Before you can finalize your budget for the first year you’re in business, you need to research your start-up costs. Depending on the kind of business you’re planning, some of the categories in the business budget worksheet won’t apply. You may need to add others that aren’t here.

You may have experience you gained from working for another business doing something similar to what you plan. Or you may know people who own similar businesses that you can ask for advice about projecting revenue.

When you're ready to estimate your start-up costs, you can go to the business budget worksheet.

The next step is calculating your operating expenses.