We have created this comprehensive guide, including 50+ popular project management tools. And the guide also explains key features you should consider when you’re buying project management software for your company.

What is Project Management Software?

From project planning to execution, project management software help you manage all your project management requirements.

A good project management software package can help you carry out multiple key functions, which include but are not limited to:

• Project planning and task management
• Collaboration
• Calendar and contact sharing
• Bug tracking
• Time tracking

In a nutshell, you can use project management software for planning, organizing, and managing projects.

Our Methodology: How We Chose the Best Project Management Software Tools 

In the fast-paced world of project management, delivering results on time is paramount. Effective software tools can be the backbone of ensuring timely and accurate deliverables. Given the myriad of options available, here’s how we zeroed in on the best project management software tools specifically tailored for managing deliverables:

Task and Milestone Tracking (10/10)

At the heart of deliverables is task completion. We prioritize software that offers detailed task and milestone tracking, allowing teams to monitor progress comprehensively.

Collaboration Features (9/10)

Successful deliverables often require teamwork. We value tools that facilitate smooth collaboration, such as real-time chats, file sharing, and comment threads.

Visual Workflow Management (9/10)

Visual aids like Gantt charts, Kanban boards, or flow diagrams help in visualizing the path to a deliverable. We appreciate software that integrates these functionalities.

Customizability (8/10)

Every project has unique deliverables. Software that allows users to customize workflows, templates, and reports stand out in our evaluation.

Reporting and Analytics (8/10)

Understanding project performance can guide future deliverables. We lean towards tools offering in-depth analytics, status reports, and performance insights.

Integration Capabilities (8/10)

Seamless integration with other tools—be it CRM systems, communication platforms, or file storage solutions—can streamline the deliverable process. We consider the range and efficiency of such integrations.

Ease of Use (7/10)

A tool’s effectiveness is diminished if it’s overly complex. User-friendly interfaces that make the software accessible to all team members are essential.

Scalability (7/10)

As projects grow and deliverables multiply, software should adapt. We favor tools that can scale with the needs of a project or organization.

Real-time Notifications (7/10)

Immediate updates on task status, deadlines, or changes are crucial for timely deliverables. Tools with prompt and customizable notifications earn our nod.

Budgeting and Resource Allocation (6/10)

Ensuring resources are aptly utilized without overshooting budgets is part of effective deliverable management. We value software that aids in these financial aspects.

Security and Data Protection (6/10)

Project details and deliverables can be sensitive. We assess software based on its encryption, data protection standards, and access controls.

Customer Support and Documentation (6/10)

Having a reliable support system and thorough documentation ensures any hiccups in managing deliverables are promptly addressed.

Managing deliverables is a balancing act of timely execution and quality assurance. With our comprehensive evaluation method, we spotlight project management software tools that not only support these objectives but empower teams to consistently meet and exceed project goals.

52 Best Project Management Tools

Picking the right project management tool won’t be hard after exploring our list of the #52 best project management tools.

The list includes a variety of project management tools well-suited for businesses of all types. Also, the list ropes in online project management tools, project management apps, and software.

Without further ado, let’s dive in:

Trello

Trello is the best project management software if you are looking for a hassle-free project management app.

This project management solution helps you organize different projects using boards. Each board has multiple lists and cards to hold project-related files, and other essential details.

With Trello, you can:

• Get an overview of projects
• Assign tasks to your employees
• Track status of tasks
• Automate common actions

Compatible with: Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.

Trello Pricing: The Free plan is good for individuals and small teams. For businesses with large teams, Trello has Business Class and Enterprise plans. To use the Business Class plan of this top project management tool for a month, you will have to pay $10. You can try it for 14 days without spending any money.

Asana

Asana helps you manage projects, tasks, and different essential functions. It comes with to-do lists, timeline overview, calendar, and many more features.

Asana helps you:

• Build plans for your projects
• Create custom workflows
• Plan and track campaigns
• Get real-time progress and insights

Compatible with: Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.

Asana Pricing: Asana has four plans: Basic (free, for up to 15 users), Premium, Business, and Enterprise. Paid plans start at $10.99 per user, per month. You can also try Asana for free for 30 days.

Zoho Projects

Zoho Projects is perhaps the best project management software to manage resources and collaborate with your teams. It can integrate with other Zoho apps and third-party apps for a seamless experience.

With Zoho Projects, you can:

• Get quick project-related updates
• Automate recurring tasks
• Record and track the hours worked
• Communicate via group chats

Compatible with: Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.

Zoho Projects Pricing: Zoho Projects has three plans: Free (limited to 3 users and 2 projects), Premium, and Enterprise. The paid plans start at $5 monthly for one user (for up to 50 users).

You can try Zoho Projects for free for 10 days.

Wrike

Wrike is thought to be the best project management software by many. You can integrate other essential tools to turn it into a full-fledged project control center.

Wrike can help you to:

• Improve collaboration across departments
• Manage feedback process
• Get timely status updates
• Visualize team progress in real-time

Compatible with: Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.

Wrike Pricing: Wrike has four plans: Free (with limited features), Professional, Business, and Enterprise. The paid plan starts at $9.80 monthly for one user. You can try Wrike for free for 2 weeks.

Teamgantt

Teamgantt is the top project management tool to help you create comprehensive Gantt charts to plan, schedule, and manage different projects.

This project management app can also help you keep your budget and expenses in control.

Teamgantt software package comes with these following features:

• Schedule tasks for different teams
• Organize files and conversations
• Time tracking
• Manage project workflow easily

Compatible with: Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS devices.

Teamgantt Pricing: It has four plans: Free (for individual use), Standard, Advanced, and Enterprise. The Standard plan starts at $24.95 per month for one user. You can try this tool for free for 30 days.

Gantt Charts

Gantt Charts are used to show activities displayed against time. And a good thing about Gantt Charts is you can find several tools to make them.

The subscription plans for Gantt chart software vary from one tool to another.

You can find more information about Gantt Charts here.

Basecamp

Basecamp is one of the best project management software tools to help you and your teams stay organized and work better.

From message boards to to-dos and document management to file storage, it has everything available in one place. So, it is no surprise that Basecamp is loved by thousands of project management teams.

Basecamp has the following key features to manage complex projects:

• Get assignments’ overview at once
• Catch up on project-related updates
• Interact with everyone directly
• Minimize notifications and distractions

Compatible with: Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.

Basecamp Pricing: Basecamp offers two plans: Personal, which is free but has limited features, and Business. The paid Business plan costs $99 per month. You can also test Basecamp free for 30 days.

Monday.com

Monday.com helps in achieving effective and productive workflow management. It comes with multiple templates to plan and organize all your team’s work.

With monday.com, you can:

• Collaborate over marketing campaigns
• Manage your IT operations better
• Take care of recruitment and onboarding
• Save time on repetitive processes

Compatible with: Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.

Monday.com Pricing: This cloud-based tool has five plans: Individual (Free), Basic, Standard, Pro, and Enterprise. The basic plan starts at $8 monthly for one user. The company also offers a 14-day free trial.

ProjectManager.com

ProjectManager is an online platform that provides project planning and scheduling features along with team collaboration tools.

ProjectManager.com has the following key features for managing projects:

• Keep track of tasks and budget
• Manage to-do lists and team calendar
• Track workload and costs
• Create customized reports

Compatible with: Windows and Mac devices

ProjectManager Pricing: ProjectManager offers four plans: Starter (free for up to 3 users), Team, Business, and Enterprise. To access the premium features of ProjectManager, you’ll need to pay at least $14 per month, depending on the selected package. Additionally, you can try it free for 30 days.

Deltek WorkBook

Deltek WorkBook is designed for agencies and in-house teams to help streamline their projects, human resource, and finances. It provides full control and flexibility over the processes.

It can help you:

• Plan project and allocate resources
• Budget costs in advance
• Manage tasks with time tracking
• Build a transparent relationship with clients

Compatible with: Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.

Deltek WorkBook Pricing: Deltek WorkBook has four packages: Projects, Projects + CRM, Projects + Finance, and Full Suite. You’ve to request a quote from the website to get the price.

ClickUp

ClickUp is a project management tool that combines documents, emails, events, time tracking, resource management, and much more in one platform.

It enables you to:

• Get an overview of all tasks and sync them with calendar reminders
• Communicate with connected teams directly
• Create and manage knowledge base docs

Compatible with: Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS devices.

ClickUp Pricing: It has four plans: Free Forever (with limited features), Unlimited, Business, and Enterprise. The unlimited plan starts at $5 monthly for one user. It doesn’t offer a free trial of its premium plans.

Teamwork

Teamwork helps you manage multiple complex projects easily. It comes with time tracking, invoicing, client access, and other important features.

With Teamwork, you can:

• View all task lists in one place
• Automate your workflow
• Keep track of time spent
• Optimize your resources better

Compatible with: Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.

Teamwork Pricing: Teamwork has four plans: Free Forever (for individuals), Deliver, Grow, and Enterprise. The paid plans begin at $10 monthly for one user and go upward. You can also try it for free for 30 days.

FreedCamp

FreedCamp helps manage different task lists and collaborate with involved teams efficiently. It also has additional features to keep clients updated.

FreedCamp has the following features for managing projects:

• Streamline projects, processes, and task lists
• Track working hours and raised issues
• Manage and edit documents easily
• Back up the data on your systems

Compatible with: Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.

FreedCamp Pricing: It has four plans: Free (with only the essential features), Minimalist, Business, and Enterprise. Paid packages start at $1.49 per user for a month. And you can try it for free for 14 days.

Redbooth

Redbooth is an online tool designed for flexible project management and team communication. Additionally, it is useful for planning and scheduling tasks.

Here are key highlights of Redbooth:

• Keep an eye on all task lists
• Delegate responsibilities to concerned employees
• Conduct video meetings instantly
• Get customized reports

Compatible with: Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.

Redbooth Pricing: It has four plans: Free (with basic features, limited to 2 users), Pro, Business, and Enterprise. The Pro plan starts at $9 per user, per month. A 14-day free trial is also available.

Notion

Notion acts as an all-in-one-workspace to keep all notes, tasks, and databases as different content blocks. It is a handy tool to plan projects and stay organized.

Notion has the following features to manage projects and tasks:

• Create and manage campaigns
• Get a bird’s-eye view of tasks
• Handle documentation and templates
• Share information with the concerned members easily

Compatible with: Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.

Notion Pricing: Notion has four plans: Personal (free with limited features), Personal Pro, Team, and Enterprise. The Team and Enterprise plans are meant for companies. And its paid plans start at $8 monthly for one user. And you can use it for free for up to 1000 content blocks.

Scora

Scoro is designed to help professional service businesses. It is a work management software package to handle projects, quotations, billing, and much more.

Scoro helps you:

• Plan and prioritize your work for better work management
• Monitor calendar and working hours
• Track everything (from project status to company sales)
• Automate budgets and finances

Compatible with: Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.

Scora Pricing: Scoro has four plans: Essential, Work Hub, Sales Hub, and Ultimate. The Essential plan starts at $26 monthly (for 5 users). And you can try it free for 14 days.

Paymo

Paymo allows you to control your team’s workflow, time, and finances, all through a cloud-based platform. It also supports integrations to automate and improve the processes.

With Paymo, you’re able to do the following and more:

• Organize tasks and other activities
• Provide feedback in real-time
• Manage time-offs and holidays
• Invoice your clients directly.

Compatible with: Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS devices.

Paymo Pricing: Paymo has three plans: Free, Small Office, and Business. The paid plans start at $9.95 monthly for one user. You can try Paymo for free for 15 days.

ProofHub

ProofHub is one of the best project management software packages. It can help you plan, organize, and deliver projects while keeping everyone in the loop. You can see all steps of the project in one place.

It can help you:

• Get an overview of the timeline
• Assign tasks to concerned employees
• Bring files and documents in one place
• Define custom roles and access rights

Compatible with: Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.

ProofHub Pricing: ProofHub has two plans: Essential and Ultimate Control. The Essential plan starts at $45 for a month. And you can try it for free for 14 days.

nTask

nTask is a powerful online software to simplify project planning, budgeting, and resource allocation. It has Kanban Boards, Gantt Charts, and other tools to help you manage your work.

With nTask, you’ll be able to do the following and more:

• Track progress with interactive Gantt charts
• Communicate and collaborate with the involved teams
• Manage meetings and follow-ups easily
• Monitor time spent on different tasks

Compatible with: Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.

nTask Pricing: There are four available plans: Basic (free), Premium, Business, and Enterprise. The paid plans begin at $2.99 per month for a single user and increase from there. Additionally, you can test it for free for 14 days.

Workzone

Workzone is a project management tool to help you deliver projects on time, measure, and improve the results. It has to-do lists, document sharing, automated alerts, and many other features.

Workzone allows you to:

• See everything in a glance
• Review documents with ease
• Keep a watch on the project budget
• Get detailed reports and team insights

Compatible with: Windows and Mac devices.

Workzone Pricing: Workzone has three plans: Team, Professional, and Enterprise. The Team plan begins at $24 monthly for one user (for a team of 15). A free trial is not available, but you can request a demo from its website.

