What is Zero-Based Budgeting and its steps to implement in Business? (2024)

What is Zero-Based Budgeting and its steps to implement in Business? (2)

Cost in the business ensures the running of the business in future. Be it involved in expenses, budgeting, admin expenses, etc Cost plays an important role in maintaining the growth as well as reputation of the business. But sometimes, the over-expenses or overspending of the money leads to the downfall of the business and even bankruptcy. So, it becomes mandatory to know the distribution of cash correctly in the business and avoid unnecessary expenditure. There are many techniques that can lead to cost-cutting in business. In this blog, we will talk about zero budgeting and its ways of cost-cutting in the business.

What is Zero-Based Budgeting?

Zero-based budgeting is a form of budgeting that helps in cost-cutting in business. This new form of budgeting makes a new strategy, evaluates the cash flow according to the expenses and creates a new budget. In the continuation of formatting the budget, the activities are re-evaluated and initiated with starch.

Before making this type of Budgeting, consider that there are no current expenses, no manpower, no office, no rent, no admin expenses and more. In this stage, the company create the budget from starch.

Steps to implement Zero-budgeting in your business:

Identify the objective of your company for this year

Always plan the biggest objective for your company every starting year of the financial year. Such as your company’s objective is increasing sales, product development, brand awareness, etc.

Distribute objectives into departments

After defining the objectives of your company, then divide them into departments. Such as marketing objectives should go to the marketing department, finance in the finance department, etc.

Dont use last year’s budget

Analysing the company’s goal on the basis of last year will not let you think about new innovations in business. Your approach will be not objective-oriented.

So, always think about the objective not the numbers of last year.

Classify expenses into must-have & Good to have

Divide your expenses into “must-have” and “good-to-have”. With this, you will understand what expenses are needed and not to be needed in the business.

Reduce ‘Good To Have’ Expenses

Analysing the major expenses and not many important expenses in the business. Find measures and techniques to reduce the good-have expenses in the business.

Must-Have Expenses should be goal-oriented

The most important expenses should have a goal and objective in the business. Every expense should give good returns in the future.

Automate business and standardise processes

Make your business an automated function so that things go automatically and also standardise the process for better future growth.

Implement Zero-based budgeting in a few departments

Implement zero-based budgeting initially in a few departments and then set an example within the organisation to formulate the same techniques in other departments as well.

Leaders & Team-involvement & Execution

Creating a Zero-based budgeting system in certain departments with the help of leaders and executing it in other departments with team involvement.

Communicate, Communicate, Communicate

Communication is the key to solving any miscommunication. At the time of zero-based budgeting, the negative can spread much more quickly than the positivity. So, always communicate with the leaders, team members, etc to maintain positivity within the organisation.

What is Zero-Based Budgeting and its steps to implement in Business? (2024)

FAQs

What is Zero-Based Budgeting and its steps to implement in Business? ›

With zero-based budgeting, the budget is started from scratch or a “zero base” each year. Using this approach, every line of business within an organization is analyzed for its needs and costs while ignoring historic spending.

What is zero-based budgeting and steps? ›

With zero-based budgeting, the budget is started from scratch or a “zero base” each year. Using this approach, every line of business within an organization is analyzed for its needs and costs while ignoring historic spending.

What is an example of zero-based budgeting for a business? ›

Instead of spending $10,000 in this example of zero-based budgeting, you only need to spend $3,000. You would mark $3,000 for advertisem*nts. And, you find out you can get a better rate from a different office supplier, saving you $500. Instead of $1,500, your supplies will now only cost you $1,000.

Why might a business use zero-based budgeting? ›

Zero-based budgeting ensures that managers think about how every dollar is spent and they must do so every budgeting period. This process also forces them to justify all operating expenses and to consider which areas of the company are generating revenue.

What are three benefits of using a zero-based budget? ›

Advantages of zero-based budgeting

It has a bad reputation for being a complete cost cutting exercise, but ZBB an help you align spend to more revenue generating opportunities. ZBB offers a number of advantages, including lower costs, budget flexibility, and strategic execution.

