What Is Construction Scheduling Software?

The term construction scheduling software describes digital solutions that help you make construction schedules via construction project management tools such as Gantt charts, project calendars, to-do lists and dashboards.

Construction scheduling tools should enable you to assign project tasks to your construction site crew, track their work hours and daily progress and log any events or issues.

However, there are many different alternatives, each with unique features and functionality—which is why we reviewed and ranked the best construction scheduling software out there.

What Features Make the Best Construction Scheduling Software?

Before we learn about the best construction scheduling software for 2026, let’s review the project management tools and key features any construction project management software should offer. To pick the best construction scheduling software, we looked for the following features.

• Gantt charts: Gantt charts visually map construction activities over time, showing sequencing, dependencies and milestones, enabling teams to coordinate trades, track progress, anticipate conflicts and communicate schedules clearly across stakeholders.
• Task management tools: Task management tools help identify project tasks and durations, allowing teams to assign work to specific individuals and maintain accountability throughout the construction schedule.
• Task dependency mapping: Task dependencies define the logical order of construction activities, preventing crews, materials and inspections from overlapping incorrectly while reducing delays, rework and idle time.
• Critical path analysis: The critical path of a construction project identifies the longest sequence of dependent tasks, highlighting activities that directly affect completion dates so teams can prioritize resources and avoid schedule slippage.
• Work breakdown structure: A work breakdown structure organizes construction scope into manageable deliverables and tasks, improving estimating, sequencing and accountability while ensuring nothing critical is overlooked.
• Project variance tracking: By comparing planned versus actual dates, durations and costs, variance tracking exposes schedule issues early and helps teams adjust sequencing before delays escalate.
• Project progress tracking: Accurate progress tracking reflects real completion levels across activities, supporting reliable schedule updates, realistic forecasting and smoother coordination between trades.
• Collaboration & permissions: Defined roles and permissions keep schedule updates controlled and traceable, allowing multiple stakeholders to collaborate safely without compromising data integrity.
• Resource management tools: Resource management tools allocate labor, materials and equipment effectively while monitoring utilization and availability throughout project execution.
• Project planning & scheduling tools: Construction scheduling software should support planning tools such as Gantt charts, kanban boards, punch lists and project calendars.
• Project tracking tools: Project tracking tools like real-time dashboards help monitor team performance and ensure task due dates are consistently met.
• Project reporting tools: Reporting features provide regular project status updates, keeping stakeholders informed and supporting timely decision-making.
• Cost management tools: Cost management features such as timesheets, dashboards and budget baselines help track expenses and control construction project costs.
• Cost & schedule integration: When costs are tied directly to scheduled activities, teams can understand how timing changes affect budgets, cash flow and overall financial performance.
• Mobile app: Choose a construction scheduling program with a mobile app so crews can update tasks and log hours directly from the construction site.

2026 Best Construction Scheduling Software Rankings

Many products on the market sell themselves as the go-to construction scheduling tool for the construction project manager. But how do they measure up to the task?

We’ve thoroughly reviewed different types of construction scheduling tools, including:

• Construction job scheduling software
• Construction employee scheduling software
• Construction resource scheduling software
• Contractor scheduling software
• Commercial construction scheduling software
• Residential construction scheduling software

1. ProjectManager

ProjectManager is online project management software that can be used anywhere and by anyone. Of course, this is a benefit to construction scheduling, where work occurs on-site and among multiple teams.

Beyond that, the suite of tools featured offers a means to control every aspect of the construction planning, from organizing tasks, costs and resources to linking dependent tasks and setting milestones to break the larger project schedule up into more manageable bits. That’s in addition to the larger construction project management of construction project planning, construction vendor management, construction cost management and more. Plus, unlike some other online construction scheduling software options on this list, ProjectManager offers a free 30-day trial to try it out for yourself.

Schedule With Gantt Charts

For example, ProjectManager has an online Gantt chart tool that’s a visual timeline of the project, with tasks represented by a start date and end date. The duration of the task is indicated by a line, which can be easily edited by simply dragging and dropping when and if there’s a schedule change.

Use the online Gantt chart to assign tasks to individuals on the team, identify task dependencies and track the critical path tasks of your projects. They can then collaborate at the task level, leaving comments and adding relevant documents and images directly to the task. If any of those tasks are dependent on another being completed before they can begin, the construction project manager can link them, preventing bottlenecks and leaving your crew idle.

Track Your Resources

Another aspect of construction schedule software that is complex is resource management. Construction requires many different skill sets working together throughout the many phases of the project, and ProjectManager makes it easy to coordinate moving parts with resource scheduling features that chart availability, skillset, cost and allocation of the various workforce and materials. All of this occurs in real time, so the pieces come together as you need them.

Streamline Payroll

Once you’ve scheduled the work, you can track your crew and streamline the payment process with timesheets that track the hours your team works, whether in the office or on-site. Timesheets can be updated and submitted anywhere for easy review by managers, who can approve with a keystroke. Plus, all your files are uploaded online, where they can be accessed when needed.

Given all these amazing features at a low price point, it’s clear that ProjectManager is the heavyweight champ of construction project management software. Click here to start a 30-day free trial!

Pros and Cons of ProjectManager as a Construction Scheduling Software

ProjectManager Pricing

• Team: $14.00 user/month
• Business: $26.00 user/month
• Enterprise: contact sales for a custom quote

ProjectManager Reviews

• G2 review: 4.4 / 5
• Capterra review: 4.1 / 5

Highlighted User Reviews

• “ProjectManager works very well with both large and small-scale projects. Being able to use this with anything from a project involving only two members of staff, to hundreds, has been invaluable.” Peter W – from Capterra
• “We used to manage our projects, resources, and reporting in different systems. Enter ProjectManager. We have consolidated systems and work more efficiently.” Jeffrey M – from Capterra
• “Having the full scope of activities and who is responsible to do it, plus the time tracking is excellent.” Flavio M – from G2
• “It has an excellent accounting system capable of calculating the time that a person has used to develop a task that was assigned to him, I like being able to collaborate with all my colleagues in the Finance sector through ProjectManager.” Jesus C – from G2
• “The UI of the application is user-friendly, and it helps to identify what we are looking for with minimal effort.” Pavan H – from G2

2. Procore

Procore is a comprehensive, cloud-based construction management platform that centralizes project controls, documentation, collaboration, field workflows, budgets, and scheduling. It’s widely used by medium and large general contractors to manage all phases of construction from pre-bid to close-out.

As a construction scheduling tool, Procore provides basic to intermediate scheduling features through Gantt charts, calendar views, and real-time updates. However, its scheduling capabilities are not as deep or specialized as dedicated schedulers — advanced CPM analysis, resource leveling, and rich variance tracking are limited or reliant on external imports (e.g., Microsoft Project, Primavera). Overall, it’s functional but not construction scheduler-grade.

Related: Best Procore Alternatives: Paid & Free Options Ranked

In general terms, Procore has a steep learning curve, a complex interface, and high cost. Users often find it better suited for larger firms than smaller contractors, and some core scheduling controls feel basic or under-developed.

We’ve also reviewed the best Procore alternatives in case you’d like to learn more about Procore and software that offers similar construction project management features.

Pros and Cons of Procore as a Construction Scheduling Software

Procore Pricing

• Contact sales for a custom quote

Procore Reviews

• G2 review: 4.6 / 5
• Capterra review: 4.5 / 5

Highlighted User Reviews

• “Procore is the king of remote working especially for administrative tasks.” Andy G – from Capterra
• “User friendly and easy to navigate with little to no training.” Sienna W – from Capterra
• “I enjoy the Procore Learning Center, which helps me when I am unsure of how to start or edit a task in Procore.” Olivia E – from G2
• “We use Procore daily and it makes management of a project so much easier.” Lise B – from G2

3. BuilderTrend

BuilderTrend is a cloud-based construction project management platform for home builders, remodelers, and specialty contractors. It combines scheduling, financials, client communication, daily logs, and project documentation to streamline planning and execution from bid to close-out.

Related: Best Buildertrend Alternatives: Free & Paid Options Ranked

As a construction scheduling tool, Buildertrend delivers basic to intermediate schedule management with linkable task dependencies, critical path visualization, templates, and multi-view (Gantt/Calendar) functions. However, it lacks many advanced scheduling capabilities like full dependency types, deep variance analytics, multi-project resource visibility, and robust baseline/actual comparisons, all of which which are important for most construction firms.

Users frequently report Buildertrend’s scheduling and interface can be complex, unintuitive, and hard to learn, with repetitive manual input required for schedules and tasks. It’s often expensive for smaller contractors, and subcontractor engagement can be limited by account access barriers

Pros and Cons of Buildertrend as a Construction Scheduling Software

BuilderTrend Pricing

• Contact sales for a custom quote

BuilderTrend Reviews

• G2 review: 4.2 / 5
• Capterra review: 4.5 / 5

Highlighted User Reviews

• “Buildertrend has been a very helpful solution for our construction business.” Janelle B – from Capterra
• “Very easy to keep track of various different elements throughout construction.” Brandi G – from Capterra
• “I love that Buildertrend is a one stop shop for everything building related.” Paige M – from G2
• “What I love most about Buildertrend is how user-friendly it is.” Antonio C – from G2

4. CoConstruct

CoConstruct is a cloud-based construction project management platform built primarily for custom home builders and remodelers. It combines estimating, budgeting, scheduling, selections, client communication, and basic field tools to help residential teams plan and manage projects from pre-construction through completion.

As a construction scheduling software, CoConstruct provides basic scheduling functionality suitable for residential projects with straightforward timelines and few dependencies among tasks. It offers Gantt-style schedules and task sequencing but it lacks advanced CPM logic, baselines, variance analysis, resource scheduling depth, and multi-project portfolio-level scheduling capabilities.

Common user feedback highlights a dated interface, limited flexibility, and a learning curve for new users. CoConstruct is often described as expensive for its feature depth, better suited to small residential builders, and not ideal for complex or large-scale construction projects.

Pros & Cons of CoConstruct as a Construction Scheduling Software

CoConstruct Pricing

• Contact sales for a custom quote

CoConstruct Reviews

• G2 review: 4 / 5
• Capterra review: 4.7 / 5

Highlighted User Reviews

• “I’ve truly been impressed with CoConstruct’s customer service, webinar, and coaching availability.” Sam G – from Capterra
• “I like that, once all of your templates, specs, and trade partners are populated, it is very easy to build professional looking proposals.” Becky S – from Capterra
• “Estimating and job tracking features all in one place.” Brandee V – from G2
• “The clients can see precisely what we intend to build and the materials we will utilize.” Jorge P – from G2

5. Workyard

Workyard is a construction workforce management platform focused on scheduling crews, tracking labor hours via GPS, and capturing job cost data. It’s used by contractors to assign work, oversee crew locations in real time, and connect field time and cost information back to the office.

As a construction scheduling software, Workyard provides very basic scheduling tools focused on crew assignment and workforce dispatch. It lacks formal CPM logic, advanced task dependencies, true Gantt visualization, baselines, and portfolio scheduling capabilities required for managing construction projects. Scheduling is limited to field crew planning and simple calendar views rather than professional project schedule development.

So, in conclusion, Workyard is primarily a workforce management/time tracking tool, not a full project scheduler. Users note GPS glitches and occasional accuracy issues, limited feature depth beyond labor tracking, and that scheduling functions focus on crew dispatch rather than detailed construction planning.

Pros and Cons of Workyard as a Construction Scheduling Software

Workyard Pricing

• Starter: $6.00 user/month (plus $50.00 company base fee)
• Pro: $13.00 user/month (plus $50.00 company base fee)
• Enterprise: contact sales for a custom quote

Workyard Reviews

• G2 review: 2.5 / 5
• Capterra review: 4.8 / 5

Highlighted User Reviews

• “My experience has been fine although I wish it was a bit more hands off.” Patrick D – from Capterra
• “We have loved getting onto digital timecards, and have found the direct export from Workyard to our payroll company to greatly reduce payroll errors and delays.” Sam D – from Capterra
• “GPS tracking, Geotag and Timesheet, Very basic and easy to use.” Isaac K – from G2
• “Helpful… very helpful and user-friendly” Ankita B – from G2

6. Contractor Foreman

Contractor Foreman is a cloud-based construction management platform aimed at small to mid-sized contractors. It combines scheduling, estimating, job costing, time tracking, documents, and communication tools into an all-in-one system designed to replace spreadsheets and disconnected apps.

As a construction scheduling software, Contractor Foreman delivers basic to lower-intermediate scheduling capabilities. It includes key features and tools such as Gantt charts, task dependencies, milestones, and progress tracking, but lacks the depth expected in advanced CPM tools. Features like float visualization, robust baselines, advanced variance analysis, and portfolio-level scheduling are limited when evaluated against more robust construction project management software.

Common feedback highlights a busy, outdated interface, a noticeable learning curve, and performance slowdowns on larger projects. Users frequently mention that while affordable, Contractor Foreman can feel overwhelming, with many features but limited polish, making it better suited for smaller contractors than complex projects.

Construction Foreman Pros and Cons as a Construction Scheduling Software

Contractor Foreman Pricing

• Basic: $49.00 user/month
• Standard: $105.00 per month, per 3 users
• Plus: $166.00 per month, per 8 users
• Pro: $221.00 per month, per 15 users
• Unlimited: $332.00 per month, unlimited users

Contractor Foreman Reviews

• G2 review: 4.5 / 5
• Capterra review: 4.5 / 5

Highlighted User Reviews

• “I like the interface, the ability to customize and integrate” Jessi J – from Capterra
• “My experience has been very positive. I appreciate the live chat function that is available during business hours.” Rafael V – from Capterra
• “It has made it possible to organize all processes efficiently, and the information is always up-to-date and verified.” Loyda V – from G2
• “I enjoy that it can house everything I need for my projects and has a client portal.” Kristin B – from G2

7. Trimble Unity Construct (formerly e-Builder)

Trimble Unity Construct is a cloud-based construction project management platform focused on cost control, contract management, forecasting, and project financials. It’s commonly used by contractors to manage budgets, commitments, change orders, and commercial performance across construction projects.

As a construction scheduling software, Trimble Unity Construct is not a scheduling-first tool. It excels in commercial and cost management but relies on external scheduling systems for CPM planning. When measured against the ideal construction scheduling software feature set, it lacks native CPM logic, Gantt-based schedule modeling, baselines, task dependencies, and resource-driven scheduling, positioning it as a financial companion rather than a scheduling engine.

User feedback often highlights high cost, complex configuration, and a steep learning curve. Trimble Unity Construct is best suited for large contractors with formal project controls teams. Smaller firms frequently find it overkill, especially when advanced scheduling still requires separate, specialized tools.

