheets; limited for heavy forecasting | Many free; some paid templates |
| LiveFlow – P&L Budget vs Actuals Template | P&L budget vs actuals layout, Excel & Sheets, QuickBooks integration | SMB finance/FinOps needing variance analysis and automation | Automates data from QuickBooks, reduces manual entry | Best value with paid integrations; some features gated | Template free; integrations/features may be paid |
| Etsy – Budget Template Marketplace | Thousands of digital download listings, reviews, screenshots | Buyers seeking niche designs or instant downloadable templates | Huge selection, competitive pricing, many niche options | Quality varies by seller; support and updates are seller-dependent | Paid (varies by seller); some free listings |
Choosing and Customizing Your Ideal Template
We have explored a diverse collection of forecast and budget templates, from the accessible official galleries of Microsoft and Google to the specialized, professional-grade models offered by the Corporate Finance Institute and Eloquens. The core takeaway is that the "best" template is not a one size fits all solution. Your ideal choice hinges entirely on your specific circumstances, business complexity, and technical proficiency.
A simple startup budget might be perfectly served by a clean, straightforward template from Spreadsheet123 or Google Sheets. In contrast, a growing SMB needing detailed departmental roll ups and variance analysis would find more value in the robust structures provided by Smartsheet or a professional CFI template. The key is to evaluate your needs first before diving into the options.
Key Factors in Your Decision
Before downloading the first template you find, consider these critical factors to ensure it aligns with your goals:
- Scalability: Will this template grow with your business? A simple personal budget template will quickly become insufficient as you add employees, departments, and new revenue streams.
- Integration: How easily does the template connect with your existing financial data sources? Platforms like Airtable and LiveFlow offer superior integration capabilities compared to static spreadsheets.
- Customization Level: Are you comfortable with complex formulas and macros, or do you need a template that works out of the box? If you need to build custom calculations but lack deep spreadsheet expertise, leveraging a tool like an AI formula generator can significantly speed up the process by translating plain language instructions into correct syntax.
Incorporating Cloud Cost Optimization
For modern, tech forward businesses, no budget forecast is complete without a strategic approach to cloud spending. It is one of the largest and most variable operational expenses. Simply estimating your cloud bill is not enough; you must actively manage it.
This is where integrating proactive cost controls becomes essential. When building your IT forecast and budget template, factor in the savings from tools that automate optimization. For example, a platform like CLOUD TOGGLE can reduce your compute costs by automatically shutting down non production resources when they are not in use. By building these predictable savings directly into your financial model, your forecast becomes more than just a prediction. It transforms into an actionable plan that drives real financial efficiency and protects your bottom line.
Ultimately, the right forecast and budget template acts as a strategic roadmap for your business. By selecting a tool that matches your complexity, customizing it to your unique operations, and embedding modern cost controls, you empower your organization to not only plan for the future but to actively shape it for greater profitability and stability.
Ready to make your cloud budget forecast a reality? CLOUD TOGGLE helps you enforce your budget by automatically eliminating wasted cloud spend on idle resources. Stop forecasting overspending and start planning for savings by visiting CLOUD TOGGLE to see how much you can save.
