IT Budget Planning Template

This template helps SMBs structure IT budgets around key spending categories. Use it to forecast, justify, and prioritise IT investments effectively.

📌 Categories

• Run: Licenses, cloud subscriptions, managed service retainers
• Grow: New tools, digital transformation, collaboration enhancements
• Protect: Backup, security, compliance, insurance requirements
• Unknowns: Contingency for audits, surprise renewals, urgent fixes

📉 Typical Budget Allocations

• Run: 40–60%
• Grow: 20–30%
• Protect: 10–20%
• Unknowns: 5–10%

💡 Tips for Planning

• Review past invoices to get actual run costs
• Engage team leaders to identify growth needs
• Ask vendors for 12-month forecasted increases
• Flag all contracts with auto-renew clauses
• Include cyber insurance as a protect expense