Trimble Unity Construct (e-builder) Pros and Cons as a Construction Scheduling Software

Trimble Unity Construct Pricing

• Contact sales for a custom quote

Trimble Unity Construct Reviews

• G2 review: 3.7 / 5
• Capterra review: 4.3 / 5

Highlighted User Reviews

• “Very good auditing tool that can help score performance on internal staff and outside consultants or contractors.” Guiseppe S – from Capterra
• “As a Construction manager, I have visibility over key metrics to support project management.” Bryan H – from Capterra
• “It helps keep all the projects very organized and you can run reports by numerous subjects , people or projects.” Alesa R – from G2
• “This software covers all the bases from documentation to project closeout as needed for a construction project.” Yash C – from G2

8. Smartsheet

Smartsheet is a cloud-based work management platform used across industries to plan projects, track tasks, collaborate with teams, and report progress. It’s spreadsheet-inspired and commonly used for general project management, operations tracking, and portfolio reporting rather than construction-specific scheduling.

As a construction scheduling software, Smartsheet offers intermediate, spreadsheet-driven scheduling capabilities but falls short of professional construction scheduling standards. While it supports Gantt charts, dependencies, and baselines, it lacks true CPM depth, float visualization, advanced resource scheduling, and construction-specific cost and variance analytics required by construction firms.

Users frequently cite a steep learning curve, performance slowdowns on large sheets, and complex licensing as drawbacks. Smartsheet can feel cumbersome for construction teams, requires heavy configuration to model schedules accurately, and is often considered expensive relative to its scheduling depth.

Smartsheet Pros and Cons as a Construction Scheduling Software

Smartsheet Pricing

• Pro: $9.00 user/month, billed annually
• Business: $19.00 user/month, billed annually
• Enterprise: contact sales for a custom quote
• Advanced Work Management: contact sales for a custom quote

Smartsheet Reviews

• G2 review: 4.4/5
• Capterra review: 4.5/5

Highlighted User Reviews

• “Smartsheet is a great platform for data visualization and project management.” Pathan I – from Capterra
• “Good for tracking projects but takes some time to learn all of the features.” Marissa P – from Capterra
• “Automation can save hours of time by automatically sending emails and reminders to ensure we meet our deadlines.” Amy S – from G2
• “Easily allows a shareable document that concurrent users can view and make live changes to.” Steven K – from G2

9. Jobber

Jobber is a field service management platform designed for small to mid-sized service and maintenance businesses. It centralizes client communication, quoting, invoicing, scheduling, and basic work planning to streamline operations, bookings, and customer interactions.

As a construction scheduling tool, Jobber is not designed for advanced schedule planning and lacks many features required by construction project managers or construction schedulers. Its schedule module focuses on calendar views and appointment management rather than Gantt charts, critical path analysis, baselines, or resource-heavy scheduling. While decent for simple job assignments, it falls short for complex project schedules.

Jobber’s scheduling is simple and appointment oriented, not project planning focused. Users commonly report limited advanced features, clunky interface for larger teams, and scaling issues as businesses grow. It’s best suited for service work scheduling, not construction CPM or resource-heavy scheduling.

Jobber Pros and Cons as a Construction Scheduling Software

Jobber Pricing

• Core: $29.00 user/month, billed annually
• Connect: $89.00 user/month, billed annually
• Grow: $149.00 user/month, billed annually

Jobber Reviews

• G2 review: 4.5 / 5
• Capterra review: 4.5 / 5

Highlighted User Reviews

• “I like it better than other CRMs because I do everything on my phone really.” Nick G – from Capterra
• “It is fine for doing exactly what the designers of the software want it to do. It’s simple to use.” Heather K – from Capterra
• “I use Jobber everyday, to keep my scheduled route the most efficient and to know where my crew will be.” Kristi S – from G2
• “It helps me keep track of client requests, send out quotes that get approved quickly, and invoice clients easily.” Eliseo M – from G2

10. B2W Software

B2W Software is an enterprise construction operations platform focused on heavy civil contractors. It specializes in estimating, field tracking, equipment management, and production reporting, helping large infrastructure and civil construction firms manage costs, crews, and operational performance across complex projects.

As a construction scheduling software, B2W is not designed as a primary scheduling tool when measured against the project scheduling features offered by most construction project management solutions. While it supports production planning and operational forecasting, it lacks CPM logic, Gantt-based schedule modeling, baselines, advanced dependencies, and portfolio-level schedule analysis expected from professional construction scheduling platforms.

Common feedback highlights that B2W has a steep learning curve, complex configuration, and enterprise-level pricing. The interface can feel dated, and the platform is best suited for large heavy civil contractors, making it impractical for smaller firms or scheduling-centric construction teams.

B2W Software Pros and Cons as a Construction Scheduling Software

B2W Pricing

• Contact sales for a custom quote

B2W Reviews

• G2 review: 4.5 / 5
• Capterra review: 4.5 / 5

Highlighted User Reviews

• “I like that the software is very user-friendly and pretty straightforward.” Diana G – from Capterra
• “Overall it’s a legacy software that new competitors will likely overtake unless Trimble (who just purchased B2W) brings it into modern times with competitive pricing.” Shane A – from Capterra
• “I was using this software to bid on projects & estimate the labor hours as well as calculate the quantities.” Vinesh S – from G2
• “B2W is great, and has saved us time and allowed us to bid more projects, thus making more money each year.” Joe P – from Capterra

11. eSUB

eSUB is a cloud-based construction management platform built specifically for specialty subcontractors. It focuses on field reporting, document control, RFIs, submittals, labor tracking, and project communication to help subs manage daily operations and contractual documentation.

As a construction scheduling software, eSUB is operational and documentation-focused, not schedule-driven. It supports task coordination and field reporting but does not provide CPM logic, Gantt-based scheduling, baselines, or advanced dependencies. Considering this, eSUB functions as a complementary field tool rather than a system for creating or controlling construction schedules.

Common feedback highlights a learning curve, dated interface elements, and limited customization. Users often note that eSUB excels at documentation and field reporting but lacks planning depth. It’s best suited for subcontractors, not teams needing robust scheduling or CPM analysis.

eSUB Pros and Cons as a Construction Scheduling Software

eSUB Pricing

• Contact sales for a custom quote

eSUB Reviews

• G2 review: 4.1 / 5
• Capterra review: 4.4 / 5

Highlighted User Reviews

• “I like eSUB for keeping track of time and progress on the job.” Patrick D – from Capterra
• “Very positive. The support team is excellent. I have only had a few issues, but they have been addressed swiftly every time.” Ron M – from Capterra
• “One platform for daily reports, field notes, RFI’s, Submittals, PO’s, CO’s & reports for tracking productivity is why we have been impressed with this software.” Tom H – from G2
• “There are multiple tabs where I can visit different areas of the project to keep track of progress and how the daily activities are going.” Robert B – from G2

12. Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC)

Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC) is a cloud-based construction management platform that connects design, coordination, document management, field execution, and cost controls. It’s widely used by general contractors, owners, and design teams to manage construction data across the project lifecycle.

As a construction scheduling software, Autodesk Construction Cloud provides limited, coordination-focused scheduling rather than a full scheduling engine. ACC relies on integrations and model-based coordination due to its lack of native CPM scheduling tools. So, while Autodesk Construction Cloud is a feature rich software for the larger construction management process, it lacks advanced CPM logic, baselines, deep Gantt functionality, and resource-driven scheduling, making it complementary—not a replacement—for dedicated scheduling tools.

Users frequently cite a steep learning curve, complex navigation, and high cost as drawbacks. Autodesk Construction Cloud is powerful but heavy, best suited for large organizations. Smaller teams often find it overwhelming, and scheduling gaps require external tools like Primavera or Microsoft Project.

Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC) Pros and Cons as a Construction Scheduling Software

Autodesk Construction Cloud Pricing

• Contact sales for a custom quote

Autodesk Reviews

• G2 review: 4.4 / 5
• Capterra review: 4.3 / 5

Highlighted User Reviews

• “Great. The app is extremely intuitive so the learning curve is reduced and simple. Just looks more complicated than it really is.” Mathew H – from Capterra
• “Overall it was okay. The implementation team (3rd party vendor who sold the bundle to us) could have been better, but the product itself was overall good.” David S – from Capterra
• “I find the submittals section very helpful and intuitive when sending in shop drawings.” Carl T – from G2
• “ACC has been phenomenal for working remotely. It’s also been great for sharing content with external partners.” Jeff B – from G2

13. Buildxact

Buildxact is a cloud-based construction management platform designed for small to mid-sized residential builders and contractors. It focuses on estimating, takeoffs, job costing, scheduling, and supplier integration to help builders manage projects from estimating through construction delivery.

As a construction scheduling software, Buildxact provides basic scheduling functionality primarily intended to support residential build timelines. It offers simple Gantt-style schedules and task sequencing, but lacks the advanced CPM logic, baselines, variance tracking, resource scheduling depth, and portfolio-level visibility that project managers need in the construction industry. It is suitable for making simple project schedules, but not for complex construction planning and monitoring.

User feedback frequently mentions a learning curve, limited customization, and basic scheduling depth. Buildxact is often described as best suited for smaller residential builders, with fewer advanced features for complex projects. Pricing can feel high relative to its scheduling capabilities as teams scale.

Buildxact Pros and Cons as a Construction Scheduling Software

Buildxact Pricing

• Foundation: $199.00/month, unlimited users
• Pro: $399.00/month, unlimited users
• Master: $599.00/month, unlimited users

Buildxact Reviews

• G2 review: 4.4 / 5
• Capterra review: 4.6 / 5

Highlighted User Reviews

• “Buidxact has sped up our estimating and the templates we’ve created have made us a lot more efficient.” Shane W – from Capterra
• “I quite like the program but the reporting is very lacking so we rely heavily on XERO to do this part.” Emma L – from Capterra
• “Quoting and take offs are easy, even changing a quote when a client decides to add or change an item.” John K – from G2
• “Buildxact is easy to use and set up.” Andrew W – from Capterra

14. InEight

InEight is an enterprise construction project controls platform used mainly by large contractors and infrastructure owners. It focuses on capital planning, cost management, estimating, scheduling integration, risk, and performance controls for complex, large-scale construction programs.

As a construction scheduling software, InEight is controls-centric rather than scheduling-centric. It integrates schedules for forecasting, risk, and performance analysis, but does not function as a standalone CPM scheduling engine. While it has a feature set that works for its specific construction niche, InEight lacks native advanced Gantt modeling, full CPM authoring, deep task logic management, and hands-on schedule creation workflows expected by professional schedulers.

Common feedback highlights high cost, long implementation cycles, and a steep learning curve. InEight is built for large enterprises, not average contractors, and can feel complex and heavy. Smaller teams often find it overkill, especially if scheduling is their primary need.

InEight Pros and Cons as a Construction Scheduling Software

InEight Pricing

• Contact sales for a custom quote

InEight Reviews

• G2 review: 4.3 / 5
• Capterra review: 4.4 / 5

Highlighted User Reviews

• “The software works great for large complicated projects.” Chad O – from Capterra
• “One source of truth for a large scale project instead of multiple side lists/sheets/data that need to be compiled together.” Deniel A – from Capterra
• “InEight brings everything the site team needs, it has all kinds of different modules that are suited to all stages of the project.” Abdallah A – from G2
• “Powerful tool for cost estimating projects.” Kyle H – from Capterra

15. BuildBook

Buildbook is a cloud-based construction management platform designed for custom home builders and remodelers. It focuses on client communication, project updates, scheduling, selections, and document sharing to keep homeowners and builders aligned throughout residential construction projects.

As a construction scheduling software, BuildBook offers very basic scheduling capabilities focused on client-facing timelines rather than professional project schedule management. While it provides simple task lists and timeline views, it lacks CPM logic, advanced dependencies, baselines, variance tracking, resource scheduling, and portfolio-level scheduling required by larger construction companies.

User feedback often notes that BuildBook is too basic for serious project management, with limited customization and scheduling depth. It’s best suited for small residential builders, not complex projects, and lacks advanced controls needed as companies scale or manage multiple concurrent builds.

Buildbook Pros and Cons as a Construction Scheduling Software

BuildBook Pricing

• Contact sales for a custom quote

BuildBook Reviews

• G2 review: Not available
• Capterra review: 4.5 / 5

Highlighted User Reviews

• “I do believe they will work the issues and help to create a product that is in tune with the current market needs.” Chris K – from Capterra
• “Overall very positive experience. Very friendly, responsive, and knowledgeable staff.” Tim B – from Capterra
• “The user experience is clean, simple and easy to navigate.” Serena K – from Capterra
• “With Buildbook we have everything we need within reach in the office or on location.” Delaney H – from Capterra

16. Fieldwire

Fieldwire is a construction field management platform used primarily for task coordination, plan viewing, inspections, and punch lists. It’s designed to help field teams collaborate around drawings, issues, and daily work execution rather than manage full project schedules.

As a construction scheduling software, Fieldwire is not a true scheduling tool. It supports task assignment and due dates but lacks CPM logic, Gantt charts, baselines, dependency management, and schedule analytics. Scheduling in Fieldwire is task-centric and operational, not a system for building or managing construction schedules.

Users frequently note that Fieldwire is task-focused rather than schedule-focused, with limited planning depth. It’s often described as excellent for field coordination but insufficient for project planning. Advanced scheduling requires external tools, making Fieldwire better as a complement than a standalone solution.

Fieldwire Pros and Cons as a Construction Scheduling Software

Fieldwire Pricing

• Basic: $0.00 user/month, billed annually
• Pro: $39.00 user/month, billed annually
• Business: $64.00 user/month, billed annually
• Business Plus: $89.00 user/month, billed annually

Fieldwire Reviews

• G2 review: 4.5 / 5
• Capterra review: 4.6 / 5

Highlighted User Reviews

• “Overall I’ve been very satisfied with using Fieldwire as a field report and punch list tool.” Patrick B – from Capterra
• “Information at our fingertips is essential, and Fieldwire readily enables us to access information easily and quickly on the job site, be it from a laptop, iPad, or smart phone.” Corey K – from Capterra
• “Exporting and sharing plans with others is super easy and means you’ll never need a file sharing service to send plans.” Mike P – from G2
• “We are able to keep track of progress, materials and scheduling easily.” Shannen H – from G2

17. Microsoft Project

Microsoft Project is a professional project management and scheduling tool used to build detailed project schedules, manage tasks, resources, and costs, and apply CPM-based planning. It’s widely used across industries, including construction, for schedule-driven project control.

Related: 20 Best Microsoft Project Alternatives: Free and Paid Options

As a construction scheduling software, Microsoft Project is strong in traditional CPM scheduling but limited by its general-purpose design. It supports dependencies, baselines, progress tracking, and resource management, yet lacks construction-specific workflows, field integration, and portfolio-scale controls found in enterprise scheduling tools. Against the ideal feature set, it’s powerful but dated and siloed.

Common feedback highlights a steep learning curve, dated interface, and reliance on desktop workflows. Microsoft Project can feel rigid, expensive, and disconnected from field teams. Many users report it’s powerful but difficult to use without formal training, especially for construction-specific workflows.

