Use the Simple Budget Editor in Productive to quickly create standardized budgets with a single billing type.
This editor is ideal for simpler budgets that don’t require mixed billing methods or complex service structures.
Why use the Simple Budget Editor?
The Simple Budget Editor is a faster, more guided way to create a budget. It’s best suited for:
Straightforward budget setups with clear billing rules
Internal budgets where services are non-billable
Teams that don’t need to combine different billing types (e.g. Time and Materials + Fixed)
It allows you to:
Select a single budget type
Add and configure services and expenses
Customize rates and estimates per service
Track non-billable work where needed
How to enable it
You can choose the Simple Budget Editor when creating a new budget in the Budget Wizard.
Just check the Simple Budget Editor box at the bottom of the wizard screen
📌 The default checkbox behavior depends on your settings under Settings > Budget.
What can you do in the Simple Budget Editor?
After selecting your budget type—Time and Materials, Fixed Price, or Non-billable—you can:
Add services tied to the selected billing type
Assign people and define budget totals
Rename service sections and add service descriptions
Set up an expenses section (optional), choosing from three billing types
Customize billable rates and set budget estimates
📌 All services within the budget must follow the same billing type—mixed billing types aren’t supported in this editor.
👉 For more detailed steps, see: How to Set up a Budget Using the Simple Budget Editor
When to switch to the Advanced Budget Editor
If your budget requires more complexity—such as:
Multiple billing types in one budget
Different rules across service groups
Using rate cards
…then switch to the Advanced Budget Editor at the bottom of the screen.
📌 Once you switch, you can't go back to the simple version for that budget.
