---
title: Budget Management overview
slug: configured-commerce/docs/budget-management-overview
docTags: 
createdAt: 2026-08-13T10:46:19.000Z
---

Optimizely Configured Commerce lets you create and enforce budgets for your users to manage buyer spending. When a user reaches a predetermined budget amount, you can require approval before they can place the order.

Dropdown behavior by enforcement level

The **User** and **Ship-To** dropdowns on the Budget Management page are enabled or disabled based on the selected enforcement level:

| Enforcement level | User dropdown | Ship-To dropdown |
| ----------------- | ------------- | ---------------- |
| **None**          | Enabled       | Enabled          |
| **Customer**      | Disabled      | Disabled         |
| **Ship-To**       | Disabled      | Enabled          |
| **User**          | Enabled       | Disabled         |

Disabled dropdowns prevent selecting values that do not apply at the current enforcement level.

To enable budget management, go to **Settings** in the Admin Console and search for *Budget Management*, or go to **Order Management > Budgets & Order Approval**. Toggle **Budget Management** to **On**. This displays the following settings:

- **Budgets From Online Orders Only** – Calculate budgets only from online orders. The default value is **Yes**. If set to **No**, budgets also count orders from the ERP.
- **Show Cost Codes** – Display and use cost codes during checkout. The default value is **No**.
- **Cost Code Editing** – Let buyers enter their own cost codes during checkout. The default value is **Off**.
- **Carry Over Unused Monthly Balances** – Lets websites carry over unused balances. The default value is **Yes**.

![Budget management.png](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/DsHQ-aildyR0zK0zQeMMK-20260720-144710.png)

When you enable budget management, administrators must manage budget creation, maintenance, and review. See [Configure a budget](docId\:wY1x8FwGe4CfODRRpK1D6), [Maintain a budget](docId\:vxt1TuLqrlmAks5-ehRnN), and [Review a budget](docId\:tRHQ_SfRJQrwQE8B0Tsns) for information.

The list below identifies the roles and abilities within the budget management process:

- **ISC\_Administrator**
  - Enables the **Budget Management** functionality within the Admin Console.
- **Administrator**:
  - Has full access to the **My Account** menu.
  - Can order over budget.
  - Can see invoices and orders for all users they are assigned to.
  - Acts as the default Approver if no Approver is assigned to a user.
- **Buyer3**
  - Can order over budget without approval.
  - Can see orders and invoices.
  - Cannot access **User Administration**, **Budget Management**, or **Requisition Approval**.
- **Buyer2**
  - Cannot be assigned as an Approver.
  - Can order without approval if under budget.
  - Can order over budget with approval.
  - Can see orders.
  - Cannot see invoices.
  - Cannot access **User Administration**, **Budget Management**, or **Requisition Approval**.
- **Buyer1**
  - Cannot be assigned as an Approver.
  - Require approval for all orders.
  - Can see orders.
  - Cannot see invoices.
  - Cannot access **User Administration**, **Budget Management**, or **Requisition Approval**.