Citrix Podio

Citrix Podio is one of the best project management software to make your teams work in sync and communicate effectively. It brings all content, conversations, and processes to one platform.

Citrix Podio can help you:

• Automate recurring workflows
• Schedule meetings using a shared calendar
• Upload and attach files with content
• Search all content and conversations

Compatible with: Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.

Citrix Pricing: Citrix offers four plans: Free (for up to 5 users), Basic, Plus, and Premium. The Basic plan begins at $7.20 per month for a single user. A product demo can be requested from its website.

Microsoft Project

Microsoft Project is an intuitive and simple project management tool to set up and get started with your projects. It is flexible and integrates well with the Microsoft ecosystem.

With Microsoft Project, you can:

• View all active projects at once
• Generate interactive reports
• Manage and optimize resources
• Share files and chat with your team

Compatible with: Windows, Mac, and Linux devices.

Microsoft Project Pricing: It comes with three plans, starting with $10 monthly for one user. You can also try it for free for 30 days. Check its website for further details.

Kintone

Kintone shared platform helps you with creating low-code apps to automate workflows and processes. You can have apps to manage all tasks across the organization.

Key highlights of Kintone apps include but are not limited to:

• Create and manage databases
• Prioritize tasks across projects
• Set up custom reminders
• Communicate with the team easily

Compatible with: Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.

Kintone Pricing: Kintone has two packages for businesses: Professional and Enterprise. These plans start at $24 monthly for one user. A 30-day free trial is also available.

Jira

Jira management tool is designed for software teams to plan, build and release software easily. It provides transparency and real-time updates to project workflows.

With Jira, you can:

• Distribute tasks across the team members
• Be updated with recent changes
• Develop and deploy software with agility
• Automate your development workflow

Compatible with: Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS devices.

Jira Pricing: Jira comes with four plans: Free (for up to 10 users), Standard, Premium, and Enterprise. The Standard plan starts at $7 monthly for one user. A 7-day free trial is also available.

Smartsheet

Smartsheet platform helps you manage projects, automate workflows and organize all processes to build solutions.

It can help you:

• Automate repetitive tasks
• Sync data across systems
• Distribute assets efficiently
• Manage and review in real-time

Compatible with: Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.

Smartsheet Pricing: It has two plans for businesses: Business and Enterprise. You can visit the website to request subscription costs. A 30-day free trial is also available.

Nutcache

Nutcache is a management software to track your projects & tasks from start to finish. It can help you visually organize your processes.

Nutcase enables you to:

• Manage documents and other resources
• Record and track working hours
• Invoice projects and get paid easily
• Track budgets to control expenses

Compatible with: Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.

Nutcache Pricing: It has three plans for businesses: Free (with limited features), Pro, and Enterprise. The Pro plan starts at $6 monthly for one user. You can also try this tool for free.

Hive

Hive helps your team work together with collaborative note-taking, task tracking, and interactive meetings. It comes with powerful proofing and annotation tools.

With Hive, you’ll be able to do the following and more:

• Assign tasks from a central dashboard
• Get an overview of available resources
• Improve performance through analytics
• Collect and manage regular feedback
• Flexible project views

Compatible with: Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.

Hive Pricing: Hive comes with a base package (with all the essential features) starting at $12 monthly for one user. You can try it for free for 14 days.

Workfront

Workfront is an online work management platform by Adobe. It has tools to manage documents, plan workflows, expedite approvals, and much more.

Workfront helps you:

• Plan, execute, and review campaigns
• Prioritize tasks for better efficiency
• Get real-time team and project insights
• Create transparent client experience

Compatible with: Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.

Workfront Pricing: Workfront has four packages: Team, Pro, Business, and Enterprise. You can request customized costs of different plans through its website.

Kissflow Project

Kissflow Project helps you manage your projects and improve team efficiency. You can visualize and filter the flow of your work with this tool:

With Kissflow Project, you can:

• Organize tasks for easy access
• Get accurate information on projects
• Communicate and share files
• Stay ahead of deadlines with alerts

Compatible with: Windows and Mac devices

Kissflow Project Pricing: It has four plans: Free (accessible to 3 users to manage 1 project), Starter, Professional, and Enterprise. The paid plans start at $35 for a month. And you can try Kissflow free for 14 days.

Clarizen

Clarizen helps you simplify the entire work lifecycle and accomplish your goals. It has different work styles and hybrid methodologies to suit individual project needs.

With Clarizen, you’re able to:

• Set up a manageable project workflow
• Connect and engage your workforce
• Keep all discussions and files together
• Minimize delays and improve outcomes

Compatible with: Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.

Clarizen Pricing: There are two available plans: the Enterprise Edition and the Unlimited Edition. Customized pricing can be requested via its website.

Airtable

Airtable helps you create customized solutions to manage all the tasks. It is similar to a spreadsheet, but with the power of a database tool.

The best part of using Airtable is you have toggle navigation to look at multiple formats like a spreadsheet, Kanban board, or calendar.

You can use it to:

• Distribute resources across teams
• Manage budgets and expenses
• Automate information sharing
• Keep track of all the data

Compatible with: Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.

Airtable Pricing: Airtable has four plans: Free (with limited features), Plus, Pro and Enterprise. They’re available starting at $10 monthly for one user. It also offers a free trial for 14 days.

GanttPRO

GanttPRO is an online project management tool based on Gantt charts. It helps in smooth team collaboration while keeping clients in the loop.

With GanttPRO, you’ll be able to do the following and more:

• Plan project workflow and budget
• Distribute tasks to the involved teams
• Track progress on a visual timeline
• Manage day-offs and vacations

Compatible with: Windows and Mac devices.

GanttPRO Pricing: GanttPRO has two plans for businesses: Team and Enterprise. Its Team plan starts at $8.90 monthly for one user. It also offers a free trial for 14 days.

Chanty

Chanty simplifies team communication and task management, allowing you to stay connected with all team members while keeping track of progress.

You can use Chanty to:

• Stay updated via text, voice, or video
• Create and manage tasks smartly
• Get all tasks, files, and links together
• Automate workflow with integrations

Compatible with: Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS devices.

Chany Pricing: Chanty’s Business plan starts at $3 per user, per month. It also has a free plan, with limited features, for teams with up to 10 users.

Timely

Timely is easy-to-use project management software tool. Its key highlights include:

• Project tracking
• Time tracking
• Team tracking

Compatible with: This project management app is compatible with Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS.

Timely Pricing: Timley has three plans – Starter, Premium, and Unlimited. If billed annually, the Starter package of this project management software will cost you $8 monthly.

Yodiz

Yodiz is an Agile Scrum tool to maximize team efficiency and wrap up projects faster. From project planning to customer support, it brings many functions together.

Yodiz can help you to:

• Define customer journeys
• Screenshot and annotate project issues
• Engage with the team in real-time
• Get actionable smart analytics

Compatible with: Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.

Yodiz Pricing: It has four plans: Starter (free, for up to 3 users), Issue Tracker, Agile Tool, and Self Hosted. Its paid plan starts at $3 monthly for one user. You can also try it for free for 30 days.

Todoist

Todoist enables you to organize tasks easily. It has reminders, task filters, and many other features to help you manage the workload.

Todoist comes handy when you have to:

• Delegate tasks to your team
• Handle repetitive tasks
• Keep an eye on all important tasks
• Share files and discuss details

Compatible with: Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, and wearable devices.

Todoist Pricing: Todoist has three pans – Free, Pro, and Business. The business plan starts at $5 monthly for one user. You can also try it free for 30 days.

Forecast

Forecast helps you manage all your projects, resources, and finances in one easy-to-use platform. It provides full data visibility to teams and transparency to clients.

With Forecast, you can:

• Plan projects with the help of AI
• Reduce time spent on repeat tasks
• Allocate resources efficiently
• Manage working hours and time-offs

Compatible with: Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.

Forecast Pricing: Forecast has three plans: Lite, Pro, and Plus. The Lite plan starts at €27 monthly for one user. You can try it free for 14 days.

Confluence

Confluence is a hassle-free collaboration software package for teams working on critical projects. It is equipped with tools and templates to get started easily and work securely.

Confluence helps you to:

• Edit and provide feedback in real-time
• Create and manage knowledge base
• Get personalized project status feed
• Build a culture of open teamwork

Compatible with: Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.

Confluence Pricing: It comes with four plans: Free (for up to 10 users), Standard, Premium, and Enterprise. The Standard plan starts at $5 monthly for one user. You can try it free for seven days.

Accelo

Accelo helps service businesses with project planning, execution, and delivery. It handles everything, from time tracking and reporting to billing.

With Accelo, you can:

• Build and nurture client relationships
• Assign tasks to the team
• Automate recurring processes
• Manage contracts and retainers effortlessly

Compatible with: Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.

Accelo Pricing: Accelo has four regular plans: Projects, Sales, Retainers, and Service, each available at $39 per month and with a free 14-day trial.

It also offers an all-in-one ServOps plan that will cost you $79 per month.

Mavenlink

Mavenlink is a professional services automation tool that brings together project management, resource management, and team collaboration on one platform.

It enables you to:

• Manage timelines and budgets
• Delegate tasks efficiently
• Respond to changes in real-time
• Improve client engagements

Compatible with: Windows and Mac devices.

Mavenlink Pricing: You have to request customized cost or schedule a demo through its website.

Nifty

Nifty enables you to centralize your work operations and keep the tasks and their dependencies in sync. It has tools for communication, scheduling, meeting, and many more functions.

You can use Nifty to:

• Manage feedback and deadlines
• Streamline time and resources
• Store and edit documents together
• Have real-time discussions

Compatible with: Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.

Nifty Pricing: Nifty offers four packages: Starter, Pro, Business, and Enterprise. The Starter plan starts at $39 monthly. You can try this tool for free for up to 14 days.

Liquid Planner

LiquidPlanner comes with predictive tools to plan projects, schedule tasks, create estimates and do many more things. It is a software package that predicts when work will be done.

With LiquidPlanner, you can:

• Organize and manage tasks
• Understand how everyone spends time
• Optimize and distribute the workload
• Make informed decisions with insights

Compatible with: Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.

Liquid Planner Pricing: LiquidPlanner comes with four plans: Free (limited to 10 users and 3 projects), Essentials, Professional and Ultimate. The Essential plan starts at $15 monthly for one user. You can try this tool for free for 14 days.

Project.co

Project.co is a handy tool for creative teams to keep projects on the envisioned track. It can help you manage all projects in one place while improving teamwork.

Project.co helps you to:

• Keep track of every communication
• Manage files, tasks, and other project assets
• Track time and payments
• Bring clients in sync

Compatible with: Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.

Project.co Pricing: It comes with one ‘Everything Unlimited” plan, which is priced at $10 monthly for one user. After signing up, you can try this tool for free for 14 days.

Hitask

Hitask comes with an easy-to-use project management dashboard to organize your tasks and manage teams. It supports multi-platform operations to manage work on the go.

With Hitask, you can:

• Share tasks with multiple team members
• Track time spent on tasks
• Drag and drop files on demand
• Exchange messages and track issues

Compatible with: Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.

Hitask Pricing: Hitask offers three plans: Team Free (free, for up to 5 users), Team Business, and Enterprise. Its paid plan starts at $5 per user, per month. The company offers a free trial.

Toggl Plan

Toggl Plan helps you plan projects and manage teams with ease. It comes with features like drag-and-drop scheduling, file sharing, reporting, and more.

It enables you to:

• Divide projects into milestones
• Add files, notes, and checklists to tasks
• Share plans and timeline with the team
• Comment and provide feedback

Compatible with: Windows and Mac devices.

Toggl Plan Pricing: Toggl Plan comes with two packages for businesses: Team and Business. Its subscription cost starts at $8 monthly for one user. You can try this tool for free for 14 days.

ActiveCollab

ActiveCollab brings together project management, time tracking, and invoicing under one hood. It helps you organize the entire workflow from start to finish.

With ActiveCollab, you can:

• Manage meetings and projects together
• Monitor important projects easily
• Search for information quickly
• Invite and collaborate with clients

Compatible with: Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.

ActiveCollab Pricing: It has three plans: Free (with limited features), Plus, and Pro. The Pro plan starts at $6.25 monthly for one user. You can try this tool for free for 14 days.

Cascade

Cascade assists you in planning strategies and fostering teamwork. It ensures that daily tasks are aligned with the key goals that drive your growth.

It enables you to:

• Put objectives, projects, and KPIs together
• Build accountability and transparency
• Visualize the activity of the entire organization
• Translate strategy into execution

Compatible with: Windows and Mac devices.

Cascade Pricing: It has two paid plans: Teams and Enterprise. Its paid plan starts at $58 per user for a month. Cascade doesn’t have a free plan. But it offers a free trial to explore the benefits.

Agilean

Agilan is a workflow management tool with the sole purpose to make your team more agile. It is a combination of Objectives & Key Results (OKR) and agile software.

With Agilean, you’re able to:

• Create and assign tasks to the team
• Get clear visibility of project progress
• Pause unwanted ongoing work
• Find detailed analytics

Compatible with: Windows and Mac devices.

Agilean Pricing: Agilean’s paid plan starts at $5 per user, per month with all features bundled in one package. It also offers a 30-day free trial.