Microsoft Project Pros and Cons as a Construction Scheduling Software

Microsoft Project Pricing

• Project Standard 2024: $679.99, one-time license purchase
• Project Professional 2024: $1,129.99, one-time license purchase

Microsoft Project Reviews

• G2 review: 4/5
• Capterra review: 4.4/5

Highlighted User Reviews

• “It’s a powerful tool for managing complex projects, offering detailed features like task scheduling, resource allocation, and progress tracking.” Mazhar A – from Capterra
• “The quality of MS Project output is often sufficient for the requirement of most projects.” Paul B – from Capterra
• “I love the automatically generated gantt charts and the timeline feature.” Eric B – from G2
• “It is easy to set up a project plan using templates provided in MS Project.” Alex N – from G2

18. Primavera P6

Primavera P6 is an enterprise-grade project scheduling and portfolio management tool widely used in construction, engineering, and infrastructure. It’s designed for CPM-driven planning, complex schedule modeling, and large-scale, multi-project program control.

As a construction scheduling software, Primavera P6 is one of the strongest benchmarks against the ideal construction scheduling software feature set, which can explain its expensive price tag. It excels in CPM logic, dependencies, baselines, and portfolio scheduling. However, its strengths come with trade-offs: high complexity, weak usability, limited field integration, and heavy reliance on trained schedulers, making it overkill for many teams.

Users frequently cite Primavera P6 as difficult to use, expensive, and overly complex. The interface feels outdated, training requirements are high, and productivity suffers without dedicated schedulers. It’s best suited for large infrastructure projects, not average construction teams or fast-moving environments.

Primavera P6 Pros and Cons as a Construction Scheduling Software

Primavera Pricing

The pricing for Primavera products in this blog comes from the Oracle Primavera Global Price List.

• Primavera P6 Enterprise Project Portfolio Management: $2,750.00 license price, plus an additional $605.00 fee for software update license & support
• Primavera P6 Progress Reporter: $950.00 license price, plus an additional $209.00 fee for software update license & support
• Primavera P6 Professional Project Management: approx. $2,500.00 license price, plus an additional $550.00 fee for software update license & support

Primavera Reviews

• G2 review: 4.4/5
• Capterra review: 4.4/5

Highlighted User Reviews

• “The schedule is very easy to observe. Easy to operate. I use it frequently.” Srinidhi S – from G2
• “I call it the best Project control and scheduling app for construction projects.” Amirshahab S – from Capterra
• “Comprehensive set of tools for managing projects, from planning and scheduling to execution and monitoring.” Muzammil H – from G2
• “Oracle PrimaveraCloud provides a comprehensive project management solution for projects of any size and complexity.” Coraly C – from Capterra

19. Microsoft Planner

Microsoft Planner is a lightweight task management tool included with Microsoft 365. It’s primarily used for team task tracking, to-do lists, and simple work planning using boards, buckets, and due dates rather than formal project schedules.

As a construction scheduling software, Microsoft Planner is far below professional scheduling standards. It lacks CPM logic, Gantt charts, baselines, dependencies, and resource scheduling. When it comes to planning and scheduling construction projects, Planner functions only as a task list and collaboration aid, not a tool for building, analyzing, or managing construction schedules.

Users consistently describe Microsoft Planner as too simplistic for project management, with limited customization and reporting. It doesn’t scale beyond small teams, lacks planning depth, and quickly becomes restrictive. Many teams outgrow it and must migrate to more capable scheduling tools.

Microsoft Planner Pros and Cons as a Construction Scheduling Software

Microsoft Planner Pricing

Before diving into the pricing plans available for Microsoft Planner, it’s important to understand there are two main versions of this software, Microsoft Planner Basic and Microsoft Planner Premium.

Microsoft Planner Basic Pricing Plans

The version included in most Microsoft 365 subscriptions. Good for lightweight task management. Starts from $6 to $22 per user per month, billed annually. Price varies depending on the Microsoft 365 subscription.

• Microsoft 365 Business Basic: $6.00/user/month, billed annually
• Microsoft 365 Business Standard: $12.50/user/month, billed annually
• Microsoft 365 Business Premium: $22.00/user/month, billed annually
• Microsoft 365 Apps for Business: $8.25/user/month, billed annually

Microsoft Planner Premium Pricing Plans

The next level up, for users or teams needing more advanced project management features.

• Planner Plan 1: $10.00/user/month, billed annually
• Planner and Project Plan 3: $30.00/user/month, billed annually
• Planner and Project Plan 5: $55.00/user/month, billed annually

For more detailed information about each of these Microsoft Planner plans and the features that are available for each pricing tier, visit our Microsoft Planner blog.

Microsoft Planner Reviews

• G2 review: 4.2/5
• Capterra review: 4.3/5

Highlighted User Reviews

• “Overall, my experience with Microsoft Planner has been very positive, as it has helped my team share tasks and establish procedures to follow.” Alvaro G – from G2
• ”User Interface and its simplicity to manage tasks and allocate to agents.” Hitesh A. – from G2
• “Microsoft Planner is great because it’s part of the Microsoft 365 family. It works really well with other Microsoft apps like Teams and Outlook, making it easy to use.” Anand G – from Capterra
• ”Easy to use and setup. I can easily assign tasks, and it’s very cost effective. Does everything that I need for my planning.” Haley B. – from Capterra

20. Wrike

Wrike is a cloud-based work management and collaboration platform used across industries to plan projects, manage tasks, track progress, and report on work. It’s commonly adopted by marketing, operations, and professional services teams rather than construction schedulers.

As a construction scheduling software, Wrike offers general-purpose project scheduling, not construction-grade scheduling. While it includes Gantt charts, dependencies, and baselines, it lacks CPM rigor, float visualization, advanced resource scheduling, and construction-specific cost integration. So based on this assessment of construction project scheduling tools and features, it can be concluded that Wrike works for light planning but not for complex, schedule-driven construction projects.

Users frequently mention complex configuration, notification overload, and pricing that scales quickly. Wrike can feel cluttered, requires significant setup to model schedules properly, and isn’t intuitive for field teams. It’s often seen as better for office-based work than construction execution.

Wrike Pros and Cons as a Construction Scheduling Software

Wrike Pricing

• Free: $0 user/month
• Team: $10.00 user/month
• Business: $25.00 user/month
• Enterprise: contact sales for a custom quote
• Pinnacle: contact sales for a custom quote

Wrike Reviews

• G2 review: 4.2/5
• Capterra review: 4.4/5

Highlighted User Reviews

• “Wrike has become essential in my day and keeps me organized and on top of my tasks.” Paige T – from G2
• ”Wrike is a user-friendly tool, for the end-users it is easy-to-use with a simple user interface, users need relatively little time to start using the tool. The tool is also easy to set up.” Sabrina C. – from G2
• “Productivity has been enhanced by removing essential but repetitive chores.” Denise S – from G2
• ”It has improved the overall completion of our time critical tasks, works well with collaboration and has no reliability issues.” Christian S. – from Capterra

How to Choose the Right Construction Scheduling Software

Choosing the right construction scheduling software is a subjective decision. There’s no single best tool for everyone. To make the right choice, start by assessing your organization’s real project scheduling needs before comparing features or vendors. Asking the right questions upfront helps you avoid over- or under-buying software.

In terms of construction scheduling tools and features, you should consider the following to make an informed decision:

• How complex your construction schedules are (basic timelines vs. CPM-based scheduling)
• Whether you require full task dependency logic and critical path analysis
• How important baselines and variance tracking are to your controls
• If you need to manage schedules at a portfolio or program level
• Whether schedules must integrate with cost data and budgets
• How frequently schedules are updated and by whom
• If field teams need mobile access to update progress
• What level of reporting, permissions and audit trail is required
• Whether interoperability with tools like MS Project or Primavera matters

Once you’ve determined what your construction scheduling needs are, it’s also important to consider how the construction scheduling software fits the needs of your team. To determine this, you can ask yourself the following questions:

• How easy the software is to learn and use for both planners and field teams
• Whether the pricing model aligns with your budget, team size and project volume
• If the interface supports efficient day-to-day scheduling without unnecessary complexity
• How responsive and reliable vendor support, onboarding and documentation are
• Whether the platform can scale as your projects, users or scheduling maturity grow

What Are the Main Benefits of Using Construction Scheduling Software?

You can use analog methods, tools and techniques like PERT charts or network diagrams to make a construction project schedule, but there are many reasons why using scheduling software for construction is a much better choice.

Facilitates Project Schedule Management

Online Gantt charts, project calendars and kanban boards can greatly facilitate schedule management tasks such as estimating the total duration of projects and identifying critical path activities and task dependencies. These can double as tracking features, which can monitor the status of your construction project schedule in real time.

More Accurate Time Tracking and Labor Costs Estimates

Construction scheduling software features such as timesheets and workload management charts allow you to assign tasks to team members and monitor work hours, so you can balance workload, track labor costs and process payroll.

Track Construction Site Activities and Collaborate Online

Online construction software and mobile apps simplify communication and record-keeping. Collaborate in real time, send photos and share files on one platform. This is the ideal way to connect job sites with the construction project management office.

FAQs About Construction Scheduling Software

Choosing software for scheduling your construction projects is an important decision, which is why we’ve gathered some of the most frequently asked questions about construction scheduling software and related topics.

What Is the Best Construction Scheduling Software?

ProjectManager is the best construction scheduling software due to its advanced project management tools and features. Additionally, ProjectManager is an online platform with top-notch team collaboration features such as unlimited file storage, instant messaging and real-time project tracking to help connect teams in the construction site.

How Much Does Construction Scheduling Software Cost?

Construction scheduling software pricing varies widely depending on functionality, scale and target users. Entry-level tools bundled with productivity suites or focused on task tracking may be free or cost under $20 per user per month. Mid-range platforms with Gantt charts, collaboration and basic scheduling typically range from $30 to $300 per month. Advanced construction scheduling software with CPM, portfolio management and enterprise controls is usually priced through custom quotes, often costing thousands annually depending on project volume, users and modules.

How Does Construction Scheduling Software Work?

Construction scheduling software works by organizing project activities into a structured timeline that shows task sequences, durations and dependencies. Teams create schedules using Gantt charts, calendars or task lists, then assign labor, equipment and costs to each activity. As work progresses, updates from the field adjust timelines in real time. More advanced tools calculate critical paths, track variances against baselines and provide dashboards so managers can forecast delays, coordinate trades and keep stakeholders aligned.

How long does it take to Implement Construction Scheduling Software?

Implementation time depends on the complexity of the software and the organization. Simple, task-based tools can be set up in a few hours or days with minimal training. Mid-range construction scheduling software usually takes one to four weeks to configure workflows, import data and onboard users. Enterprise platforms with CPM, portfolio scheduling and integrations may require several months, including training, data migration and process alignment across multiple projects and teams.

Is There Any Free Construction Scheduling Software?

Yes. While most of the best scheduling software for construction in this list is paid, you can still find some free alternatives. For example, you might find construction scheduling programs with free plans at the expense of limited functionality, or you can also use the free trial period to evaluate various solutions for free.

What Are the Types of Construction Scheduling Software?

As stated above, there are many construction scheduling tools with unique features and functionality, which are determined by their target audience. The most popular types of construction software are contractor scheduling, job scheduling, commercial and residential.

What Is Contractor Scheduling Software?

Contractor scheduling software offers features that are specifically tailored to help contractors manage their operations. For example, it can help them communicate with their clients, manage construction documentation, generate invoices, estimate project costs, log daily activity at the job site and more.

What Is Commercial Construction Scheduling Software?

Commercial projects are large, complex and expensive. Ideally, commercial construction scheduling software should offer project planning, resource scheduling, and cost-tracking features.

Because of their scale, commercial projects require a lot of resources which means the schedule must be accurate or else the project cost will increase dramatically. If there’s a discrepancy between your project schedule and the actual project completion timeline, you’ll need to assume many additional, unexpected construction costs. If you’re managing a commercial construction project, you’re going to want the most advanced scheduling and tracking features available to keep on time and budget.

What Is Residential Construction Scheduling Software?

Residential construction refers to any construction project that makes buildings for people to live in, such as building a brand new home, remodeling one or even making an apartment building of up to four floors, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

Residential projects have unique challenges that other projects don’t. For example, the project owner is the person who’ll be residing in the building, which makes them pay special attention to detail and have specific requirements, so you’ll need to constantly communicate with the project owner and keep him updated on progress.

Change requests are also common in residential projects, as owners can typically change their minds about aspects of the project, which may require additional planning, estimating and budgeting from the construction project manager. Residential construction scheduling software will have change management features to address these scenarios.

Related Construction Software Content

• Best Construction Software for Mac
• Best Construction Management Software for a Small Business
• Best Construction Software for Mac
• Best Construction Estimating Software
• Making a Construction Schedule: Construction Scheduling Basics
• 24 Construction Documents (Templates Included)
• The 5 Construction Phases (Templates Included)
• 10 Mejores Software de Programación de Construcción
• 10 Meilleurs logiciels de planification de la construction en 2025
• 11 Mejores Software de Programación de Construcción del 2025 (gratis y de pago)

Construction project management is a big field that requires robust and dynamic project management software to handle all its moving parts. ProjectManager is construction project management software that has the tools to plan, monitor and report on every phase of the project’s life cycle. It’s uniquely equipped for construction, with visual workflow features like its kanban boards and online Gantt charts that schedule and help teams collaborate. See for yourself by taking this free 30-day trial.Construction projects can be big, complex and often unruly, with regulatory issues, safety concerns, equipment rentals, multiple teams and more. If you want to keep a construction project on track and meet your deadlines, you want construction scheduling software that’s robust and dynamic.

The post 20 Best Construction Scheduling Software for 2026 (Free & Paid) appeared first on ProjectManager.

Entender cómo usar Microsoft Planner es clave para decidir si es la herramienta adecuada para tu equipo. Aunque es útil para listas de tareas básicas y una planificación ligera, no ofrece las funciones sólidas de gestión de proyectos que los equipos más grandes suelen necesitar. Por eso es importante evaluar si Planner puede cubrir tus necesidades a largo plazo o si requerirás una solución más avanzada.

ProjectManager, por ejemplo, es una potente alternativa a Microsoft Planner que ofrece todo lo que hace Planner y mucho más. Con diagramas de Gantt online, tableros kanban, paneles en tiempo real, gestión de la carga de trabajo y seguimiento de recursos, nuestro software te permite gestionar todas las fases de tu proyecto en una plataforma intuitiva. Pruébalo gratis hoy y descubre por qué es una mejor opción que Microsoft Planner.

¿Admite Microsoft Planner archivos de Microsoft Project (MPP)?