What are the 5 steps in creating a zero-based budget? ›

5 Steps to Create a Zero-Based Budget
  • 5 Steps to Creating a Zero-Based Budget.
  • Calculate your monthly spend.
  • Calculate your shortfall.
  • Separate essential and non-essential spending.
  • Set a saving's goal.
  • Adjusting your budget.
Jan 15, 2021

What is step 1 of creating a zero-based budget? ›

But with zero-based budgeting, you start at zero, creating a new budget from scratch without using the previous budget figures as a jumping-off point. The goal is to allocate every dollar of your income so that your income minus expenditures equals zero at the end of the budget period.

What businesses use zero-based budgeting? ›

Among the businesses using zero-based budgeting in 2023 and beyond include, but aren't limited to:
  • Auto manufacturer General Motors Co.
  • Industrial firm Honeywell International Inc.
  • Cosmetics business Coty Inc.
  • Chocolate maker Hershey Co.
  • Alcoholic-beverage company Diageo PLC.
Feb 24, 2023

What is the major appeal of zero-based budgeting? ›

The foremost theoretical advantage of ZBB is that it offers a rational and comprehensive means to cut the budget. ZBB can be used to make different cuts to different services based on the perceived value to the organization (rational) and all spending is put under scrutiny (comprehensive).

Does Coca-Cola use zero-based budgeting? ›

In January 2015, Mike Esterl of the Wall Street Journal reported that co*ke is using zero-based budgeting throughout its organization (Wall Street Journal, “Coca-Cola to cut 1,600 – 1,800 jobs globally,” January 8, 2015). In addition, co*ke is standardizing operations across its business units.

What are the disadvantages of a zero-based budget? ›

Cons of Zero-Based Budgeting
  • Though you can implement repeatable processes with ZBB, it will most likely be more time-consuming than traditional budgeting.
  • You're also faced with getting other departments to cooperate, and they might not be able to adequately measure their needs for the entire year.

Which budgeting method is best? ›

5 budgeting methods to consider
Budgeting methodBest for…
1. The zero-based budgetTracking consistent income and expenses
2. The pay-yourself-first budgetPrioritizing savings and debt repayment
3. The envelope system budgetMaking your spending more disciplined
4. The 50/30/20 budgetCategorizing “needs” over “wants”
1 more row
Sep 22, 2023

What is the difference between zero-based budgeting and activity based budgeting? ›

Zero-based budgeting, like activity-based budgeting, requires that every expense be justified for each new period, starting from a "zero base." However, while zero-based budgeting focuses on justifying each cost as if it were new, regardless of past spending, activity-based budgeting emphasizes understanding the cost ...

What is zero-based budgeting for business? ›

Zero-based budgeting (ZBB) is a method of budgeting in which all expenses must be justified for each new period. The process of zero-based budgeting starts from a “zero base,” and every function within an organization is analyzed for its needs and costs.

What is the main point about zero-based budgeting? ›

Zero-based budgeting (ZBB) is a budgeting technique in which all expenses must be justified for a new period or year starting from zero, versus starting with the previous budget and adjusting it as needed.

What are the four steps of zero-based budgeting? ›

Here are six steps to create and use zero-based budgeting:
  • Identify your goal. ...
  • Reflect on your needs. ...
  • Review past expenses. ...
  • Evaluate and justify costs and expenses. ...
  • Implement your budget. ...
  • Evaluate your success.
Mar 3, 2023

What is the 50 20 30 method? ›

The idea is to divide your income into three categories, spending 50% on needs, 30% on wants, and 20% on savings. Learn more about the 50/30/20 budget rule and if it's right for you.

What is zero-based budget structure? ›

Zero-based budgeting is a bottom-up approach, which means goals determined on a departmental basis must be aligned with the company's overall strategic objectives. It comes down to department heads to justify this—how each individual expense fits into those strategic goals.

What is zero-based budget for it? ›

Rather than budgeting as usual, zero-based budgeting is a decision-making approach requiring every line item of the IT budget to be approved. The ZBB method opens with no assumptions about what level of funding it will take to run and grow the business for the next twelve months.

What are 5 elements of a budget? ›

What Are the 5 Basic Elements of a Budget?
  • Income. The first place that you should start when thinking about your budget is your income. ...
  • Fixed Expenses. ...
  • Debt. ...
  • Flexible and Unplanned Expenses. ...
  • Savings.

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