Epicflow

Epicflow provides you with all the necessary tools to manage projects and achieve your company’s objectives faster. It has a Gantt chart, predictive what-if analysis, and many more features.

Epicflow allows you to:

• Monitor progress of all projects
• Analyze team performance
• Allocate resources efficiently
• Prioritize tasks and assign them

Compatible with: Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.

Epicflow Pricing: You have to request a demo from its website to get the subscription details.

Backlog

Backlog helps software developers organize, discuss, and track the overall progress all in one place. It also has essential tools to manage code versions.

With Backlog, you can:

• Manage tasks with a task hierarchy
• Keep related project files together
• Communicate with multiple teams easily
• Secure workspace with IP restrictions

Compatible with: Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.

Backlog Pricing: It has five plans: Free (for up to 10 users), Starter, Standard, Premium, and Enterprise. The Starter plan starts at $35 per month. It comes with a 30-day free trial.

Flowlu

Flowlu is a project management software package with all the essential tools to run your company. It can help you handle projects, finances, customer relationships, and many more essential things.

It helps you to:

• Automate repetitive workflows and tasks
• Track time spent across projects
• Generate automated invoices and estimates
• Improve sales and lead onboarding

Compatible with: Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.

Flowlu Pricing: Flowlu offers five plans: Free (for 2 users), Team, Business, Professional, and Enterprise. The paid plans begin at $29 per month, and a 14-day free trial is available.

FunctionFox

FunctionFox is a simple online timesheet coupled with project management tools. It can help you keep all your projects on track, on time, and on budget.

With FunctionFox, you can:

• Estimate project budgets
• Streamline internal communication
• Get real-time progress updates
• Track time and project expenses

Compatible with: Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.

FunctionFox Pricing: FunctionFox has three plans: Classic, Premier, and In-house. Its subscription starts at $5 per user, per month. It doesn’t have a free plan, but you can sign up for a 14-day free trial.

What Makes Good Project Management Software?

Not all great project management software packages are created equal. The right software can make the difference between a project’s success and failure.  So, it is imperative that you should know the best project management features to pick the best tool that suits your needs.

Here are the key features that your project management tool must have:

Easy to Use

A good project management software should be intuitive and user-friendly. The last thing any team needs is to grapple with a steep learning curve. Features such as a project plan template can simplify the process.

It should offer straightforward functionalities, with a clear and clean user interface. Features like drag-and-drop, simple task creation, and easy-to-understand dashboards can make a tool much more accessible.

The presence of onboarding resources, like video tutorials or customer support, can further ease the transition for your team. Tools like Trello and Asana, for example, are renowned for their simplicity and ease of adoption.

Time Tracking

Understanding where your team’s time is going can be crucial in optimizing productivity and ensuring timely project delivery. A good project management software should allow members to log the time they spend on tasks.

This not only aids in billing and invoicing but also helps in evaluating the efficiency of the team and refining processes. With tools like Mavenlink and Wrike, teams can precisely track their time, leading to more informed decision-making.

Kanban Board

Visual representation can significantly enhance the way teams handle tasks. Kanban boards provide a clear picture of task status, helping prioritize tasks and ensure smooth workflow. With columns typically representing stages of a process, moving tasks becomes a breeze.

Tools like ProofHub, Trello, and Zoho Projects make it easy to implement and maintain these boards, helping teams stay organized.

Task Management

Being able to efficiently assign, monitor, and manage tasks is the crux of any project management software. The software should allow for easy categorization, prioritization, and status updates of tasks.

Features such as recurring tasks, dependencies, and sub-tasks can elevate a tool’s utility. Both Asana and Basecamp shine in this regard, offering comprehensive task management solutions.

Team Collaboration

Projects often involve diverse teams and cross-functional collaboration. Therefore, your chosen software should promote easy communication and collaboration. Features like chat, comment sections, and notification settings can ensure everyone is on the same page.

Tools like Asana, nTask, and Chanty facilitate smooth team interaction, ensuring that all stakeholders are aligned.

Resource Management

Efficient allocation and monitoring of resources, both human and material, can significantly impact project outcomes. Your software should allow for capacity planning, resource allocation, and tracking. This ensures that no resource is overburdened or underutilized.

Mavenlink, Monday.com, and Forecast are known for their resource management capabilities.

Creation and Management of Project Plans

Project plans lay the foundation for execution. Good project management software should support the creation, modification, and tracking of these plans. The ability to set milestones, create timelines, and adjust as per real-time developments is crucial.

Asana and nTask offer robust features in this domain, helping managers stay on top of project trajectories.

Budget Tracking

Financial prudence can make or break a project. Therefore, your project management tool should offer budget tracking capabilities. This enables managers to monitor expenses, forecast costs, and ensure that the project remains within financial bounds.

With tools like Wrike and ProjectManager.com, budgeting becomes more structured and transparent.

File Sharing

The ability to share and access files seamlessly can significantly streamline workflows. Your software should offer secure file storage and sharing capabilities. This ensures that team members can collaborate on documents, designs, or any other project-related file with ease.

Tools like Smartsheet and Trello, with their efficient file sharing mechanisms, enhance collaborative efforts.

The Importance of Project Management Software

Project management tools are integral in the modern business landscape. Here a look at why these tools are so advantageous:

• Better Planning and Scheduling: Proper planning lays the foundation for any successful project. With project management tools, teams can set realistic timelines, allocate resources wisely, and set clear milestones. This ensures that every phase of the project is well-organized and that the team knows the path ahead, reducing the chances of costly overruns.
• Improved Collaboration: In the age of remote work and distributed teams, collaboration becomes paramount. Project management tools bridge the geographical gap, allowing teams from different parts of the world to work in tandem. Features like chat, comment sections, and real-time updates ensure everyone remains in sync.
• Efficient Task Delegation: Knowing who is doing what is crucial for smooth project execution. With project management software, leaders can assign tasks to team members with clarity. It also allows managers to monitor progress and ensure that no one is overwhelmed with too many tasks.
• Easy File Sharing: Gone are the days of long email chains with attachments. Modern project management tools offer centralized storage solutions. This means team members can upload, share, and collaborate on documents or other project-related files seamlessly, ensuring that everyone has access to the latest versions.
• Enhanced Communication Among Stakeholders: Stakeholders, whether they’re team members, clients, or executives, need to be kept in the loop. Project management tools streamline communications, allowing for regular updates, feedback loops, and ensuring that all parties are well-informed about project status and developments.
• Improved Productivity: One of the most tangible benefits of using a project management tool is the uptick in productivity. With tasks clearly defined, resources properly allocated, and timelines set, team members can focus on their work without unnecessary disruptions. The structured approach minimizes downtime and enhances overall efficiency.

An essential aspect to consider is that a comprehensive project management software solution enables efficient resource management.

This means not just allocating human resources efficiently but also ensuring that equipment, budget, and other critical resources are utilized optimally. This holistic approach ensures that projects run smoothly from inception to completion.

What is the best project management software?

The best project management software includes but are not limited to Zoho Projects, Trello, Basecamp, and Asana. If you want a project management tool that costs you a reasonable price and has a simple user interface, you should take Zoho Projects for a spin.

What software do project managers use?

Project managers use Asana, Trello, Basecamp, and other software project management software that fulfill their requirements. As there is no one-fits-all kind of project management tool, you will come across a variety of project management apps used by project managers.

What is the easiest project management software?

The easiest project management software package, in our opinion, is Trello. You can manage various projects with Trello using visual task boards. However, you may find any other project management app easiest. So, it is imperative that you should try several project management solutions before you buy one.

What is the best free project management software?

The best project management software package, in our opinion, is from Asana. It is an easy-to-use tool that allows your teams to know what to do, how to do it, and why it matters. For rich project management features and reporting tools, you can opt for Asana Premium.

Does Google have project management software?

No, Google doesn’t have project management software. However, you can use Google Sheet to create project plans and Gantt chart timelines.

What are the 5 stages of project management?

The five stages of project management include:

• Initiating
• Planning
• Executing
• Controlling
• Closing

(Source: PMI)

Image: Depositphotos

This article, "Best Project Management Software Tools to Manage Deliverables" was first published on Small Business Trends

Productivity starts with organization, and for many modern-day professionals, that means writing things down. While some people practically live and die by their planners, others prefer a more basic organization tool: the printable to-do list.

Printable to-do lists are inexpensive, easy to download, and practically free to replenish. Sure, you could invest in a variety of to-do list apps or design your own planning templates from scratch, but online marketplaces such as Etsy offer printable to-do lists to meet practically any criteria.

Benefits of Printable To Do List Templates

Why choose a printable to-do list template as your organization tool? There are a variety of benefits to using printable to-do lists, including:

• Printable to-do lists are affordable, with digital downloads available on Etsy for as low as a dollar or even less.
• Many printable to-do lists are editable. Some printable to-do list templates can be edited, customized, and personalized for a more individual organization experience.
• Printable to-do lists are versatile. Many to-do list templates can be filled out on a computer, or they can be printed and written on with a pen or pencil.
• Printable to-do lists enhance organization. By jotting down tasks and marking off those that are completed, many individuals find it easier to manage their daily and weekly activities.

How to Choose the Best To-Do List Printable for Your Business

A simple search on Etsy reveals a wide variety of printable to-do list options available. With so many selections, many entrepreneurs may find themselves questioning which printable to-do list is the best fit for their business.

How do you choose the best printable to-do list template for your organization? Consider the following three factors:

To-Do List Layout

The choice of the best to-do list layout is a matter of personal preference. Perhaps you want a blank to-do list template or a detailed layout with multiple sections. Some to-do list layouts are detailed while others provide a more generalized template for daily and weekly planning.

To-Do List Categories

As mentioned above, some to-do list templates are open and even blank, while others provide a detailed outline of daily activities. What items do you want included in your daily planner templates? You might choose a to-do list printable template that lists categories such as “to do,” “appointments,” “priorities,” “agenda,” days of the week, or even dates in a month.

To-Do List Personalization

Do you want to personalize your printable to-do lists? Some to-do list templates can be edited with customized names and logos. Others are standard PDF downloads with a set style and layout.

Best Printable To-Do Lists

Looking for the perfect printable to do list printables to help organize your small business? The following 12 downloadable to-do lists provide examples of the many options available on Etsy.

Things To Do List PDF File

This printable to-do list PDF from PlanPrintLand is great for daily planning since it includes the day of the week, as well as areas for to-do list items and priorities. The simple planner template is available to print in a variety of vibrant colors and can be downloaded in PDF format.

To Do List Template Printable

Another colorful to-do list to print, this planning template from Cora Vera Lane contained multiple sections to help organize every day. The to-do list template contains areas for important tasks, appointments, and even follow-ups, as well as an area for notes.

Weekly To Do List Printable

At times, a daily planner may not suffice. This printable to-do list template from Eliza Art Shop Designs assists busy professionals in organizing their entire week. The weekly to-do list templates provide ample space to record daily priorities and tasks.

Printable To Do List Cute

Are you seeking a chic method to streamline your daily planning? A charming printable to do list is easy to discover on Etsy. This particular design from Creative Jam Co. showcases a beautiful script and bright colors, offering ample space for effective organization in a PDF format.

Printable To Do Checklist

Entrepreneurs working from home can make use of this printable to-do list template from Indio Paper House designed just for them. The detailed checklist template helps organize every hour of the day while including plenty of space to note a task list, priorities, and other memos.

Printable Planner Template

Looking for a printable task list that is unique to each day of the week? These printable planner templates from Creative Jam Co. are editable to-do list options that can be customized with the day’s name in a beautiful script.

Blank To Do List Template

This printable planner from All the Plans features a blank to-do list template, allowing for easy customization by hand. Its blank checklist format adds to its versatility, making it suitable for almost any use.

Daily Planner for Help with ADHD

Some people require a to-do list with a detailed outline to help them organize their tasks. This printable to-do list template from Iconic Vision was designed to aid professionals with ADHD, available in various sizes.

Editable Productivity Planning Bundle

This editable productivity planning bundle from Creative Jam Co. contains pages designed for general checklists, daily to-do lists, and weekly to-do list templates. The various templates are editable, so users can customize list categories and notes.

Minimal To Do List Printable

This simple to-do list template provides ample space for creating checklists for both business and personal use on a single page. Available from My Life Plans, this basic printable to do list can be an excellent starting point for enhancing organization, whether for team members or family.

Printable Chore Chart To-Do List

Are you looking to assist a family member in managing their daily tasks? Enhance your household’s productivity with this downloadable PDF from Gumdrop Print Shop. This chore chart is ideal for both kids and adults, featuring checklists for daily and weekly activities.

Find The Perfect Printable To Do List Template on Etsy

Sometimes the best way to boost both organization and productivity is simply to start writing things down. Fortunately, you don’t need to invest in an expensive planner or software to start this positive habit. Plenty of printable to-do list templates are available to purchase for practically nothing, download, and even personalize to help organize your business and life.

