Back to results for “The Budgeting Process”
Budgeting & Forecasting › Zero-Based Budgeting

Is ZBB used every year? How is it applied practically?

Beginner

Answer

Because full ZBB is demanding, many organizations don't do it every year for everything. Practical approaches include applying it periodically (e.g., every few years), rotating it across departments so each is zero-based in turn, or using it selectively on discretionary/overhead areas while using incremental budgeting elsewhere.
Real-world example The firm zero-bases one function each year on a rotating basis, keeping the workload manageable.

Common follow-ups: How can the workload be managed? | Can ZBB be applied selectively?