Budget FAQs
General Questions
Q: Do I have to mark my budget as Final Approved to enter contracts and invoices?
A: No. The only prerequisite to entering contracts and invoices is loading cost codes into your budget.
Q: I already created my budget outside of INGENIOUS. Can I import it?
A: You can import cost codes, but not budget values, and this must be done through the Lists & Templates module.
Customizing and Updating Budgets
Q: I’m having trouble adding additional categories and sub-categories to my budget. What should I do?
A: You cannot add a sub-category to a category if it already has cost codes nested beneath it. Configure categories and sub-categories first, then add cost codes. Use a template configured by your workspace Administrators to save time.
Q: I used a cost code template but renamed some cost codes. Do they still relate to the original cost codes?
A: No. However, you can use Analytical Cost Codes to link all cost codes to one company list of codes.
Q: Can I customize columns on my budget, and will those changes appear on exports?
A: This feature is coming soon! For now, you can hide columns in your budget or use a Budget Layout configured by workspace Administrators. Changes are not reflected in exports yet.
Q: If I applied a cost code template and then updated it, can I use the new version?
A: Yes, if new cost codes were added to your template, use the Append function to add them to your budget.
Q: I want one cost code’s budget to depend on another cost code. Is this possible?
A: This functionality is not currently available but is planned as a future enhancement.
Q: I have existing projects with the old two-tier cost code structure. Can I update them to use the new four-tier structure or add Phases?
A: You can add Phases to projects using the two-tier cost code structure.
Owner Budget vs. Your Budget FAQs
Q: What’s the difference between Owner Budget and Your Budget?
A:
Owner Budget: Tracks all project-wide costs, such as contracts where the Owner is the contract holder.
Your Budget: Tracks costs specific to your scope of services as the Owner’s Rep.
Q: When should I use Your Budget?
A: Use Your Budget if you need to track costs for services you directly manage, such as hiring consultants.
Q: Why are there no cost codes in my bid package even though I set up my budget?
A: If cost codes don’t appear, the bid package may be pulling from Your Budget instead of the Owner Budget. Ensure cost codes are set up in the correct budget.
Q: How do I resolve missing cost codes in the bid package?
A:
Update the Anticipated Contract Holder in the bid package to reflect your role (Advisor or Agent).
If you’re the Principal, ensure cost codes are populated in Your Budget.
Q: What’s the anticipated contract holder, and why is it important?
A: The Anticipated Contract Holder determines whether contracts are tied to the Owner Budget (Owner as contract holder) or Your Budget (Owner’s Rep as contract holder).
Q: Can I switch between Owner Budget and Your Budget?
A: Yes, you can toggle between them in the Master Project Budget depending on your needs.
Q: Is using Your Budget mandatory?
A: No, it’s optional. You can rely solely on the Owner Budget unless you need to track your specific scope of services separately.
Need More Help?
For additional questions or troubleshooting, reach out to us at support@ingenious.build! We're here to assist you.