Image: Depositphotos

This article, "Printable To-Do List Styles to Boost Productivity" was first published on Small Business Trends

Making mistakes is inevitable and we often make mistakes at some point in our lives and we grow by learning from them. Very often mistakes and setbacks have ways of dampening our motivation to be better individuals.

We should rather see mistakes as an opportunity to learn from them and remain motivated towards achieving our goals. To help you get out of the doldrums we have created this list of 120 mistake quotes about mistakes that can help you get out of a rut and move towards a better version of yourself.

Why You Should Read Mistake Quotes

Making mistakes is actually part of being human, everyone makes mistakes and for you to move forward is to understand that mistakes are an important part of your learning process.

Mistake quotes help you understand that mistakes are quite common and give you insights on how you can deal with them to succeed in your endeavors. Below are some mistake quotes that can help you to accept, learn and move on from past mistakes.

• Perspective: They offer a broader view of how mistakes are just stepping stones to success, reminding you that everyone encounters setbacks.
• Comfort: Mistake quotes reassure you that you’re not alone. Everyone, from famous figures to everyday people, makes errors.
• Growth: These quotes emphasize that mistakes are opportunities for learning and personal development, encouraging a growth mindset.
• Resilience: They inspire resilience, motivating you to bounce back from setbacks and face challenges head-on.
• Guidance: Mistake quotes can act as guides, offering wisdom on how to approach and rectify past errors.

Top Mistake Quotes that Will Inspire You

One great thing about mistake quotes is that they can help inspire you to get back on the saddle and not give up. Below are some mistake quotes that will help inspire you:

1. Isn’t it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet? – L.M. Montgomery 

2. If people refuse to look at you in a new light and they can only see you for what you were, only see you for the mistakes you’ve made, if they don’t realize that you are not your mistakes, then they have to go. – Steve Maraboli

3. I never made a mistake in my life. I thought I did once, but I was wrong.– Charles M. Schulz

4. Everyone makes mistakes. Everyone deserves a second chance. – Eleanor Roosevelt 

5. Mistakes are part of the dues one pays for a full life. – Sophia Loren

6. Be tenacious. The world will change, things will go wrong. Life is messy. – Ann Sherry

7. The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing.- Henry Ford

8. A man must be big enough to admit his mistakes, smart enough to profit from them, and strong enough to correct them. – John C. Maxwell

9. You build on failure. You use it as a stepping stone. Close the door on the past. You don’t try to forget the mistakes, but you don’t dwell on it. You don’t let it have any of your energy, or any of your time, or any of your space. – Johnny Cash

10. Failure is instructive. The person who really thinks learns quite as much from his failures as from his successes. – John Dewey

11. All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them. –Walt Disney

12. Success is walking from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm. –Winston Churchill

13. Whenever you see a successful person you only see the public glories, never the private sacrifices to reach them. –Vaibhav Shah

14. A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him. –David Brinkley

15. You cannot force ideas. Successful ideas are the result of slow growth. Ideas do not reach perfection in a day, no matter how much study is put upon them.-Alexander Graham Bell

Funny Mistake Quotes

Finding humor in our mishaps can also help us learn from them. Here are some funny mistake quotes.

16. Experience is simply the name we give our mistakes. – Oscar Wilde

17. The only man who never makes a mistake is the man who never does anything. – Theodore Roosevelt

18. It ain’t as bad as you think. It will look better in the morning. – Colin Powell

19. The distance between insanity and genius is measured only by success. – Bruce Feirstein

20. You can’t really be strong until you can see a funny side to things. – Ken Kesey

21. The man with a toothache thinks everyone happy whose teeth are sound. The poverty-stricken man makes the same mistake about the rich man. – George Bernard Shaw

22. Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can’t lose.-Bill Gates

23. To some people, I am a kind of Merlin who takes lots of crazy chances, but rarely makes mistakes.-Walt Disney

24. I make plenty of mistakes and I’ll make plenty more mistakes, too. That’s part of the game. You’ve just got to make sure that the right things overcome the wrong ones. – Warren Buffet

25. The fool who persists in his folly will become wise. -William Blake

26. Learn from the mistakes of others. You can’t live long enough to make them all yourself.– Eleanor Roosevelt

27. About mistakes it’s funny. You got to make your own; and not only that, if you try to keep people from making theirs they get mad. – Edna Ferber

28. We made too many wrong mistakes. – Yogi Berra

29. When a doctor makes a mistake, it’s best to bury the subject.– Woody Allen

30. To make a mistake is human, but to blame it on someone else, that’s even more human. – Anonymous

31. I never made a mistake in my life. I thought I did once, but I was wrong. – Charles M. Schulz

32. You never run out of things that can go wrong. – Edward A. Murphy

Admitting Mistakes Quotes

Mistakes happen and admitting your mistakes is an important part of your personal development as well as encourage learning. Below are some motivational quotes for small business owners.

33. Sometimes when you innovate, you make mistakes. It is best to admit them quickly, and get on with improving your other innovations. -Steve Jobs

34. Pick a side and be bold. And if you’re wrong, admit it.– Jeff Goins

35. If you make a mistake, be big enough to admit to the mistake. People will think much better if you make an admission after a mistake.- Keith Boyer; Matt Rile

36. Mistakes are always forgivable if one has the courage to admit them.– Bruce Lee

37. It takes guts and humility to admit mistakes. Admitting we’re wrong is courage, not weakness.– Roy T. Bennett

38. Nothing is more intolerable than to have admit to yourself your own errors. -Ludwig van Beethoven

39. No persons are more frequently wrong, than those who will not admit they are wrong. – François de La Rochefoucauld

Owning Up to Your Mistakes Quotes

Business ventures can be full of missteps, mishaps and mistakes. No matter how savvy you are in business, you are bound to run into problems at some point. The key to your success is to quickly identify your mistakes, learn from them and prevent the same mistake from happening again, below are some inspirational quotes about small business mistakes.

40. We all make them, the difference is what we do after we make the mistake, how we see the mistake – a learning experience or a failure. – Catherine Pulsifer

41. Some mistakes will be made along the way. That’s good. Because some decisions are being made along the way. We’ll find the mistakes. We’ll fix them. – Steve Jobs

42. If you mess up, it’s not your parents’ fault, so don’t whine about your mistakes, learn from them. – Bill Gates

43. Honesty is the fastest way to prevent a mistake from turning into a failure. – James Altucher

44. Recognise your own shortcomings and be prepared to learn quickly, including from your mistakes. If you don’t jump into the deep end at some point, you will never learn to swim. – George Ilian

45. A man should never be ashamed to own he has been in the wrong, which is but saying… that he is wiser today than he was yesterday. -Alexander Pope

46. Don’t confuse poor decision-making with destiny. Own your mistakes. It’s ok; we all make them. Learn from them so they can empower you! – Steve Maraboli

47. A man must learn from his own mistakes, to be what he wishes to be. – Lailah Gifty Akita

48. You should become a connoisseur of your own mistakes, turning them over in your mind as if they were works of art, which in a way they are. -Daniel Dennett

49. Mistakes and failures are precisely your means of education. They tell you about your own inadequacies. -Robert Greene

50. Refusing to own your mistakes doesn’t make you seem more competent; it reveals cowardice, callousness, and untrustworthiness. – Ben Carpenter

Making Mistakes Quotes

51. One who makes no mistakes makes nothing. – Giacomo Casanova

52. Better make mistakes than faking perfections. – Paulo Coelho

53. Success does not consist in never making mistakes but in never making the same one a second time. – George Bernard Shaw

54. If you want to grow, you need to get over any fear you have of making mistakes. – John C. Maxwell

55. The price of inaction is far greater than the cost of making a mistake. – Meister Eckhart

56. Do not be embarrassed by your failures, learn from them and start again. – Richard Branson

57. Your best teacher is your last mistake. – Ralph Nader

Repeated Mistakes Quotes

58.Learning from the past helps to ensure that mistakes are not repeated.  – Monica Johnson

59. Learning from mistakes and constantly improving products is a key in all successful companies. – Bill Gates

60. If you want to grow, you need to get over any fear you may have of making mistakes. – John C. Maxwell.

61. You make mistakes. You try to learn from them, and when you don’t, it hurts even more. – Aretha Franklin.

62. So go ahead and make mistakes. Make all you can. Because that’s where you will find success. On the far side of failure. – Thomas J. Watson.

63. The only man who makes no mistakes is the man who never does anything. Do not be afraid to make mistakes providing you do not make the same one twice. – Theodore Roosevelt

64. Honesty and maturity are two key factors that separate those people who can successfully change their lives and those who are destined to continually repeat the same mistakes over and over again. – Sarah Devnil.

65. When you make a mistake, there are only three things you should ever do about it: admit it, learn from it, and don’t repeat it. – Paul Bear Bryant

Understanding Your Mistakes Quotes

66. Experience is the name we give to our mistakes. – Oscar Wilde

67. Embrace a mistake and learn from it; don’t regret them. – Richard Branson

68. One of the biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make is that we lie to ourselves. We don’t step back and look at ourselves like a competitor would. – Mark Cuban

69. The proactive approach to a mistake is to acknowledge it instantly, correct and learn from it. – Stephen Covey

70. Most people tend to move on from their mistakes without looking back, but this just deprives them the opportunity to carry out the crucial exercise of understanding what went wrong. – Rupert Johnson

Learning from Mistakes Quotes

71. Mistakes are painful when they happen, but years later, a collection of mistakes is what is called experience. – Denis Waitley

72. Take chances, make mistakes. That’s how you grow. – Mary Tyler Moore

73. I’ve learned that mistakes can often be as good a teacher as success. – Jack Welch

74. A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable but more useful than a life spent doing nothing. – George Bernard Shaw

75. An expert is a person who has made all the mistakes that can be made in a very narrow field. – Niels Bohr

76. If things aren’t breaking, then you’re not moving fast enough. People learn by making mistakes. – Mark Zuckerberg

77. Every leader makes mistakes, every leader stumbles and falls. The question with a senior-level leader is, does she learn from her mistakes, regroup, and then get going again with renewed speed, conviction and confidence? – Jack Welch

78. Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength. – Arnold Schwarzenegger

79. There is always tension between the possibilities we aspire to and our wounded memories and past mistakes. – Mohnish Pabrai

80. The successful man will profit from his mistakes and try again in a different way. – Dale Carnegie

81. Some of the fondest memories in sports were a result of failure, injuries, setbacks, and mistakes. I learned far more about myself and gained more character in those difficult times than I ever did when success came early. – Peter Vidmar.

82. great People are created by great mistakes that are learned from, not from great successes that are gloated upon. -Elmer Clark.

83. If you mess up and learn nothing, it’s a mistake. If you mess up and learn something, it’s an experience. – Mark McFadden.

84. Aim for success, not perfection. never give up your right to be wrong, because then you will lose your ability to learn new things and move forward in life. – Dr. David M. Birns.

85. Failure is instructive. The person who really thinks, learns just as much from his failures as he does from his success. – John Dewey

86. there are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure. – Colin Powell.

Mistake Quotes that will Inspire you to Make Good Decisions

87. No man ever became great without many and great mistakes. – William E. Gladstone

88. Success seems to be connected with action. Successful men keep moving; they make mistakes, but they do not quit. – Conrad Hilton

89. You must learn from your past mistakes, but not lean on your past successes. – Denis Waitley

90. Failure is good. It is fertilizer. Everything I have learned about coaching, I have learned from making mistakes. – Rick Pitino.

91. The greatest mistake you can make in your life is to be continually fearing that you will make one. – Elbert Hubbard

92. A man of genius makes no mistakes. His errors are volitional and are the portals of discovery. – James Joyce

93. The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one – Elbert Hubbard

94.No matter how many mistakes you make or how slow you progress, you are still way ahead of everyone who isn’t trying. – Tony Robbins

95. One of the huge mistakes people make is that they try to force an interest on themselves. You don’t choose your passions; your passions choose you. – Jeff Bezos

96. It’s a mistake not to give people a chance to learn to depend on themselves while they are young. – Walt Disney

97. I am by nature a perfectionist, and I seem to have trouble allowing anything to go through in a half-perfect condition. So if I made any mistake it was in working too hard and in doing too much of it with my own hands. – Howard Hughes

98. You can make a lot of mistakes and still recover if you run an efficient operation. Or you can be brilliant and still go out of business if you’re too inefficient. – Sam Walton

99. Even a mistake may turn out to be the one thing necessary to a worthwhile achievement. – Henry Ford

How do You Accept Mistakes Quotes

To learn from a mistake, it’s essential to first acknowledge it and forgive yourself. The important thing is to remain hopeful and keep striving towards your dreams. Below are some perseverance quotes for business.

