> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.runway.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Budget vs. actuals

> Compare your planned budget with actuals so you can track accuracy, spot trends, and refine future forecasts.

Budget vs. actuals analysis compares a locked budget scenario with actuals from Main. Use it after monthly close to understand where performance differed from plan and which assumptions need attention.

## Step 1: Lock your budget

Your budget lives in a scenario. Lock it before running BvA so later Main updates and team edits do not change the comparison baseline.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Disable updates from Main">
    In scenario settings, set **Pull updates from Main** to **Disabled**. This prevents Main changes and integration sync changes from updating the budget scenario.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Prevent edits when needed">
    If the budget should be read-only, disable editing in scenario settings.

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/runway-5055a12e/tzN-u1troKtnvvuu/images/scenarios/settings.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=tzN-u1troKtnvvuu&q=85&s=b95e297c51317261dccd54111c219213" alt="Scenario settings for a budget scenario" width="1452" height="774" data-path="images/scenarios/settings.png" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>
</Steps>

You can also use a [locked scenario](/concepts/scenarios#locked-scenarios) as the budget baseline.

## Step 2: Set up your actuals

Actuals come from Main and are governed by [last close](/concepts/last-close).

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Main">
    Switch to Main.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set last close">
    Set **last close** to the end of the period you are analyzing. For example, to compare January through March, set last close to March.

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/runway-5055a12e/qkmZoKL31yU_hnvb/images/LastClose.gif?s=9511a2231887d3d199927483e51352ad" alt="Last close marker moving through months" width="800" height="255" data-path="images/LastClose.gif" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review formulas">
    Confirm that actuals formulas are populating closed months and forecast formulas are taking over after last close.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Step 3: Compare budget vs. actuals

You can analyze variances in tables or charts.

### Create a BvA table

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open a model or page table">
    Open a model or create a **Driver table** block on a page.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add drivers">
    Add the drivers you want to include in the BvA.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose comparison scenarios">
    Click **Customize**, select **Compare**, and choose the budget scenario.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review variance">
    In comparison view, **Variance** and **Variance %** are on by default. You can toggle comparison metrics from the same menu.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose layout">
    Show scenarios as rows or columns.

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/runway-5055a12e/tzN-u1troKtnvvuu/images/scenarios/scenario-comparison.gif?s=6a10aaf1040d39778ab9654189a5ad77" alt="Driver table comparing budget and actuals scenarios" width="2000" height="598" data-path="images/scenarios/scenario-comparison.gif" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Customize variance display

Variance colors follow the driver's comparison-color setting. For example, expenses usually use a setting where lower values are better, while income usually uses a setting where higher values are better.

Variance respects the driver's abbreviation setting, so thousands and millions display consistently with the rest of the driver table.

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/runway-5055a12e/6H3Zg8JFRTXPivBI/images/CleanShot2025-09-10at12.43.01.gif?s=437b6258ffbe4942419be020e4bb0bec" alt="Comparison color setting for a variance driver" width="800" height="592" data-path="images/CleanShot2025-09-10at12.43.01.gif" />
</Frame>

### Create a BvA chart

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create a chart">
    Create a **Driver charts** block on a page.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add drivers">
    Add the drivers you want to compare.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Compare scenarios">
    Click **Compare** and select the budget scenario.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose chart type">
    Use a line or column chart to show trends.

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/runway-5055a12e/QgAyEmvdZUWT1iiY/images/pages/charts/scenarios.gif?s=31d3ed41a5dc05d74eba6882feea4689" alt="Chart comparing scenarios over time" width="800" height="499" data-path="images/pages/charts/scenarios.gif" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>
</Steps>

## What's next

* [Scenarios](/concepts/scenarios)
* [Last close](/concepts/last-close)
* [Drivers table block](/concepts/pages/drivers-table-block)