> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://use-it.gitbook.io/use-it-wiki/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://use-it.gitbook.io/use-it-wiki/funding-your-project/prepare-your-project-plan/budget.md).

# budget

Money money money, must be funny!

Of course, the money you ask for differs per country, since income height and costs are different. The basic principle of budgeting is simple: listing and calculating your costs and your benefits!

The basic costs of a USE-IT project include:

| 👯🏻 coordination and project management | ✍️ editorial, proofreading and translation |
| ---------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------ |
| 🖍️ design                               | 🖨️ printing                               |
| 💳 USE-IT fee                            | 📮 postal / distribution costs             |

However, many teams do the editorial and coordination work as volunteers, without being paid, as their first objective to reach is to be able to release the map. Of course, we encourage you to do your best to be able to pay for your own work and that of your team, you deserve it! 

If you have negotiation skills like the Wolf of Wall Street, you can negotiate for your printing costs to be covered by funders, the municipality for example. And if you find a designer who wants to practice or is a design student, you can pay 0 € for design. But in most cases, this is the base you need to pay for. And let’s be fair: we like to pay good people for good work, right? So let’s tell our funders that and explain what we need our funding for!

We encourage you to be accurate while building your budget by mentioning all posts required by such a project. Text writing takes time, make sure to show that in your budget. Distribution in your own city needs to be done multiple times, often, when places run out of maps. Distribution to other cities not only costs money for postal fees, but also time to pack maps and take them to the post office. And project management is a vital task, so don’t be afraid to show that on your budget! You are doing a great job and it is nice to show that.

On the other hand, if you create a map with the absolute minimum and only volunteers, how will you convince your local authorities that they have to give you more next year? And what will happen when the volunteers leave on a world trip? It’s best to take it seriously from the beginning, because that’s the best way to provide continuity. 

Some teams also add: 

| 🚀 launching events costs          | 🚂 travel costs for USE-IT meeting |
| ---------------------------------- | ---------------------------------- |
| ☎️ office rental and miscellaneous |                                    |

You don’t need to be shy including those costs; it has already been done! The heart of your project has to be map making and printing, but think what other costs you could make and don’t hesitate to ask for that money, as long as it is relevant and honest. You are offering a useful project that can have a very positive impact on tourism, on your city and on the people who arrive, and suddenly find a great local dish instead of a fast food hamburger and an underground party instead of the first bar they can find. You rock!. So be confident and don’t be afraid to ask for its price.

Here are is a concrete example of budget from Arnhem map project (NL):<br>

{% columns %}
{% column width="50%" %}
**EXPENSES**

| Project planning (250 hours)    |      1 250€ |
| ------------------------------- | ----------: |
| Editorial / writing (250 hours) |      1 250€ |
| Final editing (100 hours)       |        500€ |
| Graphic design                  |      1 000€ |
| Printing (15 000 maps)          |      3 500€ |
| Distribution                    |        700€ |
| Postal costs                    |        200€ |
| Membership fee (18 months)      |      1 200€ |
| Bank costs (12 months)          |         50€ |
| Website (12 months)             |         66€ |
| Unforseen (10%)                 |      1 061€ |
| **TOTAL**                       | **11 677€** |
| {% endcolumn %}                 |             |

{% column width="50%" %}
**INCOME**

| European Solidarity Corp   |      4 177€ |
| -------------------------- | ----------: |
| Platform Binnenstad Arnhem |      2 500€ |
| Studiestad                 |      2 500€ |
| ASBN                       |      2 500€ |
| **TOTAL**                  | **11 677€** |
| {% endcolumn %}            |             |
| {% endcolumns %}           |             |

***

{% hint style="success" %}
*EXPLORE OUR RESOURCES*\
→ [The Perfect Funder Guidebook](https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1nwlgKDN6e0ojqbFbRzFVpTVmiZIdTaOe) by FUND-IT team
{% endhint %}