Aunque Microsoft Planner no admite archivos de Microsoft Project (MPP), ProjectManager permite abrirlos, editarlos y exportarlos directamente. Esta función convierte a ProjectManager en una mejor opción para los equipos que necesitan colaborar en archivos de Microsoft Project sin comprar licencias costosas. Con ProjectManager, puedes gestionar archivos MPP en la nube, compartirlos con tu equipo y mantener flujos de trabajo fluidos.

Esto permite a los usuarios compartir en línea de forma menos complicada que las soluciones alternativas que ofrece Microsoft. La integración de ProjectManager con Microsoft Planner también abre muchas funciones avanzadas de gestión de proyectos y portafolios que no están disponibles en Planner.

Por ejemplo, nuestro diagrama de Gantt es uno de los mejores en el mundo del software de gestión de proyectos. No solo vincula los cuatro tipos de dependencias para evitar sobrecostos, filtra la ruta crítica para identificar las tareas sin holgura, sino que también establece una línea base para rastrear la variación en tiempo real. También incluye control de versiones, automatización de flujos de trabajo, resúmenes con IA, hojas de tiempo seguras y mucho más. Comienza hoy con ProjectManager de forma gratuita.

Funciones de Microsoft Planner

Microsoft Planner es una herramienta de gestión de tareas incluida en Microsoft 365 que ayuda a los equipos a organizar el trabajo, asignar tareas y hacer seguimiento del progreso. La versión más reciente de Microsoft Planner amplía su funcionalidad básica con nuevas vistas e integraciones que brindan a los usuarios más flexibilidad en la forma en que gestionan proyectos. Para quienes se preguntan cómo usar Microsoft Planner, ofrece múltiples maneras de visualizar tareas y flujos de trabajo para que los equipos se mantengan en el calendario y alcancen sus objetivos con mayor eficiencia.

Aprender cómo usar Microsoft Planner comienza por entender sus diferentes vistas, cada una diseñada para ayudar a los equipos a organizar y supervisar tareas de maneras distintas. Desde cuadrículas simples hasta tableros visuales y gráficos, Microsoft Planner ofrece varias perspectivas para planificar, hacer seguimiento y completar el trabajo. La vista adecuada dependerá de cómo tu equipo prefiera gestionar tareas, fechas límite y recursos.
En esta sección, revisaremos las principales vistas disponibles en Microsoft Planner y explicaremos cómo cada una respalda la gestión de tareas y la colaboración.

Al saber cómo usar Microsoft Planner a través de las vistas de cuadrícula, tablero, calendario, gráficos, cronología, personas, objetivos y asignaciones, podrás adaptar la herramienta a tu flujo de trabajo y mejorar la productividad del equipo.

Relacionado: 10 mejores alternativas a Microsoft Planner en 2025 (gratis y de pago)

Vista de cuadrícula

La vista de cuadrícula en Microsoft Planner es donde puedes organizar tareas en un formato de tabla estructurado. Permite a los equipos revisar rápidamente nombres de tareas, fechas de vencimiento, prioridades y actualizaciones de estado en un solo lugar. Para cualquiera que esté aprendiendo cómo usar Microsoft Planner, la vista de cuadrícula ayuda a crear una lista de tareas clara que garantiza que no se pase por alto ningún trabajo.

Vista de tablero

La vista de tablero en Microsoft Planner utiliza un diseño de estilo kanban para mostrar las tareas en contenedores personalizables. Los equipos pueden arrastrar y soltar tareas entre columnas para seguir el progreso del flujo de trabajo. Al explorar cómo usar Microsoft Planner, esta vista es especialmente útil para equipos ágiles o para quienes prefieren una gestión visual de tareas para supervisar las etapas del trabajo.

Vista de calendario

La vista de calendario en Microsoft Planner muestra las tareas en un calendario para que los equipos puedan ver fechas límite y asignaciones en un formato basado en el tiempo. Es ideal para identificar rápidamente conflictos de programación o huecos. Quien busque cómo usar Microsoft Planner de manera eficaz encontrará que esta vista es útil para alinear el trabajo del proyecto con fechas clave y hitos.

Gráficos

La vista de gráficos en Microsoft Planner ofrece un resumen visual de alto nivel del progreso de las tareas, la distribución de la carga de trabajo y las fechas límite. Proporciona gráficos de pastel y de barras que simplifican el seguimiento del rendimiento. Para quienes se preguntan cómo usar Microsoft Planner, esta vista facilita la detección de cuellos de botella y ayuda a mantener equilibrado el trabajo entre los miembros del equipo.

Vista de cronología

La vista de cronología en Microsoft Planner se asemeja a un diagrama de Gantt ligero que muestra las tareas a lo largo de una línea de tiempo horizontal. Esto ayuda a los equipos a secuenciar tareas y visualizar dependencias. Entender cómo usar Microsoft Planner con la vista de cronología es esencial para una programación básica del proyecto y para mantener al equipo al tanto del flujo de trabajo.

Vista de personas

La vista de personas en Microsoft Planner muestra las asignaciones de tareas agrupadas por miembros del equipo. Ayuda a los responsables a comprender la carga de trabajo individual e identificar recursos sobreasignados. Los equipos que están aprendiendo cómo usar Microsoft Planner pueden utilizar esta vista para equilibrar mejor las responsabilidades y asegurarse de que ningún miembro del equipo esté sobrecargado de tareas.

Vista de objetivos

La vista de objetivos en Microsoft Planner permite a los equipos vincular tareas con objetivos más amplios, lo que ayuda a alinear el trabajo diario con los resultados generales del proyecto. Ofrece una visión clara de cómo el progreso de las tareas individuales contribuye a los objetivos de la organización. Para los equipos que buscan entender cómo usar Microsoft Planner, esta vista destaca el panorama general detrás de la finalización de tareas.

Vista de asignaciones

La vista de asignaciones en Microsoft Planner proporciona a cada miembro del equipo una lista personalizada de sus tareas en todos los planes. Centraliza las responsabilidades individuales, lo que facilita priorizar el trabajo. Al considerar cómo usar Microsoft Planner, esta vista es clave para los empleados que necesitan claridad sobre su carga de trabajo específica.

Nota: Las vistas en Microsoft Planner varían según la versión. Microsoft Planner Basic ofrece menos funciones, mientras que Microsoft Planner Premium incluye vistas e integraciones más avanzadas.

Relacionado: Microsoft Planner vs. Project: comparación detallada de software

¿Cómo usar Microsoft Planner?

Ahora que tenemos una mejor comprensión de las vistas en Microsoft Planner, veamos cómo usarlo.

1. Crear una lista de tareas con la vista de cuadrícula

La vista de cuadrícula en Microsoft Planner (especialmente en su versión más reciente) funciona como una hoja de cálculo interactiva. Permite introducir nombres de tareas, fechas de vencimiento, fechas de inicio, prioridades, porcentajes de avance y responsables directamente en las celdas. Es una forma estructurada de ver todas las tareas a la vez y editarlas rápidamente. Al aprender cómo usar Microsoft Planner, esta vista es ideal para crear la lista inicial de elementos de trabajo, organizarlos por proyecto o fase y realizar actualizaciones masivas de manera eficiente.

2. Gestionar y supervisar flujos de trabajo con la vista de tablero

La vista de tablero ofrece una interfaz de estilo kanban en Microsoft Planner, donde las tareas se muestran como tarjetas dentro de columnas (buckets). Puedes arrastrar y soltar tareas entre los buckets para reflejar estados como Por hacer, En progreso o Completado. Este flujo visual ayuda a los equipos a detectar cuellos de botella o tareas bloqueadas de un vistazo. Para quienes quieren saber cómo usar Microsoft Planner, la vista de tablero es ideal para flujos de trabajo que evolucionan paso a paso y en los que la retroalimentación visual es clave para gestionar el trabajo.

3. Visualizar proyectos en un calendario con la vista de programación

La vista de programación en Microsoft Planner muestra las tareas en una cuadrícula de calendario por fecha. Cada tarea aparece en el día o los días en que está activa o vence, lo que ofrece una visión clara de cómo se distribuye el trabajo a lo largo del tiempo. Los equipos pueden detectar rápidamente solapamientos, vacíos o conflictos de programación. Si estás aprendiendo cómo usar Microsoft Planner para obtener una visión general del cronograma, la vista de programación aporta claridad sobre cuándo comienzan y terminan las tareas en relación con las demás.

4. Supervisar proyectos a alto nivel con la vista de gráficos

La vista de gráficos ofrece un panel visual del estado de las tareas, su progreso y su distribución entre los responsables. Incluye gráficos circulares y de barras que clasifican las tareas por estado (por ejemplo, No iniciado, En progreso, Retrasado) o por persona. Esta vista ayuda a supervisar la salud general del proyecto e identificar dónde se está acumulando el trabajo. Para quienes están aprendiendo cómo usar Microsoft Planner, los gráficos son esenciales para comprender rápidamente los desequilibrios de carga de trabajo o las tareas vencidas sin tener que revisar planes individuales.

5. Crear cronogramas básicos de proyecto con la vista de línea de tiempo

La vista de línea de tiempo en Microsoft Planner (en versiones más recientes o premium) muestra las tareas como barras a lo largo de una línea de tiempo horizontal, de forma similar a un diagrama de Gantt. Puedes arrastrar las tareas para ajustar las fechas de inicio o fin y ver cómo se alinean entre sí. Proporciona a los equipos una visión visual de la secuencia y los solapamientos. Al explorar cómo usar Microsoft Planner para la programación, la vista de línea de tiempo es la opción ideal para ver cómo se relacionan las tareas a lo largo del tiempo.

6. Exportar y compartir archivos

Al aprender cómo usar Microsoft Planner, los equipos pueden necesitar exportar o compartir información de las tareas. Microsoft Planner permite exportar datos a Excel para elaborar reportes y compartir información fuera de la plataforma. Sin embargo, el proceso de exportación es limitado en comparación con herramientas más avanzadas, lo que dificulta la creación de reportes detallados o el intercambio de datos entre varios proyectos. Por ejemplo, Microsoft Planner no permite abrir, editar ni compartir archivos de Microsoft Project (archivos MPP), lo que lleva a muchos usuarios a buscar una alternativa a Microsoft Planner.

¿Por qué ProjectManager es mejor que Microsoft Planner?

ProjectManager ofrece múltiples vistas de proyecto —diagrama de Gantt, lista, kanban, calendario y hoja— en una sola plataforma, lo que permite a los equipos gestionar proyectos desde distintos enfoques sin perder información. A diferencia de Microsoft Planner, que se limita a vistas básicas de cuadrícula, tablero y programación, nuestro software ofrece los cuatro tipos de dependencias entre tareas, seguimiento de la ruta crítica, alertas automatizadas e indicadores de progreso codificados por colores. Además, los equipos pueden crear campos personalizados, hacer seguimiento de presupuestos, gestionar cargas de trabajo y adjuntar archivos directamente a las tareas, lo que lo convierte en una solución de gestión de proyectos mucho más completa.

Utiliza la colaboración en tiempo real

Al ser totalmente basado en la nube, ProjectManager admite paneles en tiempo real, actualizaciones en vivo y uso compartido de archivos integrado para todo el equipo. Los usuarios pueden comentar directamente en las tareas, asignar trabajo y recibir notificaciones instantáneas sobre cambios o retrasos. Microsoft Planner requiere integraciones con herramientas de Microsoft 365 como Teams o SharePoint para ofrecer una colaboración similar, lo que puede resultar más complejo de configurar y mantener. Nuestro software también incluye permisos basados en roles, registros de actividad y vistas multiproyecto, lo que mantiene a los equipos alineados y a los responsables informados en todo momento.

Accede a reportes avanzados y automatización

ProjectManager ofrece capacidades avanzadas de generación de reportes, análisis con tecnología de IA y automatización de flujos de trabajo que Microsoft Planner no incluye. Los equipos pueden generar reportes personalizables sobre finalización de tareas, variaciones del proyecto, asignación de recursos y seguimiento del presupuesto. Los recordatorios automatizados, la creación de tareas recurrentes y las alertas de riesgos ayudan a que los proyectos se mantengan dentro del cronograma sin supervisión manual constante.

Mientras que Microsoft Planner proporciona gráficos básicos, nuestro software ofrece gestión de recursos de alto nivel, como páginas de equipo y gráficos de carga de trabajo, métricas en tiempo real y herramientas de previsión, lo que facilita a los responsables tomar decisiones informadas y entregar proyectos con éxito.

Contenido relacionado sobre Microsoft Planner

Para quienes desean aprender más sobre Microsoft Planner o aún dudan si es la herramienta adecuada o si deberían buscar una alternativa, a continuación se incluyen más artículos que analizan alternativas a Microsoft Planner, lo comparan con MS Project y exploran otras opciones.

• Las 10 mejores alternativas a Microsoft Planner de 2025 (gratuitas y de pago)
• Microsoft Planner vs. Project: comparación detallada de software
• Diagrama de Gantt en Microsoft Planner: cómo crear un diagrama de Gantt en Microsoft Planner

ProjectManager es un software de gestión de proyectos y portafolios en línea que conecta equipos, ya sea que trabajen en la oficina o en el campo. Permite compartir archivos, comentar a nivel de tarea y mantenerse actualizado mediante notificaciones por correo electrónico y dentro de la aplicación. Empieza hoy mismo con ProjectManager de forma gratuita.

The post ¿Cómo usar Microsoft Planner? guía rápida appeared first on ProjectManager.

Using effective project planning tools and a thorough and well-written statement of work (SOW) will set you up to successfully lead a project over the finish line on schedule and within budget.

What Is a Statement of Work (SOW)?

The statement of work (SOW) is a legally binding document that captures and defines all the work management aspects of your project. You’ll note the activities, deliverables and timetable for the project. It’s an extremely detailed work contract that defines the terms and conditions agreed upon between parties and lays the groundwork for the project plan.

The statement of work (SOW) is one of the first documents you’ll create to lay out the entire landscape of the project before you create a project plan and execute it. Because of the great amount of detail required, the prospect of writing one can be daunting. Let’s break it down into more digestible parts. Your statement of work will be much more detailed than your job estimate, which is a simpler document that outlines the work that’ll be performed and the costs associated with it.

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Statement of Work Template

Use this free Statement of Work Template to manage your projects better.

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When you’re writing a statement of work, it can help to use a statement of work template because of the various aspects of the project that it must capture. Most statement-of-work templates include things such as a glossary of terms defining what you’re referencing in the SOW. There will be a place for you to write the statement of purpose as well as administrative information. If you like our statement of work template, you can also try our free project management templates to manage your projects.

What Is the Purpose of a Statement of Work (SOW)?

As noted, the statement of work is a detailed overview of the project scope. It’s also a way to share the project requirements, acceptance criteria and payment terms with those who are working on the project, whether they’re collaborating or are contracted to work on the project. This includes stakeholders like vendors and contractors who are bidding to work on the project.

