---
title: Budgets by Class
description: "How to budget by class using Reach Reporting Budgets Pro.\nHow to budget by class using Reach Reporting through an Excel budget by class upload.\nReach can pull Budgets by Class if set up in Xero or Quick Books Online."
---
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1. [Knowledge Center](https://knowledge.reachreporting.com/?hsLang=en)
2. [Budget / Forecast](https://knowledge.reachreporting.com/budget-forecast?hsLang=en)
3. [Getting Started](https://knowledge.reachreporting.com/budget-forecast?hsLang=en#getting-started)
# Budgets by Class
## Learn how to create budgets subdivided by class or department in Reach Reporting.
### In this article:
- [Overview](https://knowledge.reachreporting.com/budgets-by-class#overview)
- [Option 1: Budgets PRO with Class Subdivision](https://knowledge.reachreporting.com/budgets-by-class#option1)
- [Step 1: Create a New Budget](https://knowledge.reachreporting.com/budgets-by-class#step1-create-a-new-budget)
- [Step 2: Enable Class Subdivision](https://knowledge.reachreporting.com/budgets-by-class#step2-enable-class-subdivision)
- [Step 3: Configure Settings](https://knowledge.reachreporting.com/budgets-by-class#step3-configure-settings)
- [Step 4: Working with Subdivided Budgets](https://knowledge.reachreporting.com/budgets-by-class#step4-working-with-subdivided-budgets)
- [Step 5: Navigation and Features](https://knowledge.reachreporting.com/budgets-by-class#step5-navigation-and-features)
- [Step 6: Row Drivers and Management](https://knowledge.reachreporting.com/budgets-by-class#step6-row-drivers-and-management)
- [Option 2: Excel Class Budget Upload](https://knowledge.reachreporting.com/budgets-by-class#option2)
- [Step 1: Create Template](https://knowledge.reachreporting.com/budgets-by-class#step1-create-template)
- [Step 2: Modify Template for Classes](https://knowledge.reachreporting.com/budgets-by-class#step2-modify-template-for-classes)
- [Step 3: Upload and Use](https://knowledge.reachreporting.com/budgets-by-class#step3-upload-and-use)
- [Key Differences](https://knowledge.reachreporting.com/budgets-by-class#key-differences)
- [Budgets PRO](https://knowledge.reachreporting.com/budgets-by-class#budgets-pro)
- [Excel Class Budgets](https://knowledge.reachreporting.com/budgets-by-class#excel-class-budget)
- [QuickBooks Online and Xero Budgets](https://knowledge.reachreporting.com/budgets-by-class#qbo-and-xero-budgets)
- [Using Class Budgets](https://knowledge.reachreporting.com/budgets-by-class#using-class-budgets)
---
### Overview
Reach Reporting offers multiple ways to create budgets by [class or department](https://knowledge.reachreporting.com/classes-departments-and-locations?hsLang=en), allowing you to subdivide your financial planning for more granular analysis. Whether you're using our native Budgets PRO feature or uploading Excel templates, you can create detailed budgets that break down performance by different business units.
---
### **Option 1: Budgets PRO with Class Subdivision**
**Step 1: Create a New Budget**
- Open the company and click the **Budgets** section in the left menu
- Select **Add New Budget**
****
- Choose the statements you want to budget for
- Ensure your main bank account is selected
**Step 2: Enable Class Subdivision**
- Enable the **Subdivide by Class or Department** option
- Select the specific classes or departments to include in your budget
- **Note:** Budgets PRO with Class Subdivision is only available for the Profit and Loss and is not available for the Balance Sheet and Cash Flow.
- **Note:** Budgets PRO can handle up to **10 classes or departments** at a time. Classes and departments cannot be combined in Budgets PRO. You can either create a budget with just classes or just departments.
- Need more than 10 classes or departments? Email us at [support@reachreporting.com](mailto:support@reachreporting.com) for more information.
