Know what your business can spend, save and pay you. Every month.
Your bank balance tells you one number. It doesn't tell you what's already promised to rent, software, taxes or your next paycheck. I'll help you set up a YNAB business budget so every dollar has a job and you can make decisions with confidence, in English or Spanish.
Sound familiar?
- You look at your business account and still aren't sure what's safe to spend.
- Tax time sneaks up, and the money isn't there.
- Annual software fees and slow months catch you off guard.
- You're unsure about paying yourself, so you don't.
How YNAB helps
YNAB plans with the money you have right now, not money you hope to get. That's what makes it work so well for small businesses.
- Pay yourself with confidence. An Owner Pay category shows what's safe to take.
- Be ready for taxes. Set aside a share of each payment so the money is waiting when quarterly payments are due.
- No more surprise bills. Save a little each month for yearly fees, gear and repairs.
- Never lose track of an invoice. A simple tracking account shows who still owes you.
- Build a buffer. Slow months stop feeling scary.
Built by a business owner, tooYNAB's founder runs his own company on YNAB, and he credits it with giving him the clarity to make important decisions and grow.
Who YNAB for business is for
YNAB is a budgeting tool, not full accounting software. Here's a quick way to tell whether it fits the way your business runs.
A great fit if you
- Run a service business: freelancers, consultants, coaches, designers, tutors and trades
- Have a side business you want to keep apart from your household money
- Use cash-basis accounting (more on that below)
- Have no payroll, or a very simple one
- Carry little or no inventory
- Want to pay yourself a steady amount and stop guessing
May not be the right fit if you
- Use, or are required to use, accrual-basis accounting
- Have a lot of inventory to track
- Need built-in payroll, invoicing, time tracking or mileage logs
- Need to track depreciation on business assets
- Need formal financial statements for lenders or investors
- Want your books to sync straight into your accountant's tax software
Good to know: Many owners use YNAB alongside other tools. YNAB handles the cash plan, while a payroll service, an invoicing app or your CPA handles the rest. If that's you, I'll help you decide how the pieces fit together.
Why your accounting method matters
Cash basis
Records income when the money lands in your account and expenses when you pay them. YNAB works the same way, because it only budgets money you have right now.
Accrual basis
Records income when you earn it and expenses when you owe them, even if no cash has moved yet. YNAB isn't built for that.
If you're on a cash basis, YNAB fits naturally. If you're on accrual, YNAB can still help you plan cash flow, but you'll need accounting software for your books.
Not sure which you use? Ask your tax pro. I'm a budget coach, not a CPA, and I'm happy to work alongside yours. Coaching isn't tax, legal or accounting advice.
A business budget built around how you get paid
- A separate business budget, kept apart from your personal one
- Your business checking account, plus PayPal or Stripe if you use them
- Categories built from your last few months of statements
- Targets for monthly and yearly costs
- A tax category you fund as income comes in
- An Owner Pay category and a clean way to move money to your personal budget
- A tracking account for unpaid invoices
- A buffer to carry you through slow months
Three steps to a calmer business budget
Book a free intro call
We'll talk about your business and make sure YNAB is the right fit.
Build your budget together
We set it up live, one step at a time.
Run it with support
Follow-up sessions help you build the habit and make adjustments.
Sessions are available in English and Spanish, remotely anywhere in the US or in person in the Sacramento area.
See coaching options and pricing →Ready to feel calm about your business money?
You started your business to do work you love. Let's make the money side feel just as good.