Build a Clean, Desktop-Style Budget vs. Actuals, in Google Sheets

The problem

The current QBO BvA report is very difficult to read with all the months listed, while the Desktop version is very nice and neat with just the current month, the totals, and the remaining budget.

QuickBooks Online's Budget vs. Actuals report spreads every month across the page, which is hard to read and hard to present. The tidy Desktop-style view (current month, year-to-date total, and remaining budget) and the classic 'P&L Budget Performance' report simply aren't available in QBO.

Why QuickBooks can't do it

The modern Budget vs. Actuals has a fixed column layout, and QuickBooks Online doesn't offer the Desktop 'Budget Performance' report. You can't trim it down to just the columns you want to present.

Do it in Google Sheets with Retriever

In Google Sheets you decide exactly which columns appear, so you can rebuild the clean layout QuickBooks Desktop gave you.

1. Pull the budget and actuals into Google Sheets

   Use Retriever to bring your budget and the matching actuals into a sheet.

2. Show only the columns you need

   Lay it out the clean way: current month actual vs. budget, year-to-date, and remaining budget, nothing else cluttering the page.

3. Add the performance math

   Compute over/under, % of budget, and remaining budget with your own formulas, the Budget Performance view QBO is missing.

4. Refresh and present

   Scheduled refreshes keep it current, so the board-ready report is ready whenever you need it.

See also

Frequently asked questions