An SOW contract is also helpful to project managers as it provides a structure on which the project plan can be built. The statement of work helps to avoid conflicts in the project. With detail and clarity, the SOW helps keep everyone who’s involved in the project on the same page and works to leave confusion to a minimum.

When building your schedule, it helps to use project management software. It can help organize your tasks and resources, as it’s critical to make an accurate schedule at this stage in the project. Project management software can also help you to create a work breakdown structure (WBS) to zoom into your project scope and identify your project’s activities, deliverables and milestones.

ProjectManager can organize the information you’re gathering in our list view. But our tool does more than make a fancy to-do list. Choose between online Gantt charts, kanban boards, project calendars and other project management views to plan, schedule and track your projects. Our real-time software tracks your progress and the list shows the percentage complete for each task. See for yourself by taking our free 30-day trial.

When to Use a Statement of Work

A statement of work should be used at the start of any project that requires clear deliverables, defined responsibilities and a formal agreement between stakeholders. In the project management industry, it’s especially important for projects involving external vendors, multiple teams or complex tasks, where ambiguity can lead to delays, budget overruns or disputes.

A SOW is also useful when projects have strict timelines, regulatory requirements or fixed budgets, as it sets expectations and defines scope upfront. Additionally, it serves as a reference point throughout execution, helping manage changes, prevent scope creep and ensure accountability across all parties.

Statement of Work vs. Scope of Work

While they sound the same, a statement of work isn’t a scope of work. The statement of work, as we’ve shown, is a formal document that details the goals of the project.

The scope of work is part of the larger statement of work. In it, the way the project team will deliver the outcomes laid out in the SOW is described, so the scope of work is a much shorter project document.

What Does SOW Stand for In Business and Project Management?

Now that we’ve cleared the difference between a statement of work and scope of work, it’s important to note that the SOW acronym stands for statement of work and not scope of work, which is a component of the SOW. Similarly, the terms SOW contract, SOW document and SOW agreement also refer to statements of work in project management and business.

Statement of Work Template

Templates make everything a little bit easier. Jump-start your statement of work document with our free SOW template for Word. It helps you outline your project background, schedule, deliverables, communication plan and more. Download your free copy today.

Types of Statement of Work

An SOW can be broken down into three main categories, which can be defined as follows.

• Design/detail SOW: When you’re writing this SOW, you’re conveying to the supplier how you want the work done. What are the buyer requirements that’ll control the supplier’s process? You can use a requirements gathering template to ensure you gather them all. These project requirements can run the gamut from quality acceptance criteria and payment terms to the measurement of materials. In this SOW, it’s the buyer who’s being held responsible for the performance, as he’s the one directing the project course.
• Level of effort/time and materials/unit rate SOW: This SOW agreement is an almost universal version and it can apply to most projects. It defines the level of effort as well as the materials and cost per unit. It tends to find use in short-term contracts.
• Performance-based SOW: This is the preferred SOW of project managers as it focuses on the purpose of the project, the resources and the quality level expected of the deliverables. It does not, however, explain how the work is supposed to get done. This allows a great deal of autonomy in how to get to an outcome without requiring a specific process.

How to Write a Statement of Work (SOW)

A statement of work is a legally binding agreement between a client and a vendor that describes the terms and conditions for the execution of a project’s scope of work. There’s a lot of information to describe in the SOW. You can create this on your own if you want, but using project management tools to make sure nothing is left out will prove helpful. You only have one chance to create your SOW document and you want it done right.

Here’s an overview of the steps you’ll need to follow to write your statement of work:

1. Create a brief introduction for your project
2. Define the purpose of your project
3. Define your project scope
4. Create a work breakdown structure to identify your project tasks, milestones and deliverables
5. Create a project schedule
6. Define project requirements and acceptance criteria
7. Define payment terms and conditions

In terms of writing the statement of work, you’ll want to be specific with this project document. You want to clarify the terms used to make them universally understood and clearly define who’s going to do what and by what time those tasks must be completed. This avoids confusion later in the project when you can’t afford miscommunications or disputes.

Besides writing clearly, include visuals in the SOW to help focus the lens on various project aspects. Including visuals, be they project charts, graphs or other illustrations to help you clarify the project, will make the SOW agreement more digestible.

After all the work you’ve done to detail the specifics of the project, you don’t want to neglect the final, crucial step — getting the work signed off. You can’t proceed if you don’t have the authority to do so. Or, more accurately, you can, but it might cost you the success of the project. Make sure that those in authority have signed off on the statement of work.

What Should Be Included in a Statement of Work (SOW)?

There are as many parts in a statement of work as there are in a project, so it’s advisable to use a project management information system to help you manage its components. If you start by focusing on the parts, you can work yourself up to the whole. For a full understanding of an SOW, first, note the major aspects of the project it addresses.

1. Project Background

Project background is a concise summary of the circumstances, conditions and prior decisions that led to the initiation of the project. It describes the situation that exists before work begins, including relevant history, business context and triggering events, without proposing solutions or commitments.

In a statement of work, the project background establishes shared context between the parties, explains why the engagement exists and provides a factual foundation for interpreting scope, objectives, assumptions and contractual obligations that follow, reducing ambiguity and misalignment during execution.

2. Purpose Statement

Start with the big question: why are you initiating this project? What’s the purpose of the project? Create a purpose statement to lead this section and provide a thorough answer to these questions, such as what are the project objectives, deliverables and return on investment?

3. Project Goals and Objectives

Project goals and objectives define the desired outcomes and specific results a project is expected to achieve within a statement of work. Goals describe the broader purpose and direction of the project, while objectives translate those goals into measurable, actionable targets. Together, they establish a clear framework for decision-making, align stakeholder expectations and provide criteria for evaluating performance, progress and successful project completion.

4. Scope of Work

What work needs to be done in the project? Note it in the scope of work, including what hardware and software will be necessary. What’s the process you’ll use to complete the work defined in your project scope? This includes outcomes, time involved and even general steps it’ll take to achieve that. You’ll need to create a project scope statement to capture the information about your project scope.

• Project tasks: Specific activities required to complete the work outlined in a statement of work. They break the project scope into manageable units, defining what actions must be performed, by whom and often within what timeframe. Defined tasks help ensure accountability, support accurate scheduling and cost estimates and provide a structured path for executing the scope.
• Project task dependencies: Describe the relationships between tasks, identifying which activities must be completed before others can begin. In an SOW, documenting dependencies clarifies workflow, sequencing and timing constraints. This helps set realistic schedules, anticipate potential delays and ensure that interrelated tasks are coordinated effectively to support smooth project execution.
• Roles and responsibilities: Define who is accountable for specific tasks, decisions and deliverables within a statement of work. This section clarifies expectations for project sponsors, managers, team members and external parties. Clearly assigning responsibilities reduces confusion, prevents overlap or gaps in ownership and supports efficient collaboration and accountability throughout the project lifecycle.
• Project deliverables: Tangible or measurable outputs the project is expected to produce, as defined in the statement of work. They specify what will be delivered, in what format and often to what standard. Defined deliverables provide a basis for acceptance, performance measurement and payment.
• Project milestones: Key points or events that mark significant progress or achievements within a project. In a statement of work, milestones help structure the timeline, track progress and align stakeholders on critical phases. They are often tied to reviews, approvals or payments and provide clear checkpoints for measuring advancement toward project completion.
• Project exclusions: Identify tasks, deliverables or responsibilities that are intentionally outside the project’s scope. In a statement of work, stating exclusions helps prevent misunderstandings and scope creep. By defining what is not included, stakeholders can align expectations and reduce the risk of disputes.

Related: Project Scope Template

Use project management software to monitor your progress and ensure you’re meeting your milestones. ProjectManager has a real-time dashboard that’s built into the tool, unlike other software that makes you build your own. We not only have a dashboard embedded but it automatically calculates and displays the metrics in easy-to-read charts and graphs. Keep up with more than milestones, but also project variance, costs and more.

5. Work Schedule

The work schedule defines when contracted work will be performed across the engagement period for the statement of work. It identifies key dates, phases, milestones, review points and the overall performance window at a high level.

The work schedule establishes timing expectations and phase relationships, supports coordination between parties and provides a baseline for tracking progress, evaluating schedule changes and assessing timing impacts on costs, resources and deliverable acceptance throughout the duration of the agreement.

6. Project Requirements

Project requirements establish the mandatory conditions that must be satisfied for the work to proceed, be reviewed and be accepted. They specify obligations related to communication, approvals, reporting, access, compliance, quality and documentation that govern how the parties interact during delivery.

• Communication and reporting requirements: Define how progress is communicated, including reporting frequency, formats, meetings and points of contact, ensuring visibility, alignment and timely issue identification throughout the engagement.
• Review, approval and decision requirements: Specify required reviews, approval authorities and response timelines that govern deliverable evaluation, change authorization and decision-making, preventing delays and ambiguity during execution.
• Acceptance criteria and validation requirements: Establish acceptance criteria and processes for confirming deliverables meet agreed standards, including testing, inspections and formal sign-off, forming the basis for acceptance and payment.
• Compliance, quality and documentation requirements: Define applicable laws, standards, quality benchmarks and documentation obligations that must be met to ensure contractual, regulatory and operational compliance throughout delivery.

7. Project Assumptions

Project assumptions are conditions or factors that are accepted as true for planning purposes, even though they may not be fully verified. In a statement of work, documenting assumptions provides context for scope, timelines and cost estimates. They help align stakeholder expectations, identify potential risks and establish a baseline for decision-making if conditions change during project execution.

8. Project Constraints

Project constraints are the limitations or restrictions that affect how a project is planned and executed, such as budget, schedule, resources, or regulatory requirements. In a statement of work, defining these constraints sets realistic expectations and establishes boundaries for delivery. This information guides planning decisions, supports risk management and helps ensure the project remains achievable within agreed-upon limits.

9. Quality Assurance Guidelines

Quality assurance guidelines define the standards, processes and criteria used to ensure project work meets required levels of quality and performance. In a statement of work, these guidelines establish how quality will be measured, reviewed and maintained throughout execution. They help align expectations, support consistent results, reduce rework and provide a clear basis for evaluating deliverables against agreed-upon quality standards.

10. Quality Control Procedures

Quality control procedures are the specific methods and activities used to inspect, test and verify that project deliverables meet defined quality requirements. In a statement of work, these procedures outline how quality will be checked, who is responsible and when reviews will occur. They support consistent evaluation, early detection of defects and acceptance of deliverables that meet agreed-upon standards.

11. Project Success Criteria

Quality control procedures are the specific inspection, testing and verification activities used to confirm that project deliverables meet defined quality standards. In a statement of work, documenting these procedures clarifies how outputs will be reviewed, who is responsible for checks and when evaluations occur. This ensures consistent quality, supports acceptance decisions and reduces defects, rework and disputes during project execution.

12. Change Management Approach

A change management approach defines the formal process for requesting, evaluating, approving and implementing changes to the project scope, schedule, or cost. In a statement of work, it establishes how changes will be documented, who has approval authority and how impacts will be assessed. This approach helps control scope creep, maintain alignment with project objectives and ensure changes are managed consistently and transparently.

13. Payment Terms

If the project budget has been created, then you can list the payments related to the project and how they’ll be delivered: upfront, over time or after completion. For example, you can pay after the completion of a milestone or on a fixed schedule, whichever is more financially feasible.

14. Other

There will be other parts of the project that aren’t suited to the above categories, and this is the place where you can add them so that everything is covered. For example, are there security issues, restrictions around hardware or software, travel pay, post-project support, etc?

Related: Project Task Tracking Template

Statement of Work Example

We’ve been talking a lot about a statement of work, but a statement of work example can help make the subject more understandable. Let’s take a look at what a statement of work sample would look like in a real-life scenario.

This statement of work defines the terms, scope and expectations for the construction of a new 12,000-square-foot light industrial warehouse expansion. The document establishes contractual alignment between the client and contractor by clearly defining objectives, scope boundaries, deliverables and responsibilities before the start of physical work.

Project Background

The client operates a growing regional distribution business and has outgrown its existing warehouse capacity. Increased inventory volumes and operational throughput have created space constraints that limit efficiency and future growth. This project involves constructing a warehouse expansion adjacent to the existing facility to support increased storage capacity, improve logistics flow and meet applicable zoning and building regulations.

Purpose Statement

The purpose of this statement of work is to formally document the construction services to be provided for the warehouse expansion project. It defines what work is included, how deliverables will be produced, who is responsible for execution and what activities fall outside the agreed scope, serving as the baseline for performance measurement and change control.

Project Goals and Objectives

The primary goal of the project is to deliver a fully operational warehouse expansion that meets structural, safety and regulatory requirements within the agreed schedule and budget. Supporting objectives focus on quality execution, coordination among trades and minimizing disruption to existing warehouse operations.

Scope of Work

The scope of work defines the construction tasks required to deliver the warehouse expansion, including dependencies, deliverables, assigned responsibilities and explicit exclusions. Any work not expressly included in this section is considered outside the scope and subject to formal change control.

Work Schedule

The work schedule outlines the planned sequencing and duration of major project phases. Dates are based on the notice to proceed and assume timely approvals and site access. The schedule establishes baseline expectations for progress tracking and milestone coordination.

Project Requirements

Project requirements define the technical, regulatory and performance standards that must be met for deliverables to be accepted. These requirements establish objective criteria for compliance, inspection and final approval.

Project Assumptions

Project assumptions identify conditions believed to be true for planning purposes. If any assumption proves incorrect, schedule, cost or scope adjustments may be required through formal change control.

Project Constraints

Project constraints identify fixed limitations that restrict planning flexibility. These constraints must be managed throughout execution and cannot be altered without formal agreement.

Quality Assurance and Control

Quality assurance and control define the processes and standards used to ensure that all work performed under this statement of work meets contractual, regulatory and technical requirements. Quality activities focus on preventing defects through planning and oversight while verifying completed work through inspections, testing and formal acceptance before project closeout.

ProjectManager Can Improve Your Statement of Work

ProjectManager has a suite of project management tools that can help you put together a statement of work (SOW) that accurately depicts the forthcoming project. For starters, you can use our Gantt to start listing the tasks you can think of for the project.

Plan and Schedule Project Tasks With Gantt Charts

The online Gantt has the basics of a visual timeline and the ability to link dependencies to avoid bottlenecks and set milestones. Assign costs to tasks and see your planned costs for the project or specific phases. You can use the critical path tool to know what tasks can be skipped if necessary and set the baseline once your schedule and budget are done. That means you’ll be able to track in real time whether you’re staying on track and under budget. ProjectManager has the tools you want and delivers more functionality than the competition.

As you can see, using our Gantt chart software can go a long way to making an accurate statement of work for your project. Accuracy means a lot to stakeholders when it comes time to deliver on the work that you scoped out.

Keep Track of Progress, Costs and Schedules With Real-Time Dashboards

ProjectManager’s project dashboard tracks progress, costs and workload in real time so you can monitor the execution of your statement of work and quickly determine whether your project team is delivering tasks on time and on budget. In addition, Gantt charts and kanban boards have built-in risk and resource management features for better project tracking.

