Create Cost Resources in Project- Instructions

Create Cost Resources in Project: Video Lesson

            This video lesson, titled “Creating Cost Resources,” shows you how to create cost resources in Project. This video lesson on how to create cost resources in Project is from our complete Project tutorial, titled “Mastering Project Made Easy v.2016-2013.”

Create Cost Resources in Project: Overview

            You can create cost resources in Project. Cost resources are different from work and material resources. Cost resources represent costs commonly incurred to complete various tasks within a project that are not directly tied to the amount of work performed or materials used.

            For example, if you had “Client Meeting” as a project task, you could create a cost resource like “Travel” to track the travel costs associated with completing the client meeting task. There are often many tasks that do not require cost resources in a project file. However, the ability to track that type of information is available for users who must track costs associated with completing project tasks.

            To create cost resources in Project, open the desired project file and ensure you are using the “Resource Sheet” view. Next, enter the desired cost resource information into the next blank resource row. Also, select “Cost” from the “Type” drop-down to make it a cost resource.

            If using the “Resource Information” dialog box to enter resources, select “Cost” from the “Type” drop-down on the “General” tab. Also, when finished, click the “OK” button to save your data entry. Doing this also adds the resource to the “Resource Sheet” view.

            Another important difference between cost resources and work or material resources is that cost resources have no default cost or pay rate associated with their creation. In Microsoft Project, you only enter the cost of the resource when assigning it to a project’s task.

Create Cost Resources in Project- Instructions: A picture of a cost resource shown within the “Resource Information” dialog box in Microsoft Project.

Create Cost Resources in Project: Instructions

1. To create cost resources in Project, open the project file and ensure you are using the “Resource Sheet” view.
2. Enter the cost resource information into the next blank resource row.
3. Also, select “Cost” from the “Type” drop-down to make it a cost resource.
4. If using the “Resource Information” dialog box to enter resources, select “Cost” from the “Type” drop-down on the “General” tab.
5. When finished, click the “OK” button to save your data entry.
6. Doing this also adds the resource to the “Resource Sheet” view.