We publish unbiased reviews. Our opinions are our own and are not influenced by payments from advertisers. This content is reader-supported, which means if you leave your details with us we may earn a commission. Learn why ITQlick is free .
A Buyer's Guide to Budgeting & CPM Solutions
Budgeting Software Buyer’s Guide
Budgeting, forecasting and reporting are essential finance-related activities in every organization. Budget management is being done both in the private and public sectors, and even on our personal finance. There are many factors that could affect budget allocation or appropriation – market drivers, economic activities, internal prioritization of projects, customer demand forecast, and even the political will of business leaders and executives is also accounted on that. From another angle, things around accounting and finance have dramatically changed over the past decades. From manual pen and paper, to manual spreadsheets, and today, here come the Budgeting Software products. Be it for business, government, or personal use, there is a right software solution if it’s about budgeting.
We from ITQlick.com have been a witness to these innovations in the world of financial management. We understand that the long-term survival of every business largely depends on its ability to establish a budget and operate within its boundaries. In this respect, we prepared this Buyer’s Guide for the acquisition of a budgeting software solution for we believe that every business deserves to be equipped with an intelligent financial planning tool. After reading this buyer’s guide, we are confident that you can single-out that solution that is just right for your current and future business environment.
Types
As we earlier introduced, budgeting software solution extends from personal, government and business use. This “user groups” can be considered as one of the categories of budgeting software solution. There is another category that when carefully examined can help you better in finding the more specific type of solution for your organization. Below are the types of software solution base on the “deployment model” category.
Web-based
This type of software solution is also known as the “online” version. Via the internet, your finance team can instantly access the tools for budgeting. Although there is security risk involve when using online solutions, many vendors have removed the consumer doubts by employing better security and protection features such as password protection and anti-identity theft measures. In addition to that, features such as banking, reporting, tax options, and personal investing are all present in most web-based solutions.
On-premise
Commonly called as “software”, on-premise solutions are those packages that require installation into your computer, or computer network depending on the number of designated users. This type of solution is also known for providing advanced functionalities and enterprise level features. Aside from basic budget planning, most packages basically offer business performance analysis, business intelligence, and integration capability with larger systems particularly Accounting and Financial systems. On-premise offers higher level of security compared to web-based types.
And we should not forget mentioning Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). This is the latest trend in web-based solutions and more and more companies are investing on this type these days. Industry-specific or “purpose-built” software solution, on the other hand, is another version of most on-premise solutions that is popularly used by businesses with unique budgeting requirements. These are businesses that belong to the vertical markets.
Features
In some industries, the terms “money software” and “budget management software” are predominantly used. Those are terminologies not to be confused about. What sets budgeting software solutions apart are the features they have and the selling proposition (which could have created those other terminologies) of different solution providers. Of higher importance when selecting the right solution is to go over the list of features and decide, with the help of your finance team or consultants, which of them is really needed by your business. From sophisticated down to basic, here are those features to check.
Key Features
-
Rolling/Driver-based Forecasting and Budgeting
-
Complete Management Capability including robust Workflow creation, Versioning and Audit-compliant mechanisms
-
Enterprise-class Online Analytical Processing (OLAP)
-
Business Intelligence tools
-
Multi-dimensional Reporting and Variance Analysis
-
Creation and Management of Planning Models
-
System Integration and Extension Functions
Common Features
-
Ease of Use
-
Security and Protection
-
Basic Reporting (Pie charts and line graphs)
-
Help and Maintenance Support
-
Support for Add-on Features such personal investing, internet banking, tax options
-
Ability to Interface with Excel spreadsheet programs
-
Operating System (OS) Compatibility
Solutions per Business Size, per Vendor
Next to features and cost, the deciding factor for must buyers is often traced back on their concerns about the solution’s suitability to the size of their business. With the help of our software experts from ITQlick.com, here are then the lists of software solution vendors in the market today that are grouped according to size of businesses they serve. Use them as your starting point when searching for the right solution provider.