100. We think mistakenly, that success is the result of the amount of the time we put in at work, instead of the quality of the time we put in. – Arianna Huffington

101. Learning by making mistakes and not duplicating them is what life is about. – Lindsay Fox

102. Admitting to a mistake means refusing to use other people as scape-goats to avoid responsibility but rather courageously owning up to every single one of them. – T. Whitmore

103. If you feel that you have made a mistake, you don’t try to undo the past or the present, but you just accept where you are and work from there. – Chögyam Trungpa

104. Life teaches us through errors. When we accept the lesson from our mistake with humility and gratitude, we grow that much more.-  Haemin Sunim

105. We need to accept that we won’t always make the right decisions, that we’ll screw up royally sometimes–understanding that failure is not the opposite of success, it’s part of success. – Arianna Huffington

106. I can accept failure. Everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying. – Michael Jordan

107. Every leader should have enough humility to accept, publicly, the responsibility for the mistakes of the subordinates he has himself selected and, likewise, to give them credit, publicly, for their triumphs. – Dwight D. Eisenhower

108. The Gift belongs to whoever chooses to accept it. It is enough to believe and not to be afraid to make a few mistakes. – Paulo Coelho

109. A man must be big enough to admit his mistakes, smart enough to profit from them, and strong enough to correct them. – John C. Maxwell

110. Be honest, Look for areas where you can admit error and say so. Apologize for your mistakes. It will help disarm your opponents and reduce defensiveness. – Dale Carnegie

111. Life teaches us through errors. When we accept the lesson from our mistake with humility and gratitude, we grow that much more. – Haemin Sunim

112. The greatest mistake you can make is to believe that you have to do everything on your own power. Do not assume that asking for help or guidance is to admit defeat. In fact, it is just the opposite. To ask for help or to accept help to accomplish a goal is to also ingrain into your own spirit that you will help others over obstacles or hurdles as well. – Catherine Pulsifer

113. Failure is enriching. It’s also important to accept that you’ll make mistakes – it’s how you build your expertise. The trick is to learn a positive lesson from all of life’s negative moments. – Alain Ducasse

114. The earlier you admit to your mistakes, the more time you would have to learn and grow from them. – Edmond Mbiaka

115. Making mistakes isn’t enough to become great. You must also admit the mistake, and then learn how to turn that mistake into an advantage. – Robert Kiyosaki.

116. I think the most important thing to do is to be willing to listen, willing to care, and willing to admit mistakes and change your waysfor the better! – Jane Goodall

117. Humility leads to strength and not weakness. It is the highest form of self-respect to admit mistakes and to make amends for them. – John J. McCloy

118. Quitters have the good sense to admit their mistakes, cut their losses, and move on. – Evan Harris

119. It’s fine to celebrate success but it is more important to heed the lessons of failure. – Bill Gates

120. It’s okay to make mistakes. Mistakes are our teachers – they help us to learn. – John Bradshaw

5 Ways You Could Use These Mistake Quotes for Business Success

What’s the saying about learning from mistakes?

Business is full of ups and downs, it is up to us how we deal with mistakes when they occur. We can accept them, take stock of them, and move forward into the future much wiser.

Why is learning from mistakes important?

To have a successful and agile business the key is to quickly identify your mistakes, learn from your mistakes, and prevent the same mistakes from happening again,. Through learning from mistakes you will be able to better understand your business’ dynamics. Don’t be afraid of failure instead, learn from them to pivot your business by tweaking your operations, trying out new ideas and strategize towards meeting the needs of your customers.

Image: Depositphotos

This article, "Learning from Failure: Inspiring Mistake Quotes to Keep Going" was first published on Small Business Trends

The holiday season is a perfect opportunity to share how much you value your customers and colleagues. A simple gift box or personalized trinket can go a long way. The following guide includes tons of ideas and specific products to fill your holiday gift list.

Should You Give Holiday Gifts to Professional Colleagues?

Holiday gifts are usually acceptable in professional settings as long as the recipient celebrates the winter holiday season in some capacity. Additionally, business owners make sure all office workers are treated equally. Either everyone should provide gifts to each person in a small team or organize a gift exchange with set prices.

What Holiday Season is Right for Giving Gifts in the Workplace?

Holiday gift policies can differ from one team to another. If your team is diverse, using a general greeting like ‘Happy Holidays’ can help ensure that everyone feels included. Additionally, some companies choose to provide gifts or bonuses at the start of the new year rather than during Christmas.

Best Holiday Gifts for Your Boss

Holiday gifts for a boss can vary widely. Those on large teams may just offer small trinkets, while smaller companies may exchange more personalized items. Here are some of the best gifts for a boss that can work for a variety of instances.

Desk Plant

A desk plant can be a crowd-pleasing gift option. But opt for one with a cute container or funny message if your boss has a sense of humor. There are also plenty of faux plant options for those who don’t have a green thumb.

Coffee Mug

A coffee mug is an ideal boss gift since it’s both practical and easy to personalize. Choose one with a funny saying, a monogram, or even a custom photo or quote.

Pen Set

Pens make excellent professional gifts as well. Consider selecting a set that comes with a personalized box to add a special touch.

Digital Photo Frame

Digital picture frames make amazing gifts because they can easily be personalized by the recipient. They can add their own photos and even change them over time to enjoy their family or favorite travel destinations right at their desk.

Golf Practice Net

If your boss loves to golf, a pop-up practice net may help them up their game at home.

Passport Cover

A passport cover makes for an affordable holiday gift idea, especially for a boss who travels often. You also have the option to personalize it with their initials through monogramming.

Tea Pot

If your boss loves tea, get them a teapot that they can use to enjoy a nice hot beverage at their desk.

Personalized Briefcase

A briefcase can be a slightly more expensive boss gift, but it is universally useful and can be personalized with initials.

Client Holiday Gift Ideas

The perfect gift for a client can vary widely, depending on how close you are and how many client gifts you need to purchase. Here are some options that can show your appreciation.

Gift Basket

Gift baskets are ideal for clients because they come in so many different varieties and usually contain multiple items. An assortment of snacks can be a crowd-pleasing option.

Hot Chocolate

A hot cocoa set is both fun and festive. Opt for a set that includes multiple flavors or extra accessories like a mug and marshmallows to make it special.

Golf Club Covers

For clients who you often meet on the golf course, accessories like golf club covers can show your appreciation.

Gardening Set

For those who love gardening, a simple herb gardening kit may include everything they need to grow tasty herbs in their home or office.

Portable Speakers

A portable speaker is a fairly universal gift. Clients can use it to listen to music at their desks or stream their favorite podcasts around the house or backyard.

Paperweight

Paperweights are practical tools for holding documents securely on a desk. Opt for a stylish design or select a personalized option that features your own photos.

Cocktail Tools

For the client, you love to meet at happy hour, get them their own cocktail tools set so they can play bartender at home.

Luggage Tags

Luggage tags are universally useful but can be especially ideal for those who travel frequently for work.

Holiday Gift Ideas for Coworkers

Coworker gifts vary widely. You may get a unique gift for someone you’re really close to or opt for crowd-pleasing options if buying for your entire team. These gifts tend to be a bit more informal, but here’s a wide range of options to consider.

Chocolate Box

Chocolate is a crowd-pleasing gift that can work for all your coworkers. Personalize this option by getting flavors you know your team loves.

Wine Glasses

Wine glasses make a perfect holiday gift idea for a coworker who enjoys relaxing with a glass of red wine in the evening or for anyone who enjoys hosting gatherings.

Wall Art

Does your coworker’s office need a little extra decoration? Consider getting a print that suits their style or perhaps an inspirational canvas set similar to this one.

Photo Ornament

Christmas ornaments are small and easy to give to your whole team. Add a personal touch by having family or team photos printed on each one.

Coffee Table Books

With a vast array of coffee table books available, you’re bound to discover options that match the individual interests of your coworkers. For instance, consider selecting a fashion book for your trendy coworker and a book about dogs for the colleague who frequently brings their pet to office gatherings.

Personalized Puzzle

You can have puzzles made with nearly any photo you provide. So get a family image from your coworker or take a picture of something they care about and have it made into a custom piece.

Yard Games

Yard games are ideal for fun-loving coworkers or those who love entertaining. There are plenty of options available, from giant Jenga to ring toss games. Find out what they already have and then get something new to add to their collection.

Spa Set

If you have a coworker who is experiencing stress from their job or has just completed a significant project, a spa set could be an ideal way to help them unwind. You can choose a gift box that includes a variety of items or consider pairing it with a gift card for a nearby spa.

Holiday Gift Ideas for Employees

Business owners often get gifts for their entire team. Those with just a few employees may invest in large or personalized items for each person. However, those with larger teams may opt instead for smaller items they can buy in bulk. Here are several great gifts that can work for various types of small business teams.

Tote Bag

Tote bags are universally useful. You can get stylish bags in various colors and patterns or have your company logo printed on them to facilitate some company pride.

Board Games

Board games are fun and crowd-pleasing since there are tons of options to choose from. This is a more personalized gift idea, so it’s well-suited for small teams.

Touchscreen Gloves

Touchscreen gloves are practical for winter since they let wearers continue to use their smartphones without taking them off. This is a perfect gift idea for large teams.

Journal

A journal can be an ideal gift for helping employees organize their thoughts and reach their professional and personal goals. There are journals that are completely blank, as well as some with prompts or themes like this gratitude journal.

Personalized Mugs

Whether your team loves coffee or hot chocolate, pretty much everyone could use mugs at work and/or at home. There are plenty of personalized options where you can add a name, initial, photo, or quote.

Cutting Board

A cutting board can be a perfect gift for employees who like to cook, but it can also serve as fun kitchen decor.

Travel Cubes

Travel cubes are small zippered bags used to organize suitcases during travel. This is an ideal gift for teams that need to travel frequently or those who enjoy traveling outside of work.

Desk Organizer

A desk organizer can be used for basically any employee, even those who work remotely.

What Are the Best Christmas Gifts for Professional Colleagues?

Christmas gifts for professional colleagues should be fairly crowd-pleasing, but with enough of a personal touch to make them feel valued. For example, a coffee set can apply to pretty much anyone. But add a monogrammed mug to personalize it.

What Gifts Are Trending for Christmas?

Popular holiday gifts for include wellness items like matcha sets, tech gadgets like charging stations, and clothing and accessories like comfy sandals and personalized necklaces.

Should a Boss Give Employees a Christmas Gift?

Bosses have the option to give Christmas gifts to employees, but it’s not mandatory. If you choose to give gifts, make sure you can provide them for everyone in the office or that they are part of a company-wide event, such as Secret Santa.

How Much Should You Spend on Holiday Gifts for Employees?

This depends on your budget and the size of your team. Many employees are happy with small gifts of under $20. However, there are also companies that offer gifts for $100 or more. Those with significant funds, however, may simply offer cash bonuses instead.

READ MORE:

• Best Places to Get Business Holiday Cards

Image: Envato Elements

This article, "Holiday Gift Ideas for Employees, Co-Workers, Clients and Your Boss" was first published on Small Business Trends

Independence is one of the main benefits of owning your own business. But as many small business owners have learned, the day to day business grind and tasks involved in running a business can often make you fall back into that uninspiring routine that you thought you were leaving behind at your 9-to-5.

Fortunately, as a business owner, you have the power to alter this situation. Here are a few straightforward steps you can take to regain the independence and freedom that inspired you to start your day to day business in the first place.

The Importance of Declaring Business Independence and Breaking out of the Day-to-Day Business Grind

How to Get Out of the Day-to-Day Business Grind

Use the Archive Button for Emails

Streamlining your inbox is vital for efficiency. Regularly archiving or deleting emails older than a set period (like 90 days) can dramatically reduce clutter. This method ensures your focus remains on current and relevant communications, making email management less overwhelming and more productive.

Unsubscribe!

Dedicate time to declutter your digital life by unsubscribing from newsletters or subscriptions that no longer serve your needs. This action not only reduces email volume but also sharpens your focus on essential communications, making your inbox a tool for productivity rather than a source of distraction.

Put Commitments on a Calendar

Utilize either a digital or physical calendar to keep track of all your appointments, deadlines, and important dates. Having a centralized system for managing your schedule helps you clear mental clutter, minimizes the chances of forgetting commitments, and allows for more effective planning and time management in your day to day business.

Compartmentalize

When facing overwhelming tasks, strategically defer complex projects to a later date. By scheduling these tasks for future attention, you can concentrate fully on immediate responsibilities. Utilize your calendar or planner to allocate specific times for these larger tasks, ensuring they receive the dedicated focus they require.

Unplug From Your Electronics Once a Day

Designate periods of uninterrupted work by turning off phones and avoiding web browsing. This approach minimizes distractions and enhances concentration, leading to higher productivity and quality of work during these focused sessions.

Take a Break Once a Day

Incorporate short, regular breaks into your daily routine to prevent burnout. Whether it’s stepping away for a walk, enjoying a coffee break, or simply relaxing for a few minutes, these pauses can rejuvenate your mind, boost creativity, and enhance overall productivity upon returning to work.

Hire a Freelancer for that Ugly Project

Have one or two projects that you can’t seem to get a handle on? Go to a freelance marketplace, set a budget, and hire freelance help to get that ugly project that is overdue and has been weighing you down. You can often hire out projects for a few hundred dollars, depending on the type and size of the project.

Have Your Voicemails Sent to Email

Leverage tools like Nextiva to forward voicemails to your email. By centralizing your messages, you streamline your communication process, ensuring you stay organized and responsive without the need to toggle between different platforms.

