IT Budget Planning Template

This template provides a simple guide for SMBs to align IT spending with business goals in 2017. Use this structure to identify what matters most, plan effectively, and communicate clearly with your team or advisor.

Step 1: Define Your Business Objectives

• Growth targets (e.g., revenue increase, new markets)
• Productivity improvements
• Risk mitigation (e.g., compliance, cyber threats)

Step 2: Assess Current IT Environment

• List current systems and tools
• Identify underused or outdated assets
• Note ongoing vendor or licensing costs

Step 3: Prioritise Needs

• What are the most critical improvements?
• What’s the expected business impact?
• Are there cost-saving alternatives (e.g., SaaS vs. on-prem)?

Step 4: Estimate IT Spend by Category

• Hardware (e.g., laptops, servers)
• Software & Subscriptions
• Support & Consulting
• Training
• Backup & Security

Step 5: Review and Finalise

• Review alignment with overall budget
• Allow contingency for urgent needs
• Assign owners and timeline to each initiative