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Free Playbook
The Martus Budgeting PlaybookA Better Budget Starts with a Better Process.
A smoother budget season starts before anyone enters a number. Download Martus' practical, step-by-step guide to aligning leadership, engaging contributors, and keeping your budget useful long after its annual approval.
- 9Budgeting Phases
- 6Email Templates
- 2Meeting Guides
- 1Successful Budget Cycle
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A Look Inside the Actionable Playbook
9 Budgeting Phases. 6 Email Templates. 2 Meeting Guides. 1 Successful Budget Cycle.
- Prepare Before KickoffPhases 1–3Set shared assumptions, confirm responsibilities, and build a realistic timeline.
- Get Everyone Moving TogetherPhase 4Align leadership on priorities and give budget owners clear direction.
- Reduce Back-and-ForthPhase 5Help contributors submit realistic numbers with the context finance needs.
- Review with ConfidencePhases 6–7Compare scenarios, resolve questions, and move through approval.
- Keep the Plan Working All YearPhases 8–9Establish monthly reviews and a regular reforecasting rhythm.
The Nine Phases at a Glance
One Complete Budgeting Cycle, Start to Finish
The cycle moves from preparation, through building and review, to approval, and then into the year-round rhythm that makes next year easier. Read it front to back, or jump to the phase you're in.
Phase 1 of 9 · Prepare
Pre-Budget Readiness
Clean data, gaps filled in, prepped calendars, and locked-in assumptions, so the budget starts on solid ground.
Phase 2 of 9 · Prepare
Executive Alignment
Alignment with the people who control the money on the numbers and the priorities, before anyone builds a budget.
Includes an email template and a meeting guide for the alignment conversation.
Phase 3 of 9 · Prepare
System Preparation
A prepared budgeting plan and systems ready before kickoff, so the tools are never the reason someone gets stuck.
Includes a pre-kickoff heads-up email template.
Phase 4 of 9 · Build
Budget Kickoff
A budget cycle launched with clarity and momentum, so every contributor knows exactly what to do and why it matters.
Includes a kickoff meeting guide and a post-kickoff recap email.
Phase 5 of 9 · Build
Contributor Planning & Execution
Budget contributors build realistic, well-documented budgets instead of guessing. Collaboration is key.
Includes a deadline reminder email template.
Phase 6 of 9 · Review
Review, Scenarios & Iteration
Moves finance from having a budget to having the right budget, with room to review, compare scenarios, and iterate.
Includes a revision request email template.
Phase 7 of 9 · Approve
Approval & Finalization
Real sign-off from leadership, then a clean export to your accounting system without the chaos.
Includes a budget approved announcement email.
Phase 8 of 9 · Year-Round
Post-Approval Activation
The budget isn't finished when it's approved. Pre-scheduled monthly check-ins turn a static plan into a living management tool.
Phase 9 of 9 · Year-Round
Ongoing Rhythm & Reforecasting
Monthly reviews, regular reforecasts, and adjustments keep the budget up to date and useful all year.
How Each Phase Is Built
Clear Actions for Every Phase
Every phase follows the same simple shape, so you can read deeply or scan quickly.
- The Big IdeaThe whole phase in two sentences, for when you're short on time.
- Why This Phase MattersThe process wisdom behind it.
- What Good Looks LikeA quick way to check yourself.
- Do This, Not ThatThe most common mistake and the fix, side by side.
- Your MoveThe specific actions to take, plus ready-to-use emails and meeting guides.
Whether you're a finance team of one or coordinating across departments, you'll find clear actions and ready-to-use resources for every phase. Put them to work with the tools you use today.
Download the PlaybookAlready Using Martus?
Put Your Budget Plan into Action with the Navigator Inside Martus.
The Martus Budgeting Playbook and Budget Navigator help finance teams build a stronger budgeting process, from early preparation to regular reforecasting. The Playbook guides teams through nine phases with practical actions and best practices, while the Navigator puts that guidance into action inside Martus with a working timeline, predefined and custom tasks, and step-by-step instructions. Together, they help teams align priorities, clarify responsibilities, and keep budgets useful long after approval.
Learn More About the Budget Navigator