Make the Cloud Your Default Save

When you save files to the cloud, you’re able to easily share them with your team and access them on other devices. Moving your files to cloud storage like Google Drive or Dropbox can revolutionize how you access and share documents.

By setting up automatic cloud saves, you ensure that your work is backed up, secure, and accessible from anywhere. This change not only facilitates easier collaboration with your team but also streamlines your workflow, allowing you to work flexibly and efficiently from different locations or devices.

De-clutter Your Work Area

An organized workspace can significantly boost your productivity and mental clarity. Invest time in creating a tidy, distraction-free environment. Regularly decluttering and organizing your physical workspace can help you stay focused and efficient. This practice not only makes your daily tasks more manageable but also contributes to a more pleasant and less stressful working atmosphere.

Learn How to Use Zapier

Zapier, an online automation tool, can connect your favorite apps and automate workflows, saving you time on repetitive tasks. Learning how to use Zapier effectively can streamline your processes, allowing you to transfer data seamlessly between platforms and focus on more strategic tasks.

This tool is capable of managing a wide range of tasks, from straightforward file backups to intricate multi-step workflows, thus enhancing the efficiency of your day to day business operations.

Use a Scheduling App for Social Media

Schedule and manage all of your social media profiles from one dashboard using an app such as HootSuite. It saves you from jumping around from social site to social site. You can schedule in advance, so you don’t have to interrupt your day to update your channels.

Chunk Your Work

Chunking your work involves organizing tasks into grouped segments. By allocating specific time blocks for similar activities, you can lessen the mental burden of transitioning between different types of tasks. This approach enhances focus, boosts productivity, and helps maintain a higher quality of work. For instance, set aside certain hours of your day exclusively for meetings, creative work, or administrative tasks.

Create a Social Media Calendar

If you’re not careful, you can easily spend an entire day checking, posting, and monitoring your company’s social media channels. To avoid wasting away in the dark corners of Twitter and Facebook, consider creating a calendar to map out and track your social media strategy. Knowing what you want to accomplish and what it will take can help free the rest of your time for other things.

Diversify Your Income Streams

Explore various revenue channels to ensure financial stability and reduce dependence on a single income source. Whether it’s through online sales, partnerships, consulting, or other ventures, having multiple streams of income can buffer against market fluctuations and ensure a steady cash flow, reducing stress and providing peace of mind.

Say “No”

Master the art of tactfully declining opportunities that don’t align with your business goals or current capacity. Saying no to certain projects or requests can be empowering and strategically beneficial, allowing you to concentrate on activities that truly add value to your business and prevent overcommitment and burnout.

Have a Dedicated Workspace

Establishing a dedicated workspace, whether in a home office or a separate office location, is crucial for productivity and work-life balance. A specific work area helps in creating a professional atmosphere, minimizing distractions, and mentally separating work from personal life.

This clear demarcation can improve focus during work hours and allow for genuine relaxation and disconnection during off-hours.

Take Vacations

Embrace the importance of taking regular breaks and vacations. Stepping away from work allows you to recharge, gain new perspectives, and return with renewed energy and creativity. Vacations are not only beneficial for your personal well-being but can also lead to increased productivity and enthusiasm for your work.

Build a Great Team

Investing time and resources in building a skilled and cohesive team can significantly alleviate the day-to-day pressures of running a business. A reliable team allows you to delegate tasks confidently, knowing that each aspect of your business is being handled competently. This trust in your team’s abilities can free you to focus on strategic planning and business development.

Set Clear Guidelines for Delegation

However, there are limits to passing tasks off to your employees. People tend to do better work when they know exactly what is expected of them. So if you have a clear work stream and chain of command, delegation of tasks is likely to be a pretty smooth operation.

Have Fun with Your Team, Too

Fostering a positive and enjoyable work environment is crucial for team morale and productivity. Organizing team-building activities, casual get-togethers, or celebrating milestones can strengthen team bonds, boost morale, and create a more collaborative and motivated workforce.

These enjoyable and relaxing moments offer a much-needed respite from the routine, helping to rejuvenate the team’s energy and dedication.

Meet with Other Business Owners

Regularly interacting with fellow entrepreneurs and business owners can provide valuable insights, support, and networking opportunities. These interactions can offer fresh perspectives, innovative ideas, and potential collaborations. Building a network of peers allows for the sharing of experiences and best practices, which can be instrumental in navigating the challenges of running a business.

Take a Look at Your Goals

Periodically reviewing your business goals is essential to ensure you are on track and making decisions that align with your long-term objectives. Reflecting on your goals allows you to assess your progress, make necessary adjustments, and stay motivated.

Keeping your goals in sight helps maintain focus and direction, ensuring that your daily efforts contribute to achieving your overarching vision.

Freedom, Bicycle, Keyboard, Vacation Images via Shutterstock

This article, "Ways to Declare Independence from Day to Day Business Grind" was first published on Small Business Trends

Understanding the Role of a Bar Manager

A bar manager acts instead of a bar owner, holding the reins of a bar’s daily operations while steering it toward profitability and customer satisfaction. Bar manager responsibilities are multifold, impacting the business’s bottom line and customer experience. Key roles of a bar manager include:

• Setting Financial Goals: Developing strategic plans to drive revenue and growth.
• Staff Supervision: Overseeing the hiring, training, and scheduling of staff to ensure smooth operational flow.
• Customer Relations: Increase bar sales by providing exceptional customer service, which helps retain current customers and draw in new ones.
• Inventory Management: Monitoring stock and supplies to avoid shortages or surpluses.
• Legal Compliance: Upholding local, state, and federal laws, especially those related to health, safety, and alcohol service.

Key Qualities of a Successful Bar Manager

An effective bar manager must boast a particular skill set, from interpersonal talents to business understanding. Key qualities that a successful bar manager must possess include:

• Leadership Skills: Directing and inspiring the team to meet the business goals.
• Problem-solving Ability: Resolving issues promptly and effectively, particularly in high-pressure situations.
• Strong Communication: Ensuring clear, consistent communication with staff, customers, and vendors.
• Financial Acuity: Understanding and using financial data to make strategic business decisions.
• Customer Service Orientation: Emphasizing the importance of customer satisfaction and cultivating a culture dedicated to providing exceptional service.

Bar Management Tips

In order to earn your bar manager’s salary, it’s time to explore specific strategies and solutions that can help you excel in managing your bar.

Bar Staff Management Tips

Effective management of your employees is critical to the smooth operation and overall success of your bar.

Establish Clear Communication Channels

Develop transparent communication lines to ensure all staff are well-informed and aligned with your business goals.

Prioritize Staff Training and Development

Invest in ongoing training programs to ensure your staff remains informed about the latest industry standards and skills.

Create a Positive and Motivating Work Environment

Cultivating a supportive and rewarding work environment that encourages staff to excel is among the hardest parts of being a manager.

Implement a Robust Hiring Process

Use a thorough and systematic process to recruit staff with the right skills and attitude.

Maintain a Fair and Consistent Shift Schedule

Managing shift employees involves implementing a fair scheduling system that respects your staff’s time and commitments.

Tips on Customer Service in the Bar Management Process

Delivering exceptional customer service is crucial for building a loyal customer base and enhancing your bar’s reputation.

Implement Customer Feedback Systems

Employ customer feedback mechanisms to gain insights into areas for improvement.

Train Staff on Exceptional Customer Service Practices

Conduct regular staff and bartender training sessions on customer service standards to ensure consistently excellent service. These may cover topics ranging from “what is a bar tab?” to “how to plan a bar crawl.

Build Loyalty Programs for Regular Customers

Develop reward programs for frequent customers to encourage loyalty.

Resolve Customer Complaints Promptly and Professionally

Handle customer complaints with promptness and professionalism to maintain customer trust.

Foster an Atmosphere of Inclusivity

Foster an environment of respect and friendliness in your bar to warmly welcome patrons from various backgrounds.

Tips on Financial Management in Bar Operations

Financial acumen is key to your bar’s success and sustainability.

Regularly Monitor and Control Costs

Keep a close eye on operational costs to manage your budget effectively.

Use Technology for Efficient Accounting

Implement accounting software to streamline financial record-keeping and analysis.

Plan for Contingencies and Emergencies

Set aside contingency funds to handle unexpected expenses.

Implement Regular Financial Audits

Regular financial audits can help a bar manager identify discrepancies and areas for improvement.

Optimize Pricing Strategy

Analyze your costs and competition to set prices that attract customers while maintaining profitability.

Tips on Bar Inventory and Stock Management

Effective inventory management can significantly impact your bottom line by reducing wastage and preventing stock-outs.

Implement an Effective Inventory Tracking System

Use a reliable system to track stock levels and usage in real-time to keep up with ingredients for drinks and your bar food ideas.

Regularly Audit Stock Levels

Conduct regular stock audits to reconcile recorded inventory with actual stock.

Maintain Good Relationships with Suppliers

Forge strong relationships with bar suppliers to ensure reliable supply and favorable terms.

Utilize Bar Management Software for Inventory Control

Implement bar management software to automate and streamline inventory management.

Establish Par Stock Levels

Define each product’s minimum and maximum stock levels to prevent stock-outs and overstocking.

Tips on Marketing and Promotion for Bar Managers

Effective bar marketing can increase visibility, attract new customers, and boost revenue.

Leverage Social Media for Promotion

Use platforms like Instagram and Facebook to promote your bar, interact with customers, and build an online presence.

Plan Regular Events and Special Offers

Organize themed nights, happy hours, and special events to attract customers and encourage repeat visits.

Collaborate with Local Businesses for Cross-Promotion

Partner with complementary local businesses for joint promotions to increase your customer base.

Invest in a Professional Website

A well-designed website can enhance your online presence, provide information to potential customers, and improve your bar’s credibility.

Utilize Email Marketing

Collect customer email addresses and send them regular updates, special offers, and event invitations.

Tips on Regulatory Compliance and Legalities in the Hospitality Industry

Complying with relevant laws and regulations is essential to avoid legal problems and penalties.

Stay Updated on Local and State Laws

Regularly review changes to local and state laws pertaining to the hospitality industry.

Implement Strict Age Verification Practices

Train staff on spotting a fake ID and ensuring diligent age verification to prevent underage drinking and comply with legal requirements.

Ensure Safety Standards and Procedures are in Place

Establish and enforce health and safety procedures to protect customers and staff.

Obtain Necessary Permits and Licenses

Keep your permits and licenses updated to avoid legal complications.

Follow Responsible Service of Alcohol Guidelines

Train your staff in responsible alcohol service to prevent over-serving and related issues.

Tips on Creating a Positive Bar Atmosphere

The atmosphere of your bar can significantly influence customer satisfaction and return visits.

Pay Attention to Interior Design and Lighting

Use visually appealing interior design and appropriate lighting to create a comfortable and inviting ambiance.

Curate a Pleasing Music Playlist

Good music can enhance the bar experience. Tailor your music selection to fit your bar’s theme and clientele.

Maintain Cleanliness and Hygiene Standards

Regular cleaning and maintenance are essential for fostering a welcoming environment and adhering to health regulations. You might also consider researching what a bar back is or hiring additional staff to allow you to focus on these responsibilities.

FAQs: How to Manage a Bar

How do you handle customers in a bar?

Managing customers in a bar requires a careful balance of friendly engagement, timely service, and professionalism. Strong communication skills are essential, along with the capability to address and resolve issues swiftly and efficiently.

How important is customer service in bar management?

Customer service is vital in bar management. It can determine whether a customer becomes a regular patron or a one-time visitor. Training staff in exceptional customer service can enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty, improving your bar’s reputation and profitability.

How can I ensure regulatory compliance in managing my bar?

Ensuring regulatory compliance in bar management requires staying informed about local, state, and federal laws, implementing rigorous age verification procedures, upholding health and safety standards, and keeping all necessary permits and licenses up to date. Providing training and oversight can help ensure that staff comply with these regulations. Additionally, develop a bar opening and closing checklist to make sure employees consistently review all requirements.

Image: Envato Elements

This article, "Top Tips on How to Manage a Bar Successfully" was first published on Small Business Trends

This time of year, there’s a good chance you’re preparing for the annual office holiday party for your small business. As a small business owner, you need to take the company holiday party even more seriously than other employees might, emphasizing the importance of planning and organizing a successful event. So you’ll want to avoid any major faux pas. Here are 20 things you definitely should not do at your upcoming small business holiday party.

Office Holiday Party Etiquette

Don’t Skip It

First of all, if you’re going to have an office holiday party for your team, you should actually be present. Don’t think of it as something just for your employees or an event where you can just swing by. Actually take the time to attend and enjoy the entire experience alongside your staff.

Don’t Get Too into the Holiday – Er – Spirits

You want your holiday party to be a fun time for your whole team. So that probably means you’ll have some kind of alcoholic beverages available. While having a bit of the spiked egg nog is totally fine, make sure you don’t overdo it and end up making a drunken fool of yourself in front of your whole team.

Don’t Forget to Mingle

Having a holiday party for your whole team also means that you should spend some time with your whole team. Don’t make the mistake of spending the whole time surrounded by just a few of your closest confidants. Take the time to go around and mingle with the employees you don’t get to spend much time with. And if you have any clients or prospects who are also invited, you could use the party as an opportunity to get to know them in a more relaxed setting as well.

