What is a Budget Planning Calendar?

A budget planning calendar is a schedule of the dates by which budget information must be submitted by department managers. The calendar also contains the dates of budget meetings, such as initial planning meetings and subsequent review meetings. The planning calendar typically covers at least two months and may extend up to four months, so that all budgeting activities can be addressed by the end of the fiscal year. It may be included in the budget manual that is issued to all department managers.

When to Use a Budget Planning Calendar

This calendar is especially important when certain budgets, such as the sales budget, must be completed before other departments can begin their budgeting work. For example, it is essential to budget for the number of units to be sold before anything else, so that the production manager can budget for how those units are to be manufactured. In addition, the sales budget is needed before the marketing manager can plan on when to offer the promotions that will generates those unit sales.