# Estimate to Budget

Product Owners own creating Workload Estimate in FinOps Center leveraging a AWS Pricing Calculating Link. 

Any entity (internal user, AWS, AWS Partner) can create an estimate for a Workload via the AWS Calculator - <https://calculator.aws/>. Each Workload Estimate should be for the Workload in that AWS Account. Once the Estimate is created, the Product Owner will add the Link to the Estimate with the Monthly Estimate.&#x20;

<figure><img src="/files/uHTPVl62pqVWEvQR6Gfs" alt=""><figcaption><p>Create Estimate Link</p></figcaption></figure>

Once the Estimate is created, the Product Owner will add the Link to the Estimate with the Monthly Estimate.

<figure><img src="/files/fPOMwDOzeUO4k9aebvzr" alt=""><figcaption><p>Create Workload Estimate</p></figcaption></figure>

Workload Estimates flow to the Budget Schedule to be included in Monthly Budget Schedule.

The Estimate to Budget process enables Product Owners to forecast workload costs before they become committed budgets. The workflow follows five stages: (1) Create Workload Estimate, defining required AWS services, usage volumes, and environment type (Dev, Sandbox, Pre-Prod, Prod, or Shared); (2) Link AWS Pricing Calculator at calculator.aws for authoritative monthly and annual cost projections; (3) Submit for Approval with budget period selection (monthly or annual) and justification notes, via MCP action or dashboard workflow; (4) Portfolio Manager Review against portfolio budget capacity and strategic alignment; and (5) Convert to Active Budget, where approved estimates automatically become budget line items with cost tracking, weekly spend card generation (W1-W6), and QuickSight dashboard visibility. The Product Owner is the primary operator, while the Portfolio Manager serves as the approval gate ensuring estimates align with organizational priorities before becoming committed budgets.

<figure><img src="/files/gWFsNiMAQVawXLBmVRcn" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>


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