Related Work Management Content

• Workflow Template
• Statement of Work Template
• Work Proposal Template
• 9 Work Templates for Excel and Word
• How to Write a Work Proposal (with Example & Template)
• ¿Qué es la declaración de trabajo de un proyecto?
• Was ist eine Leistungsbeschreibung? Definition & Beispiele

The statement of work is a foundational document of any project. Once created and approved, you’ll have to create a plan and implement it. That’s where ProjectManager comes in. Our online project management software provides real-time data to help you manage and track your statement of work. Take it for a test spin and see how it can help you with this 30-day free trial.

The post What Is a Statement of Work? Definition & Examples appeared first on ProjectManager.

That’s where a risk management plan comes in—to help mitigate risks before they become problems. But first, what is project risk management?

What Is a Risk Management Plan?

A risk management plan defines how the project’s risk management process will be executed. That includes the budget, tools and approaches that will be used to perform risk identification, assessment, mitigation and monitoring activities.

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Risk Management Plan Template

Use this free Risk Management Plan Template to manage your projects better.

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A risk management plan describes all the activities that will be taken throughout the process of managing project risks. Project risk management activities can be grouped into the following categories:

• Risk Planning: Before risks can be managed, the overall approach must be defined. The risk management plan establishes the methodologies, roles, responsibilities, budget allocation and timing for all risk management activities throughout the project life cycle.
• Risk Identification: The first step to managing project risks is to identify them. The risk management plan explains the tools and data sources, such as information from past projects or subject matter experts’ opinions to estimate all the potential risks that can impact the project.
• Risk Assessment: Once the project risks are identified, they need to be prioritized by looking at their likelihood and level of impact. In most cases, the risk management plan includes a risk assessment matrix to do so.
• Risk Mitigation: Now it’s time to create a contingency plan with risk mitigation actions to manage your project risks. You also need to define which team members will be risk owners, responsible for monitoring and controlling risks.
• Risk Control: Once risk mitigation responses are in place, they must be actively controlled. The risk management plan describes how risk responses will be executed, evaluated for effectiveness and adjusted as project conditions or risk exposure change.
• Risk Monitoring: Risks must be monitored throughout the project life cycle so that they can be controlled. The risk management plan describes the procedures, tools and techniques to monitor the occurrence and mitigation of project risks.
• Risk Ownership: To ensure accountability, risks must be assigned to specific team members. The risk management plan defines risk owners and outlines their responsibilities for tracking, monitoring and implementing approved risk response actions.
• Risk Reporting: Risk information must be shared clearly and consistently with stakeholders. The risk management plan describes how risks will be reported, escalated and communicated to support timely awareness and informed decision-making.

Even one risk can jeopardize the entire project plan. There isn’t usually just one risk per project, either; there are many risk categories that require assessment and discussion with stakeholders. That’s why risk management needs to be both a proactive and reactive process that is constant throughout the project life cycle.

Manage Risks and Projects Online with ProjectManager

For example, it’s easy to create a risk register using online project management software. Use the risk list view on ProjectManager to capture all project risks, add their priority level and assign a team member to identify and resolve them. Then manage those risks alongside detailed project plans with in-depth data.

• Manage projects in five different views: Gantt, sheet, list, kanban and calendar
• Track and report on tasks and risks with dashboards
• Give stakeholders first-hand access to data and progress with free guest licenses. Try it free

What Is the Purpose of a Risk Management Plan?

The purpose of a risk management plan in project management is to define how risks will be systematically identified, analyzed, prioritized, responded to and monitored throughout the project lifecycle.

It establishes a consistent approach to managing uncertainty, protects project objectives related to scope, schedule, cost and quality, and supports informed decision-making by clarifying risk ownership, thresholds and response strategies. While its primary role is project-focused, it can also support broader organizational risk awareness when projects operate in complex or regulated environments.

When to Use a Risk Management Plan

A risk management plan originated in project management, where it formalizes how risks are identified, analyzed, prioritized and addressed to protect project objectives. Over time, its structured, repeatable approach proved valuable beyond projects.

Today, organizations use risk management plans whenever uncertainty must be managed deliberately, including operations, construction, IT, finance and compliance.

• Project risk management plan: Defines how project-specific risks are identified, assessed and managed to protect scope, schedule, cost and quality objectives throughout the project lifecycle.
• Business risk management plan: Addresses operational and strategic risks affecting ongoing business activities, focusing on continuity, process stability, compliance and performance rather than time-bound deliverables.
• Enterprise risk management plan: Provides an organization-wide framework to identify, assess and govern risks aligned with strategic objectives, risk appetite and executive-level decision-making.
• Financial risk management plan: Focuses on identifying and mitigating risks related to budgets, cash flow, funding, pricing and financial exposure that could impact organizational or project viability.
• IT risk management plan: Manages risks related to information systems, cybersecurity, data integrity and system availability, emphasizing controls, incident response and technology resilience.

In these contexts, the plan provides a consistent framework for anticipating threats, evaluating exposure, defining response strategies and monitoring risk over time, even when no project timeline exists.

Free Risk Management Plan Template

This free risk management plan template will help prepare your team for any risks inherent in the project. This Word document includes sections for your risk management methodology, risk register, risk breakdown structure and more. It’s so thorough, you’re sure to be ready for whatever comes your way. Download the template today.

What Should Be Included in a Risk Management Plan?

Making a risk management plan is essential for identifying, analyzing and responding to risks that could affect a project’s success. For a risk management plan to be effective, it should include certain key components. A risk management plan usually includes the following sections.

Risk Management Methodology

A risk management methodology defines the structured approach a project uses to identify, analyze, respond to and monitor risks. It establishes the tools, techniques and data sources used to evaluate uncertainty, assess probability and impact, and determine appropriate responses.

In a risk management plan, the risk management methodology section explains how risk activities will be performed on the project. It documents the tools, techniques and documentation to be used for risk identification, analysis and prioritization so stakeholders understand how risks are managed. This section ensures risk management is repeatable, aligned with organizational standards and applied consistently throughout the project life cycle execution.

Risk Identification Techniques

Risk identification techniques are systematic methods used to recognize potential problems, uncertainties, or threats that could impact a project’s objectives. By proactively identifying risks, project teams can assess their likelihood and impact, prioritize responses and develop mitigation strategies. These techniques help ensure that risks are managed before they escalate, supporting smoother project execution and informed decision-making.

• Brainstorming: Collaborative sessions where team members generate a list of potential risks, encouraging diverse perspectives and creative thinking.
• Delphi Technique: Experts anonymously provide risk input in multiple rounds, refining ideas until consensus is reached, reducing bias from dominant voices.
• SWOT Analysis: Evaluates internal strengths and weaknesses and external opportunities and threats to identify areas of potential risk.
• Checklists: Uses predefined lists of common risks based on previous projects or industry standards to ensure nothing is overlooked.
• Root Cause Analysis: Investigates underlying causes of potential problems, identifying risks by understanding what could trigger failures or obstacles.

Risk Scoring and Prioritization Tools

Risk scoring assigns numerical or qualitative values to identified risks based on their probability of occurrence and potential impact. Risk prioritization then ranks these risks to determine which require the most immediate attention and resources. In a PMI-aligned risk management plan, scoring and prioritization are critical for focusing mitigation and response strategies on high-priority risks.

By systematically evaluating each risk, project teams can allocate resources efficiently, monitor critical threats and integrate response actions into project schedules, budgets and decision-making, ensuring alignment with PMBOK principles for proactive and structured risk management.

ProjectManager makes it seamless to understand risks and how they can impact your project. Our built-in risk management features enable you to identify risks, set a priority, assign an owner and more. Use it to take action to keep your projects on track. Get started by taking a free 30-day trial, no credit card required.

Organizational Risk Tolerance or Risk Appetite

Organizational risk tolerance, or risk appetite, defines the level and type of risk an organization is willing to accept in pursuit of its objectives. In a risk management plan, understanding this threshold guides decision-making, prioritizes risk responses and ensures that mitigation strategies align with the organization’s strategic goals, helping project teams manage uncertainties without exceeding acceptable risk levels.

• Risk acceptance criteria: Define when a risk can be accepted without further mitigation, ensuring decisions stay within organizational tolerance, align with project objectives and are formally documented.
• Risk exposure thresholds: Set the maximum impact or likelihood a risk can reach before action is required, helping teams prioritize responses, allocate resources effectively and stay aligned with risk appetite.

Risk Reporting Guidelines and Documentation

Risk reporting is the systematic process of communicating identified risks, their status, potential impact and mitigation measures to project stakeholders. Within a risk management plan, risk reporting ensures transparency, enables informed decision-making, supports proactive risk response and tracks the effectiveness of mitigation strategies throughout the project lifecycle, keeping stakeholders aligned and facilitating timely escalation of critical issues.

Popular risk reporting documents include:

• Risk Register: A centralized document listing all identified risks, their probability, impact, mitigation strategies and ownership, updated throughout the project to track risk status.
• Issue Log: Tracks current problems affecting the project, linking them to identified risks, documenting resolutions and ensuring accountability and timely corrective action.
• RAID Log: Captures Risks, Assumptions, Issues and Dependencies, providing a holistic view of project uncertainties and facilitating structured reporting and management.
• Risk Heat Map: Visual representation of risks by probability and impact, helping stakeholders quickly identify high-priority risks requiring attention.
• Risk Status Report: Periodic report summarizing active risks, progress on mitigation actions, changes in risk exposure and emerging threats to keep stakeholders informed.

Related: 12 Free Risk Management Templates for Excel & Word

Risk Register

A risk register is a chart to document the risk identification information. It serves as a centralized repository that captures and tracks all identified risks throughout the project life cycle. This provides a comprehensive overview, systematic tracking, prioritization of critical risks, stakeholder engagement and more.

Risk Response Plan

A risk response plan is a project management document that explains the risk mitigation strategies that will be employed. Its purpose is to proactively manage uncertainties, reduce potential impacts on project goals, and ensure preparedness. By assigning responsibilities, defining timelines, and outlining procedures, the plan provides a clear, structured approach to maintaining control and keeping the project on track.

This plan enables project teams to anticipate and address potential issues before they escalate, reducing delays, cost overruns, and quality problems. It ensures that risks are managed systematically rather than reactively, improves decision-making, aligns stakeholder expectations, and provides a documented framework for accountability. Ultimately, it helps protect project objectives and supports smoother, more predictable project execution.

• Risk mitigation strategies: Proactive actions designed to reduce the likelihood or impact of identified risks. In a risk management plan, these strategies help minimize disruptions, protect project objectives, guide resource allocation, support contingency planning and provide structured responses to uncertainty before risks escalate.
• Risk management roles and responsibilities: Define who identifies, owns, monitors and responds to risks throughout the project. Clearly assigned responsibilities—from the project manager and risk owners to stakeholders and support teams—ensure accountability, consistent risk oversight and effective execution of risk response actions.

Risk Management Budget

Have a section to identify the funds required to perform risk management activities. This financial plan will allocate resources specifically for identifying, assessing and managing risks within a project. The budget ensures there’s enough funding available to implement risk management strategies and mitigate negative impacts on project objectives.

Risk Breakdown Structure

This is a chart that identifies risk categories and the hierarchical structure of project risks. It provides a structured risk identification, which makes it easier to analyze and manage risks. The risk breakdown structure also provides clear definitions and descriptions of risks at various levels, which helps the team to understand the nature and source of each risk. Risks can be prioritized more effectively, too.

Risk Assessment Matrix

A risk assessment matrix allows teams to analyze the likelihood and the impact of project risks so they can prioritize them.

Using a risk assessment matrix provides a visual representation of the relationship between the likelihood of risks occurring and their potential impact. It helps teams to focus on critical risks by categorizing them into different levels. The risk assessment matrix also facilitates communication to ensure everyone is aligned on risk prioritization.

How to Write a Risk Management Plan

For every web design and development project, construction project or product design, there will be risks. That’s the nature of project management. But that’s also why it’s always best to get ahead of them as much as possible by developing a risk management plan. We’ve outlined the steps to make a risk management plan below.

1. Risk Planning

You can’t create a risk management plan without understanding the overall risk planning approach. In other words, what methodologies, roles, responsibilities, budget allocation and timing will be used throughout the project life cycle? This information will set the foundation for the plan itself.

2. Risk Identification

Risk identification occurs at the beginning of the project planning phase, as well as throughout the project life cycle. While many risks are considered “known risks,” others might require additional research.

Create a risk breakdown structure to identify project risks and classify them into risk categories. You can do this by interviewing all project stakeholders and industry experts. Many project risks can be divided into risk categories, like technical or organizational, and listed out by specific sub-categories like technology, interfaces, performance, logistics, budget, etc. Additionally, create a risk register to share with everyone interviewed for a centralized location of all known risks revealed during the identification phase.

3. Risk Assessment

In this next phase, review the qualitative and quantitative impact of the risk—like the likelihood of the risk occurring versus the impact it would have on the project—and map that out into a risk assessment matrix

First, you’ll do this by assigning the risk likelihood a score from low probability to high probability. Then, map out the risk impact from low to medium to high and assign each a score. This provides an idea of how likely the risk is to impact project success as well as how urgent the response will need to be.

To make it efficient for all risk management team members and project stakeholders to understand the risk assessment matrix, assign an overall risk score by multiplying the impact level score by the risk probability score.

4. Risk Mitigation: Create a Risk Response Plan

A risk response is the action plan taken to mitigate project risks when they occur. The risk response plan includes risk mitigation strategies to mitigate the impact of project risks. Doing this usually comes with a price—at the expense of your time or your budget. So you’ll want to allocate resources, time and money for your risk management needs before creating the risk management plan.

5. Control & Monitor the Risk

As soon as the risk mitigation response has been established, it’s time to actively control any risks. In other words, how will the responses be executed, evaluated for effectiveness and altered as project conditions or risk exposure change?

6. Assign Risk Owners

Next, assign a risk owner to each project risk. Those risk owners become accountable for monitoring the risks assigned to them and supervising the execution of the risk response if needed.

Related: Risk Tracking Template

When creating the risk register and risk assessment matrix, list out the risk owners; that way, no one is confused as to who will need to implement the risk response strategies once the project risks occur, and each risk owner can take immediate action.

Be sure to record the exact risk response for each project risk with a risk register and have the risk response plan approved by all stakeholders before implementation. That way, there’s a record of the issue and the resolution to review once the project is finalized.

7. Understand Your Triggers

This can happen with or without a risk already having impacted the project, especially during project milestones as a means of reviewing project progress. If they have, consider reclassifying those existing risks.

Even if those triggers haven’t been met, it’s best to come up with a backup plan as the project progresses—maybe the conditions for a certain risk won’t exist after a certain point has been reached in the project.

