A budget is an official statement of the estimate of income and expenditure during a fixed period based on prior records and plans. Budget can be made by a person, a team, a company, the government, a business or anyone needing to monitor his/her revenue and expenses. Budget can be classified as Static Or Fixed budget based on its adaptive nature.
Static Budget vs Flexible Budget
The main difference between Static and Flexible budgets lies in its nature of adaptability. A static budget once formulated cannot be changed irrespective of changes occurring in its assumed activity before the fixed period is over. A flexible budget however is free to be adapted according to changes at any point of the set period.
A static budget is a kind of budget in which the income and expenditure of the concerned body are pre-determined for the upcoming period. Even in thee case of any fluctuation of change in the predetermined numbers, it remains static i.e., the same.
A flexible budget on the other hand does not pre-determine the money flow of a period. It is free to change according to the needs of the hour and changes in its activity. It is more sophisticated as it needs to be re-evaluated according to the needs at any time of the reporting period.
Comparison Table Between Static Budget and Flexible Budget
| Parameters of Comparison | Static Budget | Flexible Budget |
| Definition | It’s is a predetermined estimate of income and expenditure of a certain period. | It a flexible statement of income and expenditure that is free to change according to changes in activity level. |
| Assumption | The budget is made assuming there will be no changes in the conditions. | It is designed to change according to needs |
| Degree of adaptability | None | Can be changed at will i.e. it is Dynamic |
| Ease of preparation | Easy to prepare as only one budget with fixed numbers is formed | Highly sophisticated as a series of budgets at different level of changes/activity levels have to be prepared. |
| Time of preparation | Takes less time for preparation | Takes more time of preparation |
| Classification of costs | Costs are not classified into types (variable, fixed or semi-variable) as there exists no variability. | Costs are classified according to the nature of their variability. |
| Comparison | Comparison between budgeted and actual data is difficult if numbers differ | Comparison between budgeted and actual data is easier and realistic. |
| Variance Check | It is easier to check degree of difference between actual and assumed figures (variance) due to it’s static nature | It is very difficult to check variance between data as the budget itself changes according to the activity level |
| Price Fixation | If data varies, price fixation becomes difficult. | Price fixation is easier as difference between data can be met |
| Outcome | It is less effective as change is the only constant . | It is more effective due to its adaptive nature. |
What is Static Budget?
Static budget is the kind of budget in which quantitative figures of income and expenditure of a person, team, business, company or even the government is fixed based on assumptions and prior data collected for a fixed period that can range from a daily basis to annual or even more. This is a simpler budget to prepare as all figures are predetermined and do not consider any future fluctuation and changes in activity levels. It assumes the conditions will remain constant.
For example, a company estimated its income to be $20 million and expenditure to be $8 million for its annual budget 2021. However, its income was found to be only $ 16 million at the end of the year. The difference between the two values is termed a static variance. However, since the assumed data and actual data differed the cost of goods and price fixation becomes difficult. Thus although it is effective for variance analysis, it is not realistic as change is the only constant in economies.
A static budget is used by an organization that deals with goods with fixed prices and transactions, government and educational organisations etc.
What is a Flexible Budget?
A flexible budget is the kind of budget that prepared in a way that allows it to changes according to changes in the assumptions made during its preparation. This is a sophisticated budget to, prepare as one has to consider all the changes and variations that can take place in the future reporting period and makes a series of budgets to meet specific changes. One has to have intricate knowledge of which costs are fixed and which are not and prior knowledge of the effect of changes of assumptions. It works with the as sales on that changes are bound to happen and hence are designed as flexible.
For example, A business in the fashion industry has a flexible budget as fashion styles change frequently. It is also effective for new ventures as the cost and sales of new ventures are not decided.
Main Differences Between Static Budget and Flexible Budget
- Static Budget is rigid and does not change while Flexible budget changes according to the relevant situation
- While preparing a static budget it is assumed that there will be no fluctuations in the reporting period while a Flexible budget is designed to adapt to changes.
- The static budget has no degree of adaptability while a flexible budget as the name suggests is flexible.
- It takes a lot more time and experience to formulate a flexible budget than a static budget which is relatively simpler.
- It is difficult to make comparisons between actual and budgeted data if numbers differ in a static budget while in a flexible budget it is easier.
- It is also difficult to determine and classify costs in a static budget if data differ whereas in a flexible budget it is easier to attain data as the budget is adjusted according to one’s needs.
- A static budget is rarely used and is not realistic as economies change at all times while flexible data is a realistic representation of a marketplace.
Conclusion
Hence among the two types of budget, a static budget provides us predetermined data and a number, without considering fluctuations while a flexible budget provides us with a realistic, up-to-date representation of an economy in an ever-changing marketplace. Both types of budgets are important in specific areas as mentioned above. Budgeting is important to make better financial decisions and plan out your expenses and control them. It helps track profits and keeps us ready for emergencies.
References
- https://academic.oup.com/ajcp/article-abstract/84/2/202/1779551
- https://www.jstor.org/stable/2350614