Don’t Show Up Late

The first part of your holiday office party can set the tone for the entire event. So it’s important for you as a business owner to be there at the very beginning to welcome people and help to create a relaxed atmosphere where people can really enjoy themselves.

Don’t Participate in Office Gossip

Your holiday office party can be a great opportunity for you to get to know your employees on a more personal level. But there’s a chance some of your team members might spend their time gossiping or even complaining about other employees. As the team leader, taking part in this type of gossip can be harmful to your team dynamic and even your reputation among your employees. So steer clear or even try to shut it down if possible.

Don’t Overload Your Plate

Along with your holiday party drinks, you’ll probably also want to offer some kind of dinner or hors d’oeuvres. And while it’s totally fine — and even advisable, especially if you’re enjoying a few libations — you might want to think twice before stockpiling your plate with one of everything. If your hands and/or mouth are too full throughout the party to greet people and shake hands, it might come across as rude. So, instead, consider grabbing a smaller plate and then just going back for seconds later.

Don’t Be Vague With Invitations

For the sake of your party, it’s important that you let your team members know what to expect before they head over. If you have a specific dress code in mind, make that clear. If you want people to bring their family members, let them know. And if you have any other instructions or specifications to make, be sure to just make everything clear beforehand so your employees don’t have to guess what you have in store for them.

Don’t Forget to Offer Some Activities like Secret Santa

You don’t necessarily need to create a whole list of cheesy party games and then force your team members to participate throughout the entire evening. But you can create some structure for the party just so people don’t end up standing around twiddling their thumbs. Consider including a holiday scavenger hunt as an engaging activity to foster teamwork and celebration. You might consider adding a gift exchange, a party entertainer, or even having Santa stop by for the kids.

Don’t Dress Inappropriately

Depending on the tone and type of holiday party you have for your team, it can be an opportunity for you to dress a bit differently than you might at work. Showing up in jeans and a collared shirt instead of your normal suit and tie is one thing. But wearing a shirt with an inappropriate slogan on it or anything that shows off a little too much is another. As the boss, you set the tone for your team. So keep your casual garb at least appropriate, and make it clear that you expect the same from your team.

Don’t Forget to Have Fun and Spread Holiday Cheer

The office holiday party can be a great place for you to relax and have some fun getting to know your team better. Consider suggesting an ugly sweater party as a fun and humorous theme to enhance the festive spirit. So if you stick completely to your all-business work persona, you could be missing out. So enjoy a drink or two, put those work stressors on the back burner and try to just enjoy the party.

Don’t Cut Loose Too Much

However, you still have to go back to work the next day and every other work day going forward. So, aside from making sure not to have too much from the open bar, you should also take care not to do anything that might lead to your reputation taking a hit with your team. For example, if you know you’re a terrible dancer, you can hit the dance floor for a song or two with everyone else. But forcing everyone to form a circle around you while you fail to do the robot is probably a little much.

Don’t Stand by the Mistletoe

While you’re having fun enjoying the office holiday party and getting to know your team, make sure not to step over the line into inappropriate territory. Especially as the boss, you shouldn’t make any inappropriate jokes or advances, even if not serious or intentional, toward any other party attendees.

Don’t Only Talk Shop

Your small business is probably a big part of your life that you talk about often. But you and your team members could all use a break every now and then. So make sure the office party is actually a break for everyone, and steer clear of shop talk.

Don’t Look Bored

Along with relaxing and having some fun, you should also make sure that everyone at the office holiday party knows you’re relaxing and having some fun. If you look bored or upset, it could give off the wrong impression to your team or other attendees and set a negative tone for the party.

Don’t Stare at Your Phone the Whole Time

You might be waiting for an important email or want to post a photo or two on social media. But if you spend the whole party on your phone, it shows people that you’re not engaged or interested. So if you have something important that you need to check, do it quickly and then put the phone away and actually enjoy yourself.

Don’t Leave Anyone Out of the Holiday Office Party

If you have a decent-sized team, the odds are that not everyone necessarily has the same holiday traditions or preferences. While you can pretty safely put up some festive decorations and even exchange Christmas gifts, you don’t want to exclude anyone who doesn’t celebrate a specific holiday. Consider hosting an office ornament decorating party as an inclusive and creative activity that everyone can enjoy. Make sure everyone knows they’re welcome, regardless of their personal preferences. And steer clear of any activities or other items that might make people feel excluded.

Don’t Make Any Major Announcements

Along with avoiding work-related chit-chat, it’s also a good idea to steer clear of work-related announcements. Even if it seems like a convenient time to communicate with your whole team at once, save it and schedule a meeting for later in the week so you don’t disrupt the party.

Don’t Forget to Say Thank You

An office holiday party is a great time for you to say thank you to your team members, partners, and clients for all they’ve done for your business throughout the year. So don’t pass up the opportunity. You can make a quick speech where you thank everyone and/or thank people individually as you make your way through the party.

Don’t Leave Too Early

In addition to being one of the first people to show up, as the boss you should also be one of the last to leave. Staying for the long haul shows people you care and allows you to spend even more time with people as you mingle.

Don’t Drink and Drive

Finally, as you and your team prepare to leave the holiday party, it’s important to be safe. You might even want to arrange transportation, start a designated driver program or share the number of a local cab company with your team so no one feels the need to drive home after enjoying a little too much egg nog.

Setting the Right Tone for the New Year

As you gear up for your annual office holiday party, consider the following tips to ensure a successful event and a positive start to the new year. Here are some key points to keep in mind:

• Reflect on the Past Year: Take a moment during the party to acknowledge the achievements and challenges of the past year. Share a few words about your team’s accomplishments and express gratitude for their hard work.
• Celebrate Diversity: Embrace the diversity of your team by incorporating a range of holiday decorations and activities that are inclusive of various traditions and celebrations.
• Encourage Employee Involvement: Involve your employees in planning the party by asking for their input on themes, activities, and even charity initiatives. This not only fosters teamwork but also ensures the party caters to everyone’s interests.
• Highlight Team Bonding: Use this festive occasion as an opportunity to strengthen team bonds. Consider team-building activities that encourage collaboration and camaraderie.
• Express Optimism for the Future: As the year comes to a close, share your optimism and goals for the upcoming year. A short speech about your vision for the business can inspire and motivate your team for the year ahead.
• Show Appreciation: Express your gratitude to your team members for their dedication. You could prepare small tokens of appreciation or personalized notes for each employee.
• Promote Work-Life Balance: While celebrating with your team is important, remind them of the importance of work-life balance. Encourage them to enjoy the party responsibly and take time to relax during the holiday season.
• Capture the Memories: Arrange for a designated photographer to capture candid moments during the event. Share these photos afterward to relive the memories and strengthen team connections.
• Plan Ahead for Next Year: Use the holiday party as an opportunity to discuss potential goals and initiatives for the upcoming year. This can help your team feel motivated and excited about what’s to come.
• Provide Safe Transportation: As a responsible leader, ensure that your team has access to safe transportation options if they’ve indulged in holiday spirits. Consider partnering with ride-sharing services or providing reimbursement for cab rides.
• Spread Holiday Cheer: Beyond the party, consider organizing a charitable initiative as part of your holiday celebrations. Encourage your team to give back to the community and make a positive impact.

Remember, your role as a small business owner goes beyond just organizing a party. It’s a chance to foster a sense of community, set the tone for the upcoming year, and create lasting memories for your team. By approaching the holiday party with intention and care, you can create an event that truly resonates with your employees and reinforces a positive company culture.

Pre-Party Planning

Set a Realistic Budget for the Holiday Party

Setting a realistic budget for your holiday party is crucial to ensure the event is both enjoyable and financially sound. Start by considering the number of guests, the venue, food, drinks, and entertainment. Prioritize the most important aspects of the party and allocate your budget accordingly. This way, you can avoid overspending while still throwing a memorable event. Remember, a well-planned budget helps keep the holiday cheer alive without causing post-party financial stress.

Choose a Date and Time that Works for Most Employees

Choosing a date and time that works for most employees is key to ensuring maximum attendance and participation. Consider your company’s schedule, employee work hours, and personal commitments when selecting a date and time. It’s also essential to give employees enough notice so they can plan accordingly. A good rule of thumb is to schedule the party during work hours or immediately after work to encourage attendance. This thoughtful planning shows you value your team’s time and helps everyone get into the holiday spirit.

Gift-Giving

Make Gift-Giving Optional

Making gift-giving optional can help reduce stress and financial pressure on employees. Clearly communicate that gift-giving is not mandatory and that employees should only participate if they feel comfortable doing so. This approach promotes a more relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere at the party. To keep the holiday spirit alive, consider setting a price limit or suggesting a Secret Santa gift exchange. This way, everyone can join in the fun without feeling obligated or stressed.

Conclusion: Embrace the Spirit of Unity and Celebration

As the holiday season approaches, the annual work holiday party offers a unique opportunity for small business owners to foster unity, express gratitude, and set a positive tone for the coming year. By adhering to proper etiquette and considering the key points outlined in this guide, you can ensure that your holiday party becomes more than just an event—it becomes a memorable experience that resonates with your team members.

Remember, your active participation as a leader is crucial. Your presence not only demonstrates your commitment but also encourages a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere for everyone. Embrace the diversity within your team by creating an inclusive celebration that respects various traditions and backgrounds.

Encouraging employee involvement and team bonding not only strengthens relationships but also emphasizes the value you place on collaboration. Take this opportunity to reflect on the past year’s achievements, express optimism for the future, and express your appreciation for your team’s hard work. Such gestures go a long way in building a sense of camaraderie and loyalty among your employees.

While the party is a time for relaxation and enjoyment, remember to promote responsible behavior and safety. Provide transportation options for those who may indulge in festive spirits, ensuring their well-being after the event.

By thoughtfully planning ahead, you can create an event that leaves a lasting impact. From capturing memories through photos to discussing future goals, your holiday party becomes a symbol of unity, appreciation, and the beginning of a prosperous year ahead. So, as you prepare for this festive occasion, remember that you are not only celebrating the holidays but also cultivating a positive company culture that resonates throughout the entire year.

Party Photo via Shutterstock

This article, "Things NOT to Do at the Office Holiday Party" was first published on Small Business Trends

Remember Business Gift Deductions

While the act of gifting is rooted in gratitude, it doesn’t hurt to be aware of its financial implications. Business gifts, while an added expense, can swing in your favor during tax season.

If your gifts hover around or below the $25 mark and you meet specific IRS criteria, you stand to gain from business gift deductions.

It’s a silver lining that can offset a portion of the gifting expenditure, providing a financial cushion. Check the details on the IRS website to ensure you leverage this provision to the fullest.

• Familiarize yourself with IRS rules regarding business gift deductions.
• Keep individual gift expenses around or below the $25 mark to qualify for deductions.
• Maintain proper documentation and receipts for all gift purchases.

Consider Alternative Gifts for the Holiday Season

Monetary constraints shouldn’t dampen the spirit of gratitude. If the budget tightens, it’s time to think out of the box. After all, it’s the thought that counts, and sometimes, more heartfelt gifts come without hefty price tags.

Personalized letters, offering exclusive service/product discounts, or sharing a batch of homemade treats are all gestures that scream appreciation.

Another avenue to explore is hosting an office or business festive gathering. It might come with its price tag, but the shared moments and camaraderie can more than compensate.

• Get creative with non-material gifts such as service discounts, exclusive offers, or heartfelt notes.
• Explore group activities or events as alternative ways to show appreciation.
• Personalize gifts to add emotional value without significant financial costs.

Embrace Bulk Purchasing

Bulk purchasing involves buying gifts in larger quantities, which often leads to cost benefits and streamlines the gifting process.

• Cost Savings: Bulk buying usually comes with reduced prices per unit.
• Uniformity: Provides consistency in gifts, especially beneficial for larger teams or client groups.
• Time Efficiency: Reduces the time spent on selecting and acquiring individual gifts.

Leverage Promotional Deals

This strategy involves taking advantage of special offers, seasonal discounts, and vendor relationships to make the most of your budget.

• Seasonal Offers: Utilize holiday or seasonal discounts for savings.
• Early Bird Discounts: Purchase gifts early to capitalize on early offers.
• Vendor Relationships: Cultivate vendor relationships for potential discounts on large orders.

Incorporate Handmade or DIY Gifts

Opting for handmade or DIY gifts adds a personal touch and can be more cost-effective compared to buying ready-made items.

• Personal Touch: Handcrafted gifts offer a unique and memorable experience.
• Cost-Effective: Typically more budget-friendly than purchasing retail items.
• Team Building: Creating DIY gifts can be a team activity, enhancing team bonding.

Gift Experiences Over Items

Instead of physical gifts, offering experiences can create lasting memories and provide a range of options to fit different budgets.

• Memorable Impact: Experiential gifts tend to be more impactful and memorable.
• Cost Versatility: Range of options from affordable local experiences to more exclusive ones.
• Personalization: Tailor experiences to individual tastes and preferences.

