Zero-Based Budgeting - ZBB

Filed Under » ,
Dictionary Says

Definition of 'Zero-Based Budgeting - ZBB'

A method of budgeting in which all expenses must be justified for each new period. Zero-based budgeting starts from a "zero base" and every function within an organization is analyzed for its needs and costs. Budgets are then built around what is needed for the upcoming period, regardless of whether the budget is higher or lower than the previous one.

ZBB allows top-level strategic goals to be implemented into the budgeting process by tying them to specific functional areas of the organization, where costs can be first grouped, then measured against previous results and current expectations.  
Investopedia Says

Investopedia explains 'Zero-Based Budgeting - ZBB'

Because of its detail-oriented nature, zero-based budgeting may be a rolling process done over several years, with only a few functional areas reviewed at a time by managers or group leadership.  

Zero-based budgeting can lower costs by avoiding blanket increases or decreases to a prior period's budget. It is, however, a time-consuming process that takes much longer than traditional, cost-based budgeting. The practice also favors areas that achieve direct revenues or production; their contributions are more easily justified than in departments such as client service and research and development.  

Related Definitions

  • Budget

    An estimation of the revenue and expenses over a specified future period of time. A budget can be made for a person, family, group of people, business, government, country, multinational ...
    Read More »
  • Expense

    1. The economic costs that a business incurs through its operations to earn revenue. In order to maximize profits, businesses must attempt to reduce expenses without also cutting into ...
    Read More »
  • Activity-Based Budgeting - ABB

    A method of budgeting in which the activities that incur costs in every functional area of an organization are recorded and their relationships are defined and analyzed. Activities are ...
    Read More »
    • Cost Accounting

      A type of accounting process that aims to capture a company's costs of production by assessing the input costs of each step of production as well as fixed costs such as depreciation of ...
      Read More »
    • Financial Accounting

      Reporting of the financial position and performance of a firm through financial statements issued to external users on a periodic basis.
      Read More »
    • Supply Chain Management - SCM

      The management and coordination of a product's supply chain for the purpose of increasing efficiency and profitability.
      Read More »
    • Cash Budget

      An estimation of the cash inflows and outflows for a business or individual for a specific period of time. Cash budgets are often used to assess whether the entity has sufficient cash to ...
      Read More »
    • Balanced Budget

      A situation in financial planning or the budgeting process where total revenues are equal to or greater than total expenses. A budget can be considered balanced in hindsight, after a ...
      Read More »
    • Budget Deficit

      A financial situation that occurs when an entity has more money going out than coming in. The term "budget deficit" is most commonly used to refer to government spending rather than ...
      Read More »
    • Budget Manual

      A set of instructions used within large organizations to prepare budgets. As organizations become larger and more complex, it is no longer possible for one person to prepare a budget. ...
      Read More »

Articles Of Interest

Partner Links