Small Business
For small business or start-up owners, if you’re looking for a basic budgeting solution with user-friendly interface and intuitive features, choice of online or desktop/software version, consider checking the vendors on this list.
-
Moneydance
-
Budgetpulse
-
Buxfer
-
ClearCheckbook
-
Moneystrands
-
Mvelopes
-
Pocketsmith
-
Yodlee
-
NeoBudget
-
Budget by Snowmint
Medium-size Business
This list of solutions features forecasting, planning, and budgeting. Growing businesses who are planning to choose SaaS-based solution should also consider reviewing this list in detail.
-
Quicken Starter Edition
-
AceMoney
-
Moneydance
-
BankTree
-
Simple Home
-
RichorPoor
-
iCash
-
BudgetExpress
-
PiggyBobpremium
-
You Need A Budget 4 (YNAB)
Large Enterprises
Integrated suites and Business Intelligence suites are best options for large businesses. These providers have proven track records in the budgeting software market.
-
Centage
-
Alight Planning
-
Adaptive Planning
-
Microsoft Forecaster,
-
IBM Cognos
-
Oracle Hyperion
-
Solver’s BI360
-
Axiom
-
BOARD
Pricing Considerations
Business executives cannot afford to loose their investments by not going into every detail and angle of the software solution that they are going to purchase. The money they will spend today, base on their existing budgeting tool, shall reflect positive outcomes on the software solution they are going to implement in the near future. If it’s about money, there are important matters that require the experience and expertise of people from finance or financial consulting firms. Your management team needs to sit with them and discuss the following.
Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)
TCO is equivalent to the summation of software cost, implementation, annual maintenance and support, and labor cost. Computing the TCO can be a laborious job and it is important that you discuss this with management consultants in the software business.
Capital Expenditure versus Operating Expenses
If your plan is to invest on perpetual software license which price ranges from $3,000 to $10,000 at the lower end of the market all the way up to $30,000 to $50,000 at the higher end, this will be charged against your CAPEX. Going with monthly subscription which price is ranging from $100 to $1000 per month for small businesses going up to $5000 to $10,000 per month for mid-size businesses, this SaaS-based solution investment will be charged against your operating expenses. You have to analyze these figures carefully.
Profit and Loss Forecast (P&L), Return on Investment (ROI)
Subscription-based solutions, whether annually or monthly, must be computed against P&L as well as on ROI. Investment on software solutions has direct effects on the revenue and cost of running the business and so it must be dealt with accordingly.
Overall Organization’s Objective
More importantly, your management must assess the overall implication of this major investment to the entire organization. What would be the situation of the business three to five years after the implementation of the budgeting software solution? Your answer to this must be supported with fool-proof facts and figures.
Market Trends
Budgeting is a scrupulous process, indeed. As much as an organization can, budgeting should always be accurate. With budgeting software technology, this concern is halfway attended. Over the years, software technology has finally indentified the solution to the budgeting constraints felt by many organizations.
Traditional spreadsheets are still there but advanced performance management solutions are reported to lessen the time spent on budgeting – that is a significant 1-2 months budgeting time saved.
Mergers and acquisitions of leading solution providers in budgeting have been the trend over the last 3 years. The good news is that the main purpose of these events is to introduce better improvements on the existing solutions offered by the companies involve.
The impact of SaaS, being a low cost and easy to implement solution, is obviously felt by thousands of companies in the SME market.
Solution providers are not stopping in bringing better performing solutions to the market. It is indeed safe to say that a buyer like you can expect a lot more of positive trends in the budgeting software market in the coming months and years – an indication that buying the solution should more or less should happen at anytime from today.
ITQlick chart - 2023 best Budgeting & CPM Software
Finding the right Budgeting & CPM software for your business
Proper Budgeting & CPM software selections are the precursor to successful deployment and business growth. Finding the right Budgeting & CPM solutions doesnít have to be complicated, and it doesnít have to take days or weeks of your time.
After researching over 5,000 systems, we can identify the best solution for companies of all shapes and sizes. ITQlick.com is 100% free for software buyers.