Add a markup row
Open the project’s Budget.
Select the row after which the markup should appear.
Right-click the row, select Insert, then select Add markup. You can also press Command + M on macOS or Ctrl + M on Windows.
Rename the new Markup row so its purpose is clear.
The markup is inserted after the selected row at the same account level. Placement matters because it affects where the amount appears in totals and which earlier markups can be included in a compounded calculation.
Configure a markup
Open the markup settings from the row menu, or select the markup amount in a phase total. The panel contains Applies to, Display, and separate settings for each phase.
Choose a type for each phase
Type | Use |
Percent | Calculates a percentage of the eligible amount. |
Flat | Adds or subtracts a fixed amount in the phase currency. |
Reference phase | Uses another phase’s markup configuration or rate, but applies it to the current phase’s amounts. |
Assigned items | Available in Committed and Actual. It uses purchase orders or transactions assigned to the markup row. |
Important: phase settings are independent. A blank Percent or Flat rate calculates $0.00; it does not inherit the Estimate rate. To reuse Estimate settings in Committed or Actual, select Reference phase and choose Estimate.
Choose how the amount is calculated
Apply as: select Markup to add the result or Discount to subtract it.
Marks up: select Base only, Fringes only, or Base + Fringes.
Apply on top of other markups: turn this on to include eligible markup rows above this row. Because only earlier eligible markups are included, row order matters.
Show % in sheet: use the Display setting to show or hide the percentage in the budget.
Choose what the markup applies to
Use Applies to to target specific accounts, rows, or tags. Tags appear with a # prefix. Use Except to remove accounts, rows, or tags from that target.
With no targets selected, the markup applies to the Entire budget.
Adding a target limits the calculation to the selected scope.
Tags are useful when the same rule should follow eligible rows across several accounts.
Calculation examples
Configuration | Result |
10% Markup on a $1,000 base | +$100 |
10% Discount on a $1,000 base | -$100 |
Flat $250 Markup | +$250 |
10% on Base + Fringes, with $1,000 base and $100 fringes | +$110 |
A second 5% markup with “Apply on top of other markups” enabled, after a $100 markup on a $1,000 base | +$55 |
The same second 5% markup without compounding | +$50 |
Review and troubleshoot a markup
If the total is unexpected, check the setting for the affected phase—not only Estimate.
The result is $0.00: check for a blank rate, no eligible amount in that phase, targets or exclusions that remove every row, a Reference phase with a blank configuration, or an Assigned items phase with no matching purchase order or transaction.
The total is too high or too low: check Applies to, Except, Base/Fringes selection, row order, and the “Apply on top of other markups” toggle.
An edit does not commit: press Tab or click outside the field. If Saturation shows Offline or Reconnect sync, reconnect and recheck the saved value.
FAQs
Can I use a flat fee instead of a percentage?
Yes. Select Flat for that phase and enter the amount.
Can a markup be a discount?
Yes. Set Apply as to Discount. The calculated amount is subtracted from the budget.
Can Committed or Actual use a different rate from Estimate?
Yes. Enter an explicit rate in that phase. To reuse the Estimate configuration, select Reference phase and choose Estimate. Leaving the rate blank returns $0.00.
How do I make actual spend or commitments feed the markup directly?
Select Assigned items in Actual, then assign transactions to the markup row. In Committed, assigned purchase orders provide the amount.
Can I mark up fringes?
Yes. In Marks up, select Fringes only or Base + Fringes.
How do I compound one markup on another?
Place the second markup below the first and turn on Apply on top of other markups. Only eligible markups above the row are included.
Can I target a markup by tag?
Yes. Add the tag under Applies to, then use Except for any exclusions.
How can I apply a markup across the entire budget without showing it as a regular markup row?
Use a phase rollup formula such as @phase * 1.10 for a 10% markup. A rollup displays the calculated result, but it does not expose Qty, Unit, or Rate like a regular line.
How should I carry a Production Fee into Committed?
Choose Reference phase and select Estimate when Committed should use the Estimate production fee configuration against Committed amounts. Use Assigned items instead only when purchase orders assigned to the Production Fee row should determine its Committed amount.
How should I carry a Production Fee into Actual?
Choose Reference phase and select Estimate when Actual should use the Estimate production fee configuration against Actual amounts. Use Assigned items instead only when transactions assigned to the Production Fee row should determine its Actual amount.