Help Centre
BudgetBuilder is a first-pass production budget tool for indie producers and line producers. This page covers getting started, the most common questions, what the tool cannot do yet, and how to reach us if you are stuck.
Getting Started
1. Open the app
Go to the BudgetBuilder app. No account, no sign-up, no login. Every calculation happens on-demand.
2. Set your production parameters
Pick a format (short film, feature, documentary, commercial, or music video), enter the number of shoot days, the number of locations, and your contingency percentage. These govern the initial rate defaults and the overall structure of the top sheet.
3. Build your crew roster
Select crew roles from the dropdown and add them. For each role you can adjust the quantity (number of people) and rate override — if you leave the rate blank, the tool uses the sourced default rate (with its source cited). If no sourced default exists, the field displays “enter your rate”.
4. Calculate
Click Calculate. The tool returns a full top sheet: above-the-line, below-the-line, post-production, contingency (shown as a percentage of a stated base), and a grand total that reconciles with every subtotal.
5. Adjust and re-calculate
Change any parameter, override any rate, add or remove crew roles, then calculate again. The tool recalculates instantly — no spreadsheet cell to hunt for.
6. Export
Click Export CSV to download the top sheet as a comma-separated file for your own records or for further work in your spreadsheet of choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do the default rates come from?
Default rates in the tool come from published, citable schedules — for example, IATSE and MPEG rate agreements — with the effective date of the schedule shown alongside the rate. If we cannot source a default from a published schedule for a particular role, the field shows “enter your rate” — no invented number is substituted. You can always override any default rate with your own figure.
Can I save my budget and come back to it later?
No. BudgetBuilder has no account system and no server-side storage. Production parameters are sent to the API for calculation only and are not stored. To keep a record, use the Export CSV button to download the top sheet before leaving the page. Browser refresh resets the form — we recommend exporting first.
Is this a quote, a bid, or a financing document?
No. BudgetBuilder produces a first-pass estimate — a starting point whose assumptions are visible and arguable line by line. It is not a quote from a vendor, a binding bid from a production service, or a document suitable for a financing package without independent verification of every line item. Always verify rates and totals with current source schedules and local conditions before committing real money.
How do I override a rate for a specific role?
In the Crew Roster section of the app, each role row has a Rate input field. Type your own value there and click Calculate again. The tool uses your override instead of the default for that role and marks the source as “your rate” in the output. You can override as many roles as you like.
The grand total doesn’t seem right — what should I check?
Every category subtotal is the sum of its line items, and the grand total is the sum of all categories plus contingency. If a number looks wrong:
- Check that each crew role’s quantity is set correctly — a quantity of zero produces $0 for that line.
- Check that any role with a blank rate shows “enter your rate” rather than a filled-in guess — the tool treats a blank rate as $0 for calculation until you enter one.
- Verify the contingency percentage — it is applied to the sum of all categories and the base is shown in the output.
- If you believe there is a genuine arithmetic bug, please contact us with the production parameters you used so we can reproduce the calculation.
Does BudgetBuilder integrate with Movie Magic, Showbiz, StudioBinder, or payroll services?
No. BudgetBuilder is a standalone web tool with no integration to any third-party budgeting, scheduling, or payroll platform. The CSV export is the only way to move data into another tool. There is no API for external systems to call beyond the budget calculation endpoint used by the app itself.
Known Limitations
We are honest about what this tool does not do yet. Please read this section before contacting support — your question may already be answered here.
- No accounts, no saved history. Every session is stateless. Refresh the page and the form resets. Export your budget as CSV if you want a record.
- No email or alert capability. This fleet has no email sender. We cannot email you a budget, send notifications, or deliver receipts by email.
- No custom rate card import. The Pro tier lists custom rate card import as a planned feature, but it is not yet built. You can override individual rates in the app today.
- Rate schedules may be outdated. Default rates are sourced from published agreements with their effective dates cited, but those agreements may be superseded by the time you use the tool. Always verify current rates with the issuing union or guild.
- No integration with third-party tools. BudgetBuilder does not connect to Movie Magic, Showbiz, StudioBinder, payroll services, or any other external system.
- No team or multi-user features. There is no way to share a budget with collaborators, assign permissions, or work simultaneously.
- Contingency is a flat percentage. Contingency is calculated as a single percentage of the total of all categories. The percentage and the base are shown in the output. We do not support split contingencies or per-category contingency at this time.
- No legal entity registered yet. The operator has not registered a company, address, or jurisdiction. Until then, the tool is provided as-is with no binding terms of service under any jurisdiction. See the Terms of Service for details.
We respond to support enquiries as quickly as we can. Before emailing, please check the FAQ and Known Limitations above — your question may already have an answer.
Billing enquiries should use the same address. For payment or subscription questions, please include the email address you used during checkout so we can locate your record in the payment processor. Note that the checkout is currently in test mode — no real card is charged.