What is zero-based budgeting? Meaning and Explanation
Zero-based budgeting
Zero-based budgeting (ZBB) is an accounting method that calculates every budget element from an initial zero point. This can seem a little odd at first glance.
The first thing that people usually do is think of ZBB as negative budgeting. It is often seen as something negative.
However, ZBB is actually the most appropriate method of budgeting for the modern workplace. It is the budgeting method that is most aligned with the workplace that we know today. It is a method that is flexible and one that is easily understood.
The first point to understand is that Zero-based budgeting has nothing to do with negativity. The method is simply about starting with a zero budget and then working through every budget line and budget element and where the costs should come from.
It can also be a method of working that allows you to budget for the unknown. You budget up-front, and then you have a clear plan of what you are going to spend in each period. That plan then gives you a much better chance of being successful.
You might think that Zero-Based Budgeting is more appropriate for organisations with a larger budget than organisations with a smaller budget. That is not the case. ZBB is the best budgeting method to use for both types of organisations. It is the method that allows you to plan and budget more effectively.
So, why does Zero-based budgeting seem strange?
There are two main points. The first is that the word budget can have negative connotations when used in this context. A budget may mean ‘money management, so when you start a budget from a zero point, it might seem like you are creating a budget from nothing. You may also see budget as a negative word and as something that should not be used for something you are planning to do.
That first issue is a misconception that most people do not understand. ZBB is not a new idea. It is a method that has been used by organisations for many years. It is a tool that should be used and has been used to budget for many years. People have used it to set their annual budgets. People have used it to budget for specific projects and have used it to budget specific projects. So, you don’t need to be concerned about your perception of the word budget or what you perceive as being a negative connotation of the word budget.
The second issue is one that is often experienced by people who are new to ZBB. ZBB is not like traditional budgeting. It is not done by using traditional budgeting tools. So, you have to be prepared for that as a new user. That is the first thing.
The second thing is that ZBB is a very different approach to budgeting. It is a different way of budgeting that has been around for many years. It is not a new idea that has only been created in the last 10 years. So, Zero-based budgeting is not something you have to do differently or have to change your mind about. What you have to do is be familiar with ZBB and how ZBB is used. That is a little different for everyone.