Utilize Digital Gifting Options

Digital gifts such as e-gift cards or online subscriptions offer flexibility and are an increasingly popular gifting choice.

• E-Gift Cards: Convenient and adaptable to a wide range of preferences.
• Subscriptions: Offer subscriptions to relevant services or digital platforms.
• Flexibility: Allows recipients to choose their preferred items or experiences.

Implement a Gifting Policy

Establishing a company-wide gifting policy ensures consistency, fairness, and financial discipline in corporate gifting.

• Set Clear Guidelines: Clear policies help in maintaining uniformity and fairness in gifting.
• Budget Limits: Define and adhere to budgetary constraints.
• Transparency: Ensures clarity and prevents misunderstandings or disputes.

Focus on Charitable Giving

Incorporating charitable donations as gifts aligns with social responsibility and can provide tax benefits.

• Social Responsibility: Reflects the company’s commitment to social causes.
• Group Impact: Donations made in the name of employees or clients can have a broader impact.
• Tax Benefits: Often, charitable donations are tax-deductible.

Monitor and Adjust Annually

Regularly reviewing and adjusting the gift budget strategy helps in maintaining its relevance and effectiveness.

• Annual Review: Assess the budget and strategy’s effectiveness yearly.
• Feedback Inclusion: Use recipient feedback to refine future gifting plans.
• Adapt to Changes: Modify the strategy based on business evolution, financial changes, and feedback.

As you work to determine your gift budget, utilizing a structured breakdown can simplify the process. The table below provides a framework for you to fill in, allowing you to tailor your budget allocations to different recipient categories within your business community:

Image: Depositphotos.com

This article, "How to Create a Gift Budget for Your Business" was first published on Small Business Trends

1. Communication is Crucial

Clear, consistent communication was the backbone of our wedding planning process. We utilized WhatsApp groups, held regular meetings, and maintained constant dialogue between my wife and me. Similarly, in business, effective communication is vital. Miscommunication can lead to errors and inefficiencies. For critical tasks, it’s better to over-communicate than risk misunderstandings.

2. Clarify Your Goals

Throughout the planning process, we kept our primary objectives in mind: ensuring the bride and groom got married, providing good food, and creating a fun environment. In business, it’s equally important to define clear goals. Without a clear vision of what you’re trying to achieve, it’s challenging to measure success or make informed decisions.

3. Don’t Hesitate to Seek Help

While my wife took on the bulk of the planning responsibilities, we couldn’t have managed without the support of friends and family. Some helped for weeks, others lent a hand on the wedding day. In business, building a team and seeking assistance from mentors, friends, or professionals is crucial. Whether it’s legal advice or guidance on hiring, don’t be afraid to ask for help.

4. Choose Your Partners Wisely

The success of our wedding relied heavily on the partnership between my wife and me. We trusted each other and worked well together. In business, the right partner can be a powerful asset, sharing the workload and bringing complementary skills. However, the wrong partnership can be detrimental. It’s crucial to understand your potential partner’s working style, communication preferences, and priorities before committing.

5. Prioritization is Key

With limited time and resources, we had to constantly prioritize tasks. Some items were scaled back or eliminated as the wedding day approached. In business, effective prioritization is essential. Understand what needs immediate attention and what can wait. Remember that your priorities may differ from those of your team or partners, so align on shared goals.

6. Identify and Consider All Stakeholders

We had to consider various stakeholders in our wedding planning: the bride and groom, the groom’s parents, and our church ministry. Similarly, businesses must consider multiple stakeholders: employees, customers, vendors, and potentially regulatory bodies. Understanding and addressing the needs and concerns of all relevant parties is crucial for success.

7. Seek Advice from Others

Our wedding coordination team, composed of family members and close friends, was invaluable in the planning process. Their input helped shape many aspects of the wedding. In business, seeking advice is equally important. This can come from peer business owners, books, podcasts, mentorship communities, or hired consultants. External perspectives can provide fresh insights and help avoid potential pitfalls.

Conclusion

Planning my daughter’s wedding was a crash course in project management, teamwork, and decision-making. While a wedding is a one-day event, these lessons are applicable to the long-term journey of building and growing a business. Success in business, like a well-executed wedding, requires purposeful planning, guidance, and the ability to adapt to challenges. Remember, you don’t have to go it alone – leverage the power of communication, partnerships, and external advice to navigate the complex world of entrepreneurship.

This article, "7 Business Lessons from Planning My Daughter’s Wedding" was first published on Small Business Trends

“How do you foster innovation within a tech startup?”

Here’s what Young Entrepreneur Council community members had to say:

1. Hire a Diverse Team

“Fostering innovation in a tech startup requires creating an environment where creativity, collaboration, and calculated risk-taking are encouraged. First, prioritize hiring a diverse team with varied perspectives and skill sets, as this diversity often leads to more creative problem-solving. Open communication is key—ensure that everyone feels comfortable sharing ideas, no matter how unconventional, and that they know their contributions are valued.  You can also implement regular brainstorming sessions to inspire out-of-the-box thinking. These events allow the team to explore new ideas and technologies without the pressure of immediate deliverables. Encouraging a fail-fast mentality is also crucial. The team must know it’s okay to take risks, learn from failures, and iterate quickly.  Another key aspect is providing the right tools and resources. Invest in the latest technologies and platforms that empower our team to experiment and innovate efficiently. Continuous learning is equally important, so support ongoing education through courses, conferences, and workshops.  Lastly, team leaders should lead by example by staying curious and open to new ideas. By being hands-on and involved in the innovation process, we can demonstrate that innovation is a priority for the company. This combination of a supportive culture, diverse talent, and ongoing learning creates a fertile ground for innovation. ” ~ Andrew Kucheriavy, Intechnic

2. Encourage Experimentation

“It’s essential to build a culture where experimentation is encouraged and supported. One effective approach is to create an open, collaborative environment where team members are empowered to share ideas, regardless of their role or seniority. Regularly engaging the team in ideation sessions or hackathons can spark creativity and encourage them to think beyond their day-to-day tasks. Another key is to provide autonomy, allowing individuals or teams to explore projects they are passionate about, even if they deviate from the core product roadmap. This helps cultivate a sense of ownership and can lead to unexpected breakthroughs. It’s also important to stay adaptable—set up feedback loops where both successes and failures are viewed as opportunities for growth. Finally, equipping the team with cutting-edge tools and access to continuous learning, whether through conferences, online courses, or mentorship, ensures they are always expanding their skills and thinking about new ways to solve problems. By combining these elements, a tech startup can create an atmosphere where innovation thrives naturally.” ~ Kyle Goguen, CRBN Pickleball

3. 20% Time Policy

“I like to implement a “20% Time” policy for myself and my employees, allowing us to dedicate a portion of our work time, like 20%, to exploring projects or ideas we’re passionate about. This kind of autonomy gives everyone the freedom to be creative and think outside the box, which can lead to innovative breakthroughs that really benefit the company. It’s all about fostering an environment where new ideas can thrive.” ~ Bryce Welker, Testing.org

4. Brainstorming

“The best way to foster innovation within a tech startup is brainstorming. Why rely on a single thought process when you have access to many? By leveraging the creativity and expertise of your team, you can come up with brilliant ideas and design groundbreaking solutions for the intended audience. Collectively, you can make use of the available resources and your strengths to the fullest, being able to bring something new to the table.” ~ Andrew Munro, AffiliateWP

5. Innovation Cross-Pollination

“Over the last two decades of building tech startups, I’ve learned that fostering innovation requires creating an ecosystem where ideas can collide, mutate, and evolve. Here’s how we’ve done it: First, implement “innovation cross-pollination.” Pair team members from different departments for short-term projects. A developer working with a marketer might spark ideas neither would have alone. Next, institute “Failure Fridays.” Each month, gather the team to discuss recent failures and celebrate the lessons learned. This destigmatizes failure and encourages bold thinking. Create an “idea incubator” where anyone can pitch an idea and receive resources for prototyping. This isn’t just about finding the next big thing—it’s about fostering an ownership mentality. Host “tech safaris” by regularly exposing your team to cutting-edge technologies outside your immediate field. Breakthroughs often come from unexpected places. Finally, cultivate “productive conflict.” Encourage respectful disagreement and debate. Innovation thrives when ideas are challenged and refined. Remember, innovation isn’t a department—it’s a mindset. By weaving these practices into your company’s DNA, you create an environment where innovation isn’t just encouraged—it’s inevitable. In today’s tech landscape, it’s not the big that eat the small, it’s the fast that eat the slow. And nothing accelerates a company like a culture of relentless innovation.” ~ Solomon Thimothy, OneIMS

6. Study Competitors

“Study and investigate your competitors and what they offer. Once you realize what costs you can undercut and what services you can provide at a higher value, you can begin to build a strong customer base which can then lead to even greater feedback directly from the customer them self.” ~ Jordan Edelson, Appetizer Mobile LLC

7. Regular Hackathons

“Create a culture where curiosity thrives. Encourage experimentation by allowing your team to pursue ideas without fear of failure. Regular hackathons or idea sessions can fuel creativity, while continuous learning keeps the team ahead of the curve. Lead by example—when leaders embrace new thinking, it inspires the team to push boundaries and find breakthroughs.” ~ Samuel Thimothy, OneIMS – Integrated Marketing Solutions

8. Continous Learning & Development

“If you want to truly foster innovation, you need to cultivate a culture of continuous learning and development. We encourage our teams to attend industry events, participate in workshops, and pursue certifications in topics that matter to them. Then, we build on this culture by dedicating time to knowledge-sharing sessions where team members can present new technologies or insights they’ve gained. I’ve found that by staying ahead of the curve and constantly expanding their skill sets, our team is always ready to innovate in new and exciting ways.” ~ Josh Kohlbach, Wholesale Suite

9. Value Creative Thinking

“One of the best ways to foster innovation in a tech startup is to have an atmosphere that values creative thinking. While almost everyone nowadays values creativity and thinking “outside the box” in theory, it’s not that easy to put this into practice. It means being open to ideas that are impractical. Rather than judging someone for coming up with a flawed idea, consider if the idea may have potential in the future or perhaps applied in a different context. It may help to study the philosophy used in improv comedy, which is to respond to everything with “yes, and…” no matter how silly it may sound. Obviously in a tech company you have to keep some measure of practicality in mind but it’s better to err in the direction of creativity rather than shutting new ideas down without consideration.” ~ Kalin Kassabov, ProTexting

10. Track Customer Buying Preferences

“An effective way to foster innovation within a tech startup is to track the changing buying preferences of your target audience. This helps you devise solutions that your target audience needs, increasing the chances of early adoption. As a startup, you have to make do with limited budget and resources. So, you have to ensure that what you come up with not only sets you apart from other alternatives but is also highly likely to be well received.” ~ Jared Atchison, WPForms

11. Create an Interactive Buyer’s Journey

“An effective way to foster innovation within a tech startup is by creating an interactive buyer’s journey and identifying the pain points of your target audience. The goal is to engage the intended audience while consistently scaling your operations. So, the innovation that matters here should enable you to offer an enhanced user experience. Be it your processes, product development, or introduction of new solutions, your ideas should resonate with the needs and preferences of an audience segment you target.” ~ Chris Klosowski, Easy Digital Downloads

12. Identify Market Gaps

“You can foster innovation within a tech startup by conducting thorough research and identifying market gaps. By collecting useful information and actionable insights, you can identify new opportunities and come up with innovative ideas. The data not only helps you come up with new solutions but also enables you to maximize your efficiency and improve your processes. You can learn from your competitors’ mistakes, take inspiration from their strategies, and explore opportunities that they’ve missed out on. All this information supercharges your innovative capabilities.” ~ Thomas Griffin, OptinMonster

13. Monitor Rising Trends

“One of the most efficient ways to foster innovation within a tech startup is to keep a close eye on the rising trends. The trends in your respective industry fuel your innovation and pave the way for you to come up with new solutions. You get to know what people are talking about and get acquainted with their behavioral dynamics. It not only helps you think outside the box but also design solutions that will likely have a high demand in near future.” ~ Blair Williams, MemberPress

14. Hold Monthly Meetings

“One way we foster innovation is by having monthly meetings where everyone in the company gets together and discusses what they are working on, any discoveries they have made, and any roadblocks that are currently getting in the way. These meetings are super impactful for us. It helps us all get to know each other and allows us to share our own unique insights. In fact, a vast majority of our product features started as a brainstorming session during our monthly get-togethers.” ~ Daman Jeet Singh, FunnelKit

15. Build from the Ground Up

“Fostering innovation in a tech startup is both in building products and services from the ground up in a startup environment and, oddly enough, from playing video games at a high level. In both cases, you learn that failure isn’t just inevitable; it’s necessary. You fail hundreds of times before like growing a garden—things need structure, but you also have to let the wild ideas flourish. I’ve seen this firsthand, bthings finally click, whether it’s shipping a new feature or clearing new content on the hardest difficulties.” ~ Travis Schreiber, Erase Technologies, LLC

Image: Envato

This article, "15 Ways To Foster Innovation at a Tech Startup" was first published on Small Business Trends