Prepare your estimate
To be gathered to cost this item
- Monthly quantities and supplier prices excluding VAT.
- Stationery, cleaning products or small consumables not resold.
- Annual budget if several supplies are grouped together.
To be checked to avoid omissions and duplicates
- Goods and materials related to sales go into direct costs or inventory.
- Avoid duplication with consumables included in a cleaning service.
- Separate durable equipment from consumed supplies.
Items that may already cover this expense
Check the scope of these items before adding an amount; each expense must only be counted once.
Example: calculating a supplies budget
Fictional assumption: 3 workstations with €25 excluding VAT in supplies per month per workstation. The calculation gives €75 excluding VAT per month, or €900 excluding VAT over twelve months.
This budget covers supplies consumed in running the business. Goods for resale and materials used in sales belong under direct costs or inventory; durable equipment should be considered under capital expenditure.
To support the amount, keep supply quotes or invoices, the number of workstations and the purchase frequency. No actual supplier price is used in this example.
A smoothed budget does not represent payment dates. If you purchase quarterly or annually, adjust the relevant months in the forecast and check for double counting with maintenance contracts.
Read calculation conventionsUse this estimate in your business plan
Monthly expenses
Add this item to operating expenses if its amount is not already included in another line. For a one-off expense, use a zero monthly base and an override in the planned month.
Depending on services used and usage volumes.
An annual estimate is spread over twelve months. Adjust the monthly schedule for one-off expenses, seasonality and planned due dates.
Guide updated on 18 October 2026. Parameters must come from your quotes, contracts or documented assumptions.
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