- **Important**: Budgets PRO cannot handle subclasses - only parent classes
**Step 3: Configure Settings**
- Set the budget range and prefill the budget if desired
- Name the budget and click **Create Budget**
****
- The creation process may take longer depending on the number of classes included
**Step 4: Working with Subdivided Budgets**
Once created, you'll notice:
- A **funnel icon** next to the budget name, indicating it's subdivided
- **Note**: Subdivided budgets cannot be converted to normal budgets, and vice versa
**Step 5: Navigation and Features**
- Use the **dropdown menu** next to the Profit and Loss tab to switch between classes
- The **Profit and Loss total view** is read-only and aggregates all subdivisions
- Balance Sheet and Cash Flow tabs function normally with a single shared view
- The **Data Sheet** provides a single shared view for the entire budget/forecast
- An **Unspecified** option handles unclassed data and classes not included in the subdivision
**Step 6: Row Drivers and Management**
- Each [row driver](https://knowledge.reachreporting.com/row-drivers-in-budgets/forecasts?hsLang=en) is tied to individual subdivisions
- Apply specific drivers to selected classes or use different drivers for the same account across classes
- Row structure and comments apply across the entire budget
---
### **Option 2: Excel Class Budget Upload**
**Note**: The Excel Class Budget upload option is only available for QuickBooks connected companies.
**Step 1: Create Template**
- Click **Budgets** on the left-hand side
- Click **Add New Budget** and choose **Use Excel**
- See our Knowledge Center article for more on [How to Create an Excel Budget in Reach Reporting](https://knowledge.reachreporting.com/how-to-create-an-excel-budget-in-reach-reporting?hsLang=en)
- Select statements, budget date range, and pre-fill options
- Click **Download Excel Template**
****
**Step 2: Modify Template for Classes**
- Add a row at the top after the heading row labeled **Class ID**
****
- Use this row to identify classes exactly as they appear in QuickBooks
- **For subclasses**: Enter the subclass name as the Class ID (Excel budgets support subclasses)
- **Note:** QuickBooks will display subclasses as “Parent Name: Sub Name”. You do not need to enter “Parent Name: Sub Name” as the Class ID. Instead, just enter “Sub Name” as the Class ID
- Copy the template block for each class you want to budget for
- Adjust numbers for each account and month per class
**Step 3: Upload and Use**
- Save your modified Excel file
- In Reach, **Upload Excel File** and select your Excel budget/forecast
- Give it a name - you'll see an Excel icon indicating the file type
- Reach automatically combines all classes to create a consolidated budget
---
### **Key Differences**
**Budgets PRO:**
- Maximum of **10 classes or departments,** with an option to add up to 25
- **Cannot handle subclasses** - only main classes
- Native integration with advanced subdivision features
- Cannot convert between subdivided and normal budgets
**Excel Class Budget:**
- Available for QuickBooks connected companies only
- **Can handle subclasses** - enter subclass name as Class ID
- More flexible for complex class structures
- Requires manual template modification
**QuickBooks Online and Xero Budgets:**
- Automatically syncs with your QBO or Xero budget structure
---
### **Using Class Budgets**
When building statements or metrics with class budgets:
- A **funnel icon** appears above budget columns
- [Filters](https://knowledge.reachreporting.com/classes-departments-and-locations?hsLang=en) work the same as actual data with classes
- Can be applied to both [columns and rows](https://knowledge.reachreporting.com/rows-and-columns-in-reach-reporting?hsLang=en)
- Features carry through to [consolidations](https://knowledge.reachreporting.com/consolidations?hsLang=en)
Class budgets provide powerful insights for departmental performance analysis, cost center management, and multi-location businesses. Choose the method that best fits your organizational structure and reporting needs.
Note: Budgets by class in Budgets PRO can also be converted into a Forecast. See our guide on [How to Create a Forecast](https://knowledge.reachreporting.com/how-to-create-a-forecast?hsLang=en) for more information. Budgets PRO Forecasts will automatically update with actuals, whereas Excel Forecasts would need to be manually updated by copying and pasting actuals into the template.
If you have questions about budgeting by class, feel free to send us a chat!
---
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