8. Make a Backup Plan

Consider your risk register and risk assessment matrix a living document. Project risks can change in classification at any point, and because of that, come up with a contingency plan as part of the process.

Contingency planning includes discovering new risks during project milestones and reevaluating existing risks to see if any conditions for those risks have been met. Any reclassification of a risk means adjusting your contingency plan.

9. Measure Your Risk Threshold

Measuring your risk threshold is all about discovering which risk is too high and consulting with project stakeholders to consider whether or not it’s worth it to continue the project, worth it whether in time, money or scope.

Here’s how the risk threshold is typically determined: consider your risks that have a score of “very high”, or more than a few “high” scores, and consult with your leadership team and project stakeholders to determine if the project itself may be at risk of failure. Project risks that require additional consultation are risks that have passed the risk threshold.

To keep a close eye on risks as they arise in the project, use project management software. ProjectManager has real-time dashboards embedded in our tool, unlike other software that requires teams to manually build them. We automatically calculate the health of projects, checking if teams are on time or running behind. Get a high-level view of how much you’re spending, progress and more. The quicker the risk is identified, the faster you can resolve it.

10. Keep Stakeholders Informed

Stakeholders should always be aware of how risks are progressing and being handled throughout the project. The plan should note how risks are reported, escalated and communicated as needed.

Risk Management Plan Example

This risk management plan defines the approach used to identify, analyze, prioritize and manage risks for a multi-story residential parking garage construction project. The plan establishes consistent methods and thresholds to support proactive decision-making throughout the project lifecycle.

Risk Management Methodology

The risk management methodology defines how risks will be identified, assessed, prioritized and monitored throughout the project. It establishes a structured, repeatable process to ensure risks are managed consistently and aligned with project objectives related to safety, schedule, cost and quality.

Risk Identification Techniques

Risk identification techniques are used to proactively uncover potential threats that may impact project objectives. These techniques draw on historical data, expert judgment and field-level observations to ensure comprehensive coverage.

Risk Scoring and Prioritization

Risk scoring and prioritization evaluate identified risks based on their probability of occurrence and potential impact on project objectives. The resulting risk exposure score is used to rank risks and determine response priority.

Organizational Risk Tolerance

Organizational risk tolerance defines the level of risk exposure the organization is willing to accept in pursuit of project objectives. These thresholds guide decision-making, escalation and the selection of risk response strategies.

Risk Register

The risk register serves as the central repository for all identified project risks. It documents risk descriptions, ownership, priority levels and current status, enabling ongoing monitoring and informed decision-making throughout the project lifecycle.

Risk Response Plan

The risk response plan defines specific actions to address prioritized risks. Response strategies are selected based on organizational risk tolerance and are assigned to accountable roles responsible for implementation and monitoring.

Risk Management Budget

The risk management budget allocates funds specifically for risk mitigation and contingency activities. This budget supports proactive risk responses and reduces the likelihood of unplanned cost impacts during execution.

How ProjectManager Can Help Your Risk Management Plan

A risk management plan is only as good as the risk management features you have to implement and track them. ProjectManager is online project management software that lets you view risks directly in the project menu. You can tag risks as open or closed and even make a risk matrix directly in the software. You get visibility into risks and can track them in real time, sharing and viewing the risk history.

Tracking & Monitoring Risks in Real Time

Managing risk is only the start. You must also monitor risk and track it from the point at which you first identified it. Real-time dashboards provide a high-level view of slippage, workload, cost and more. Customizable reports can be shared with stakeholders and filtered to show only what they need to see. Risk tracking has never been easier.

Best Practices for Maintaining Your Risk Management Plan

Risk management plans only fail in a few ways: incrementally because of insufficient budget, via modeling errors or by ignoring your risks outright.

Your risk management plan is constantly evolving throughout the project life cycle, from beginning to end. So the best practices are to focus on the monitoring phase of the risk management plan. Continue to evaluate and reevaluate your risks and their scores, and address risks at every project milestone.

Project dashboards and other risk-tracking features can be a lifesaver for maintaining your risk management plan. Watch the video below to see just how important project management dashboards, live data and project reports can be for keeping projects on track and budget.

In addition to routine risk monitoring, at each milestone, conduct another round of interviews with the same checklist you used at the beginning of the project, and re-interview project stakeholders, risk management team members, customers (if applicable) and industry experts.

Record their answers, adjust the risk register and risk assessment matrix if necessary, and report all relevant updates of your risk management plan to key project stakeholders. This process and level of transparency help identify any new risks to be assessed and show if any previous risks have expired.

Related Content

• Cómo hacer un plan de gestión de riesgos
• 12 Free Risk Management Templates for Excel & Word
• How to Make a Risk Assessment Report (Templates Included)
• A Quick Guide to Contractor Risk & Contractor Risk Management

Risks are bound to happen, no matter the project. However, if you have the right tools to better navigate the risk management planning process, you can better mitigate errors. ProjectManager is online project management software that updates in real time, giving you all the latest information on your risks, issues and changes. Start a free 30-day trial and start managing your risks better.

The post How to Make a Risk Management Plan (Template Included) appeared first on ProjectManager.

Everyone must work, but for many of us, that job isn’t just a paycheck; it’s an opportunity to express ourselves and make something better. Entrepreneurs and go-getters often feel as if they carry the weight of an entire organization on their backs, and therefore could always use a little extra motivation.

To all the entrepreneurs and go-getters out there, these 60 inspiring business quotes are for you. Now, get out there and change the world—one project at a time!

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And now, without further ado, the best business quotes to motivate you to greater success!

Small Business Quotes

Whether you’re a small business or an enterprise company, you can gain inspiration from this list.

1. “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” – Arthur Ashe

Arthur Ashe understands a challenge. The tennis champ is the only black man to win the singles titles at Wimbledon, the US Open and the Australian Open. He was ranked number one in the world, but that didn’t come easy. On top of the mastery of the sport and all the physical and mental work required to get there, he had to deal with prejudice, which makes his quote all the more powerful and humble.

2. “Success is not final; failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston Churchill

Small business quotes aren’t always the most upbeat. Churchill led Britain through one of its darkest periods. With enemies threatening to advance across the English Channel, bombing London daily, the pressure to survive was paramount. But Churchill, like any entrepreneur worth their salt, understood that failure was part of the process. One learned from their mistakes, and the greatest lesson was that there was always another day to fight on.

3. “The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old but on building the new.” – Socrates

The great Greek philosopher was known for questioning the status quo and getting killed for it. But Plato wrote Socrates’ dialogues shortly after his death and his Influence lives on in Western society to this day. Even as pragmatic a discipline as business can learn from him. This small business quote encourages you to forge forward, don’t look back.

4. “Success seems to be connected with action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don’t quit.” – Conrad Hilton

When one’s last name is a globally recognized brand, it’s good to listen to what they have to say, especially as a small business quote. This hospitality king and hotel owner knows a thing or two about surviving in a competitive business environment. Action does speak louder than words, though, and mistakes are always part of the equation. But it’ll never be solved if you quit.

5. “When you innovate, you’ve got to be prepared for people telling you that you are nuts.” – Larry Ellison

The founder of Oracle was onto something with this small business quote. Innovation, regardless of your field, will initially feel uncomfortable at first. As time goes on and you find more success, those who were initially doubters will come around and support you.

6. “It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up.” – Vince Lombardi

This classic small business quote reminds entrepreneurs that setbacks are part of the journey. For business owners working to grow in competitive markets, resilience is essential—getting back up after challenges builds strength, fosters learning and positions your company to weather future storms.

7. “Play by the rules, but be ferocious.” – Phil Knight

The brand that gave us “Just do it!” qualifies that tagline, which always felt a bit broad, to include boundaries. You can’t “just do it” without regard to the rules, as Knight clearly states in this small business quote. Those rules are what level the playing field and protect fair competition. But rules have nothing to do with the passion with which you play within them.

8. “Business opportunities are like buses, there’s always another one coming.” – Richard Branson

Branson’s Virgin has proven that from record labels to airlines, where there is a will, there is a way. The door isn’t always open, but sometimes it’s ajar or the key is on the floor. All you must do is pick it up and turn the lock. Basically, the right environment for success ebbs and flows, but a keen businessperson is never passive. Small business quotes like this one stay with you.

Related: Free Small Business Plan Template

9. “Starting in business is like getting married…there is really no good time and no bad time. The time is now. ” – E. Joseph Cossman

As a small business quote, this insight highlights that waiting for perfect conditions often halts progress. For new founders, action — even imperfect action — is the spark that gets momentum moving and creates opportunities that never would have appeared otherwise.

10. “Every problem is a gift—without problems we would not grow.” – Anthony Robbins

The idea that one can go through life without conflict or issues arising is unrealistic. Some might dream of a frictionless ride through the world as the ideal journey, but without some form of pushback, growth is impossible. It is these problems that we face that build our character, engage our creativity and build humility.

Related: 10 Conflict Resolution Strategies That Actually Work

11. “You only have to do a few things right in your life so long as you don’t do too many things wrong.” – Warren Buffett

The idea of right and wrong is a construct, of course, and it might feel overly simplistic to suggest that making the right choices will smooth the path forward. But the famous investor is merely noting with this small business quote that avoiding a wrong decision is as important as making the right one. Avoiding bad decisions is aided, of course, by careful planning.

12. “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” – Peter Drucker

Drucker’s wisdom in this inspirational business quote reminds leaders and teams that the future isn’t something you wait for — it’s something you build. Setting strategy today shapes tomorrow’s outcomes, rather than leaving success to chance.

13. “Never give up. Today is hard, tomorrow will be worse, but the day after tomorrow will be sunshine.” – Jack Ma

Inspirational small business quotes like this show that persistence is key. Just ask Jack Ma, the founder of Alibaba. Entrepreneurship is full of ups and downs. Jack Ma emphasizes perseverance, encouraging teams to push through short-term struggles to achieve long-term success.

14. “Never give up. Today is hard, tomorrow will be worse, but the day after tomorrow will be sunshine.” – Jack Ma

This inspirational business quote shows that persistence is key. Just ask Jack Ma, the founder of Alibaba. Entrepreneurship is full of ups and downs. Jack Ma emphasizes perseverance, encouraging teams to push through short-term struggles to achieve long-term success.

15. “Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it.” – Henry David Thoreau

Philosopher, naturalist, essayist, etc.—Thoreau knew a thing or two about productivity. He wisely saw that those who are seeking success are more likely romanticizing the idea and not doing the hard, practical work necessary to achieve it.

16. “Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning.” – Bill Gates

Feedback, especially negative, is a goldmine for improvement. This inspirational business quote highlights the importance of listening to customers to refine products, services and processes.

17. “Great things in business are never done by one person. They’re done by a team of people.” – Steve Jobs

Successful organizations aren’t built on solo effort alone; they thrive when every team member contributes their unique skills toward a common vision. This is a powerful small business quote about collaboration and shared ownership.

18. “And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” – Anaïs Nin

Nin was no stranger to the creative act. As a writer, she had to take pen to paper or her stories would remain phantoms in her mind. It is safer to keep these ideas to oneself. There’s no rejection or criticism that way, but there’s also no way to hone one’s skills and produce something of value.

19. “If people are not laughing at your goals, your goals are too small.” – Azim Premji

Ambitious goals drive innovation and growth. Premji encourages thinking big in this small business quote, reminding leaders that bold objectives inspire creativity and push boundaries. Small business quotes like this inspire teams to aim high, set ambitious goals, and push beyond conventional limits.

20. “When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.” – Henry Ford

This analogy teaches that adversity can propel progress. Obstacles don’t always slow you down—they can build momentum and resilience that power breakthroughs in leadership and innovation.

Inspirational Business Quotes

Need a little bit of inspiration to achieve your best work yet? Leverage these quotes and share them with your team members.

21. “There’s no shortage of remarkable ideas, what’s missing is the will to execute them.” – Seth Godin

Writer and former dotcom businessman, Godin is saying in this inspirational business quote that talk is cheap, but in a nicer way. Yes, ideas are a dime a dozen, but the real meat on those bones comes from trying to realize them. It is only then that the problems show up and the real work of resolving them starts.

Related: 10 Strategies for Successful Project Execution

22.”If people are not laughing at your goals, your goals are too small.” – Azim Premji

Inspirational business quotes don’t always have to be serious. Ambitious goals drive innovation and growth. Premji encourages thinking big, reminding leaders that bold objectives inspire creativity and push boundaries.

23. “I owe my success to having listened respectfully to the very best advice, and then going away and doing the exact opposite.” – G.K. Chesterton

Chesterton, a writer of paradoxical stories, is the contrarian on our list. He speaks for the pig-headed and visionary alike. Sometimes one must buck the conventional wisdom. The hard part is knowing whether you’re acting out of conviction for your ideals or if you’re just being deluded by ego.

24. “Risk comes from not knowing what you’re doing.” – Warren Buffet

In business, risk is inevitable, but mismanaged risk is preventable. Warren Buffett reminds us that preparation, research, and knowledge reduce uncertainty. Leaders who understand their markets, processes and data can make calculated decisions rather than leaving outcomes to chance. Awareness and planning turn risk into opportunity.

25. “I don’t know the word ‘quit.’ Either I never did, or I have abolished it.” – Susan Butcher

She’s not being literal, but rather exaggerating to make a point in this inspirational business quote. There comes a time in everyone’s life when the idea of just throwing in the towel is attractive. You’re exhausted. The obstacles feel insurmountable. But those who can reject the idea of quitting and tap an unforeseen reservoir are usually those who cross the finish line.

26. “What do you need to start a business? Know your product, know your customer, and have a burning desire to succeed.” – Dave Thomas

This inspirational business quote emphasizes practical readiness and inner drive. Success rarely happens by accident; it comes from understanding your value, knowing who you serve, and fueling every effort with passion and focus.

27. “Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.” – Theodore Roosevelt

People get caught up in the product and forget the worth of anything that lies in the process. Win or lose, it’s the fact that you tried, with all you could offer, to do the best at something you feel is of value. That alone is rewarding.

28. “If you really look closely, most overnight successes took a long time.” – Steve Jobs

We only see the success after it’s been reached. Like a tree that reaches the clouds, the roots that hold it up are invisible. They’re beneath the ground, having spent years digging through the hard ground to stabilize and feed the tree’s growth. It is also so with business.

29. “Almost everything worthwhile carries with it some sort of risk, whether it’s starting a new business, whether it’s leaving home, whether it’s getting married, or whether it’s flying into space.” – Chris Hadfield

True, but not all risks are created equally. Going into space feels like a bigger risk than starting a company. That puts things in perspective, though, and acknowledges the fact that nothing is without risk, therefore, don’t try to completely bubble-wrap your enterprise. Play it safe, of course, but not to the point of inertia.

30. “The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” – Mark Twain

Twain’s timeless inspirational business quote cuts through hesitation. For leaders and teams holding big ideas, the first step, no matter how small, triggers progress and builds confidence that leads to bigger results.

