diff --git a/superx_budget/budget.py b/superx_budget/budget.py
index de53b49..27cc055 100644
--- a/superx_budget/budget.py
+++ b/superx_budget/budget.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 from collections import namedtuple
 
+from .helpers import get_sheet_of_file
 from .exceptions import BudgetParserError
 
 EXPECTED_TABLE_HEADERS = [
@@ -60,3 +61,9 @@ def parse_budget_data(xls_sheet):
     rows = (ExcelRow(i, v) for i, v in enumerate(xls_sheet.values, start=1))
     _check_table_header(next(rows))
     return list(_parse_data_table(rows))
+
+
+def parse_budget_file(file_path):
+    """ parses the budget file """
+    sheet = get_sheet_of_file(file_path, name=None)
+    return parse_budget_data(sheet)
diff --git a/superx_budget/helpers.py b/superx_budget/helpers.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..eae1278
--- /dev/null
+++ b/superx_budget/helpers.py
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+""" some helper functions """
+
+import openpyxl
+
+
+def get_sheet_of_file(excel_file, name=None):
+    """ returns a sheet from an excel FileCache
+
+    if name is set to None, the function returns the first sheet
+    """
+    workbook = openpyxl.open(excel_file)
+    if name is None:
+        sheets = workbook.sheetnames
+        name = sheets[0]
+    return workbook[name]
diff --git a/superx_budget/superx.py b/superx_budget/superx.py
index 4356b6f..0b2db67 100644
--- a/superx_budget/superx.py
+++ b/superx_budget/superx.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 from datetime import datetime
 from collections import namedtuple
 
+from .helpers import get_sheet_of_file
 from .exceptions import SuperXParserError
 
 EXPECTED_HEADLINE = "Verwendungsnachweis und Kassenstand SAP"
@@ -83,3 +84,9 @@ def parse_export_data(xls_sheet):
     _skip_export_data_until_table_header(rows)
     data = list(_parse_data_table(rows))
     return SuperXResult(metadata.account_year, metadata.export_date, data)
+
+
+def parse_exported_file(file_path):
+    """ parses the budget file """
+    sheet = get_sheet_of_file(file_path, name=None)
+    return parse_export_data(sheet)
diff --git a/tests/test_budget_parser.py b/tests/test_budget_parser.py
index 6722571..f08b28a 100644
--- a/tests/test_budget_parser.py
+++ b/tests/test_budget_parser.py
@@ -82,3 +82,16 @@ def test_parse_budget_data(example_sheet):
     assert last.number == "=A51+1"
     assert last.project_name == "ZIM Microcoat II"
     assert last.rest == "=E54-F54"
+
+
+def test_parse_budget_file(example_file):
+    from superx_budget.budget import parse_budget_file
+
+    result = parse_budget_file(example_file)
+    first = result[0]
+
+    assert len(result) == 18
+    assert first.row == 3
+    assert first.number == 1
+    assert first.project_name == "Safegurard I (neu)"
+    assert first.rest == "=E3-F3"
diff --git a/tests/test_superx_parser.py b/tests/test_superx_parser.py
index 0cd3dab..ec74eb3 100644
--- a/tests/test_superx_parser.py
+++ b/tests/test_superx_parser.py
@@ -140,3 +140,16 @@ def test_parse_export_data(example_workbook):
     assert last.revenue_actual == 2236
     assert last.revenue_target == 3236
     assert last.acutal_value == 4236
+
+
+def test_parse_exported_file(example_file):
+    from superx_budget.superx import parse_exported_file
+
+    result = parse_exported_file(example_file)
+    first = result.data[0]
+
+    assert len(result.data) == 212
+    assert first.cost_center == "1110200121"
+    assert first.fonds == "3310"
+    assert first.project == "1100000102"
+    assert first.kind == "1 - Personal"