# See where your business went over budget, right in Google Sheets

> Claude adds the tabs, writes the formulas and draws the chart inside your own sheet while you watch.

Open Claude inside Google Sheets and it builds a budget vs actual report from your numbers, with a chart and every over-budget line flagged.

- Page: https://thesolocreators.com/prompts/budget-vs-actual-report-in-google-sheets/
- Category: Make smarter decisions
- Made for: Small business owners, Consultants, Coaches
- Works in: Claude
- Time: About 15 minutes
- Effort: A few steps
- Note: Claude for Google Workspace is in public beta on paid Claude plans.

## The prompt

Fill in the parts in [square brackets], or leave them and the AI will ask you for them.

```text
This sheet has my budget and what I actually spent for [TIME PERIOD, e.g. July to September]. My business is [YOUR BUSINESS, e.g. a two-person cleaning company].

Please:
1. Add a new tab called "Budget vs actual" with one row per spending category: budget, actual, difference in dollars and difference in percent. Use real formulas that point to my data, not typed numbers.
2. Highlight any category that went more than [OVER BUDGET LIMIT, e.g. 10%] over budget.
3. Add a chart that compares budget and actual for each category.
4. Under the table, write 3 short plain-English notes: where I overspent most, where I came in under, and one thing to watch next quarter.

Don't change my original tabs. If a category name doesn't match between budget and actual, ask me before you merge it.
```

## Step by step

1. Install the Claude for Google Workspace add-on from the Google Workspace Marketplace
2. Open the sheet with your budget and your real spending
3. Open the Claude sidebar and paste the prompt
4. Approve each change card, or switch to accept all edits

## What you'll get

A new tab with a budget vs actual table, over-budget lines flagged, a comparison chart and three plain-English notes.

## Good to know

**Which AI tools does this work in?** It works in Claude. On this page, Claude opens with your prompt already typed in. Claude for Google Workspace is in public beta on paid Claude plans.

**How long does it take?** About 15 minutes. It's rated "A few steps". There are 4 steps, listed above.

**What do I need before I start?** Just your details for 3 blanks: time period, your business and over budget limit. You can skip any, and your AI will ask for them.

**What will I get back?** A new tab with a budget vs actual table, over-budget lines flagged, a comparison chart and three plain-English notes.

Idea spotted on the official docs, shared by Anthropic: https://claude.com/resources/articles/claude-now-works-in-google-docs-sheets-and-slides. The prompt is The Solo Creators' own version.

## Go further

Ready-made skills in the Solo Creators AI Studio (https://thesolocreators.com/studio/) that fit this: Board of Advisors (Convene seven AI advisors who debate your decision, vote, and hand back a stress-tested verdict); Fact Checker (Every quote, number, date, and link in your draft checked against its real source, with the fixes handed back as tracked changes you accept or reject).

From AI Use Cases and Prompts by The Solo Creators: https://thesolocreators.com/prompts/. Free to use; please link back to the page when you share it.