Build your film or TV production budget online
Start with a template, import an existing budget or build one from scratch. Add your expected costs and Tubes keeps the totals up to date automatically.
When you are ready, download your budget as Excel, CSV or PDF. Prefer to start in a spreadsheet? Download the free film budget template instead.
No account needed. Your budget is stored only in this browser and nothing is uploaded to Tubes.
Create your budget
Start with a template, import an existing budget or simply add your production costs below.
About this budget
Give your budget a name and choose the currency, tax rate and date. You can change these later.Add your production costs
Organise your budget into areas such as crew, equipment, locations, travel and post production. Add as much or as little detail as you need. Tubes calculates the totals automatically.Take your budget into production
Your budget is only the starting point. In Tubes, you can use the same approved budget to follow purchase orders, invoices and actual costs throughout the production.
This gives you a clear view of what has been spent, what is still expected and how the production is tracking against budget.
Questions about the Budget Builder
Do I need an account?
No. You can build, save, import and download budgets without an account. Everything happens in your browser.
Can I import an existing budget?
Yes. Import an Excel or CSV file with your costs, or an export from your budgeting software. You can replace your current budget or add the imported costs to it.
Can I import a Movie Magic budget?
Yes. Export your budget from Movie Magic Budgeting as an Excel file and import it here; the categories and accounts come through, including the topsheet structure. You can also start from the Movie Magic template without importing anything.
What can I download?
Excel (an editable spreadsheet in the layout Tubes uses, which also opens in Tubes), CSV, or a PDF via the print window. For a full backup of your work, download a Tubes budget file under Saved versions.
Where is my budget saved?
In your own browser, on this device. The budget you are working on is stored as you type, and Save keeps up to ten named versions next to it. Nothing is uploaded to Tubes. Clearing your browser data removes these budgets, so download a budget file if you want to keep one.
Can I continue working on another computer?
Yes, by taking a file with you. Under Saved versions, choose Download budget file, then open that file on the other computer with Open budget file. Budgets do not move between computers by themselves.
Is the Budget Builder free?
Yes, completely, with no account and no trial period. It is one of the free tools Tubes offers to production teams.
Can I also track actual production costs?
Not in this free tool: the Budget Builder is for preparing a budget. The full Tubes platform adds production finance: cost control, purchase orders, invoices, actuals and forecasting on the same budget. Request a demo to see how that works.
Ready to take the budget past the first step?
Tubes follows purchase orders, invoices and actual costs against the budget you approved.