31. “Even if you are on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.” – Will Rodgers

America’s ambassador of good cheer did more than pass out smiles in his life. He offered practical business advice: complacency is death. Even if you’re doing the right thing, if you’re not moving forward, constantly pushing yourself to reach beyond your comfort zone, then you’re in trouble. The competition will overtake you.

32.”Every problem is a gift – without problems, we would not grow.” – Anonymous

This inspirational business quote flips the narrative on challenges, encouraging leaders to see difficulty as an opportunity. Instead of avoiding obstacles, effective teams analyze them, learn from them and adapt strategies to strengthen their plan.

33. “The real test is not whether you avoid this failure, because you won’t. It’s whether you let it harden or shame you into inaction, or whether you learn from it; whether you choose to persevere.” – Barack Obama

The president knows a lot about failure and success. The Affordable Healthcare Act was more than once dead in the water, but the president didn’t give up. He compromised, he convinced and he labored, but not once did he allow himself to become embittered.

Related: The 25 Most Inspiring Leadership Quotes

34. “Forget past mistakes. Forget failures. Forget everything except what you’re going to do now and do it.” – William Durant

There is only the present, so the enlightened ones tell us, and we cannot allow ourselves to become tied to the past or enchanted by the future. There is only the here and now. We must concentrate on that and act. This quote doesn’t reject the lessons of the past or the plans for the future, but we only have this moment, so do your best in it.

35. “Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.” – Albert Einstein

You’ll have noticed that often one inspirational business quote contradicts the next. That’s because it is in these paradoxes that real wisdom is born. There is never just one way to look at something and with perspective comes opportunity. Ideas might be nothing without execution, but without those ideas the execution is empty.

36. “Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising every time we fail.” – Confucius

This quote reinforces that persistence defines long-term success. Every setback teaches lessons, and teams that rise with purpose after failure build resilience, confidence and a culture that sustains performance under pressure.

37. “Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired and success achieved.” – Helen Keller

People should take failure as a badge of honor. It’s a crucible that burns things down to their essence and shows us what we’re really made from. If the path to success was clear, then everyone would be on it and success would lose all meaning.

38. “The first one gets the oyster, the second gets the shell.” – Andrew Carnegie

It sounds brutal, and one doesn’t become a steel baron without nerves of steel, but there is a harsh truth in this statement. Resources are exploited by businesses to achieve their goals. They’re not a collective, sharing the wealth, so like the early bird, if you want the worm, then get up early.

39. “The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” – Walt Disney

The more business motivational quotes from these masters of industry and history, the more you notice a common thread knitting them together. They tend to same things only in different ways. That alone should make it clear that actions speak louder than words, to use another old axiom.

40. “Whether you think you can or whether you think you can’t, you’re right!” – Henry Ford

This statement might confuse you at first, but once you get it, like a Zen koan, it makes perfect sense. What the father of automotive automation is imparting with this quote is that success is as much a mind game as it is determined by fate. With the right attitude, you can do almost anything.

Business Motivational Quotes

Business success isn’t built overnight. These quotes can give you the extra motivation you need to keep going.

41. “There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work and learning from failure.” – Colin Powell

Inspiration is great, but there’s no point in reinventing the wheel, as this business motivational quote suggests. The general is right. Success is being prepared, working hard and learning from mistakes, as many others have also stated. If we can edit the quote a wee bit, we’d add luck to fill out the recipe for success. There’s always an unknown element in the mix.

Related: 9 Ways to Be a Lucky Project Manager

42. “Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.” – Albert Schweitzer

Many people have it backward, struggling to achieve success to feel good about themselves. But the irony is that it’s in the doing, not the goal, where the happiness resides. Even if you fail at your enterprise, if you enjoy the process, then you’ll be happy.

43. “Success is often achieved by those who don’t know that failure is inevitable.” – Coco Chanel

If you’re keeping your eyes on what can go wrong, it will go wrong. Successful people strive to move on. They aren’t ignorant of failure, but they’re also not stymied by it. They don’t know what failure is, because to them it’s merely a bump in the road, not its terminus.

44. “Show me a guy who’s afraid to look bad, and I’ll show you a guy you can beat every time.” – Lou Brock

One of the most famous business motivational quotes teaches the value of courage and risk-taking. Inspirational business quotes like this encourage teams to embrace challenges, learn from mistakes and take bold steps toward success.

45. “Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” – Thomas Edison

The famous story about Edison and the incandescent lightbulb, which took thousands of tries to find a filament that would burn but not extinguish, is proof of the pudding of his statement. You just never know what’s around the corner until you get there.

46. “I feel that luck is preparation meeting opportunity.” – Oprah Winfrey

We spoke of luck as a crucial element to any success. There are always those forces beyond our control, but there are also those forces that are within our ability to regulate. If opportunities are rare, then one must be ready for them when they come to take advantage. That might not be the definition of luck, but it does feel like good fortune.

47. “I never dreamed about success. I worked for it.” – Estée Lauder

People can get lost in thought. In their mind’s eye success is laid out. It’s as if they’re already there. Daydreaming might be creative, but creativity takes work. You’re not going to get anywhere standing in place.

48. “Yesterday’s home runs don’t win today’s games.” – Babe Ruth

This has been said in many ways, but sometimes it takes the sports analogy to get it to sink through. Of course, for Ruth, this wasn’t a metaphor but a fact. However, it also applies to business motivational quotes. We can’t rest on past glory.

49. “The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary.” – Vidal Sassoon

It’s a funny way to look at things, but there’s truth in the fact that success is not something we are handed. It is something we must work on. Success isn’t inheritance. While we might get handed great wealth, power and prestige, it’s what we do with it that counts.

50. “The key is to listen to your heart and let it carry you in the direction of your dreams.” – Michael Dell

One of the most uplifting business motivational quotes, this reminds entrepreneurs that passion is a driving force. Quotes like this encourage leaders to pursue projects that align with their vision, fueling motivation and innovation.

51. “The only way around is through.” – Robert Frost

What the great American poet is saying is that there is no way to avoid what must be done. We cannot go around the difficulties in our lives or business but face them head-on and work through them. Just having the courage to do that is the hallmark of success.

52. “High expectations are the key to absolutely everything.” – Sam Walton

The founder of Walmart was onto something with this business motivational quote. It teaches that setting high standards drives performance and culture. For business owners, quotes like this inspire teams to aim higher, focus on excellence and consistently deliver their best.

53. “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

The wife of a United States president is called a first lady, but they’re often last in terms of influence. Not Eleanor Roosevelt, whose husband, FDR, saw the country through the Great Depression and WWII. She was no slouch herself. She advocated for women in the workforce and civil rights and remained active in politics after her husband died in 1945. She believed in the beauty of her dreams, many of which came true.

54. “Success is liking yourself, liking what you do and liking how you do it.” – Maya Angelou

It’s easy to define success by what others think. The world seems to only appreciate money, status and power. But when measured against those unreachable expectations, no matter what success one has it quickly turns to failure. Maya Angelou certainly gained literary success but understood the real story.

55. “There’s no such thing as the right time. Get out there and take a chance.” – Kevin Plank

One of the most practical business quotes reminds leaders that action beats waiting. Inspirational business quotes like this encourage taking initiative, embracing uncertainty and moving forward with confidence.

56. “The secret of business is to know something that nobody else knows.” – Aristotle Onassis

He might be more famous for marrying Jackie Kennedy than for his entrepreneurial expertise, but don’t let the glitz blind you. Aristotle Onassis was a business magnate who amassed the world’s largest privately owned shipping fleet. He probably did that by knowing something his competitors didn’t. It’d be wise to take his advice.

57. “To succeed in business, to reach the top, an individual must know all it is possible to know about the business.” – J. Paul Getty

The man behind Getty Oil Company knows a thing or two about succeeding in business. He made it to the top and those who want to follow him to the pinnacle of success would do well to take his advice seriously. Whatever the field, knowledge is king and learning is never done.

58. “Do not wait to strike till the iron is hot; but make it hot by striking” – William Butler Yeats

The poet might not be the first person a businessman seeks to learn about their trade. But one would be foolish to ignore poets, who are not only masters of language but use words to offer valuable insights. Yeats knew that it’s universally true that procrastination is an excuse that prevents one from acting when it’s the action that reeks the rewards.

59. “The best way to do it, is to do it.” – Amelia Earhart

Though best known today for her tragic flight that ended with her and her plane disappearing in the Pacific Ocean, she was an aviation pioneer and early advocate of women’s rights. She led the way for female pilots and has become a cultural icon. Her advice is sound, even if it didn’t end the way she wanted. But the point is in the trying.

60. “It’s not about ideas. It’s about making ideas happen.” – Scott Belsky

Scott Belsky is an American entrepreneur, author and investor. He’s the chief product officer for Adobe Creative Cloud. In other words, he walks the talk of turning ideas into reality. Think of it, everyone has a bright idea. They’re a dime a dozen. But it’s those people who do the work to make it happen who are remembered.

Bonus Quote: “The best investment is in the tools of one’s own trade.” – Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin was one of the founders of the United States of America, but even beyond that revolutionary achievement, he was an inventor and businessman who knew the importance of having the right tools for the job.

If our bespectacled founding father were alive today, he’d certainly have ProjectManager. No online project management software has its breadth of features to control every aspect of a project.

Turn Motivational Business Quotes Into Actionable Plans With ProjectManager

While it’s motivating to see so many business quotes in one roundup, now it’s time to take action with best-in-class software. ProjectManager has the tools you need to plan and track projects at every stage. It provides a single source of business truth, offers advanced resource management and proves a platform for secure collaboration.

Dashboards for Tracking

High-level project views from the real-time dashboard automatically track progress across six metrics. For a deeper dive into that data, easy reporting features get glandular. Reports on tasks, variance and more can be filtered to show just the data you want.

Always Know What Your Team Is Up To

If you’re concerned about your team’s workload and if everyone has enough work to stay busy, ProjectManager has a color-coded team page that makes it easy to balance workload right from that page. Managing your team has never been easier.

Kanban Boards for Visual Workflows

Further transparency into the process is given by the kanban board view, which keeps teams working on only those high-priority tasks and allows managers to see what everyone is working on and where they are in that process.

Schedule Work & Make Long-Term Projects

ProjectManager is award-winning software that keeps teams organized and gives managers online Gantt charts to schedule project plans. Those plans can then be archived and mined later as historical data for future projects because we offer unlimited file storage.

To paraphrase Franklin: early to ProjectManager makes a project healthy, wealthy and wise.

Related Business Management Content

We have created dozens of blogs, templates and guides to help businesses plan their operations, manage their projects and make strategic plans for the future. Here are some of them.

• 8 Budget Templates for Business & Project Budgeting
• How to Write a Business Requirements Document (BRD)
• How to Write a Business Plan: Business Planning Best Practices
• Strategic Planning in Business
• Project Alignment: Aligning Your Project to Business Strategy
• An Introduction to Business Process Management (BPM)

Are you feeling inspired? Ready to start the day with gusto? Before you go, don’t forget to equip yourself with the tools that will take that ambition and give it the means to achieve your lofty goals. ProjectManager is online project management software that has the features that your work needs to succeed. Try it today with this free 30-day trial.

The post 60 Best Business Quotes to Inspire Entrepreneurs & Go-Getters appeared first on ProjectManager.

ProjectManager’s award-winning project and portfolio management software is more dynamic than static project portfolio management templates. Our software has tools to plan, manage and track programs, portfolios, resources and more. However, for those not ready to upgrade, we also have over 100 free project and portfolio management templates for Excel and Word that can help. Below are just some that address the needs of project portfolio management.

1. PPM Dashboard Template

Project portfolio managers must closely monitor projects to ensure they’re meeting milestones, but also to properly allocate resources. Using this free PPM dashboard template for Excel gives them a high-level overview of the key performance indicators (KPIs) to track and analyze the progress and performance of multiple projects. The free project portfolio management template identifies trends and helps managers make more informed decisions when managing a portfolio of projects.

The only problem with this project portfolio template is that it must be manually updated. The data is never current, which makes it harder to allocate resources and ensure that projects are delivering on the strategic goals. ProjectManager is award-winning project and portfolio management software with portfolio dashboards that deliver real-time data automatically. Once the baseline is set on the Gantt chart or roadmap, our software constantly updates to reflect actual data against the planned effort. Easy-to-read graphs and charts display KPIs, such as time, cost, workload and more across the portfolio of projects. Get started with ProjectManager today for free.

2. Project Portfolio Template for PPM

With all projects visible in one place, leaders and portfolio managers don’t have to gather information from many separate project trackers. This makes it easier to understand the “big picture.” This free project portfolio template for Excel provides a structured spreadsheet layout where you list every project in your organization’s portfolio, including project names, objectives, start and end dates, status, budget (planned vs actual), priority, assigned teams or owners and other relevant data.

It organizes all projects in a single “master view,” so you can see at a glance how many projects are active, which are upcoming or completed, and where each stands relative to schedule, cost and priority.

3. Project Intake Template for PPM

Managing a portfolio means choosing the right projects to initiate. This free project intake form template for Word formalizes that process to ensure that proposed projects align with organizational goals and objectives. Use this project portfolio management template to review and approve formally proposed projects to evaluate their feasibility and determine their priority within the broader portfolio. This reduces the risk of inefficiencies or wasted resources. Ultimately, it leads to better outcomes, improved resource and risk management and improved communications between stakeholders about expectations, goals and requirements.

The project portfolio template is designed to address all the issues that need to be judged when reviewing a project for approval. These include describing the project, its goals and objectives. There’s also space to explain how the project contributes to the business, operational and strategic objectives. The project scope statement is included to summarize the work that will be executed as well as resource planning and an estimate of the project’s costs. There’s a timeline, a cost-benefit analysis and a risk management overview. This all leads to the final section, which is the assessment, which explains why the project should be approved or rejected or if additional information is needed.

4. PPM Program Roadmap Template

A program roadmap is a high-level visual plan that outlines the major initiatives, milestones, timelines and dependencies within a program; a coordinated group of related projects working toward a shared strategic objective. Download this free program roadmap template for a clear, consolidated timeline view of all the projects within a program: multiple related projects, their start and end dates, milestones and phases, all on one chart.

Because you can see when projects overlap or depend on each other, you can more effectively allocate resources (people, budget, time) across multiple projects, reducing conflicts, bottlenecks or overcommitments.

5. PPM Cost Benefit Analysis Template

Use this free PPM cost benefit analysis template for Excel to compare what the organization would expect to pay for a project against what benefits or opportunities the project could provide. This is an essential tool when determining whether a project is viable for the portfolio or whether it’s better to pass on. The more research on the project before committing to it, the better. This project portfolio management template is key to determining if the proposed project is a good fit.

This project portfolio template does this by placing a dollar amount for every cost and benefit in the project. By subtracting the benefits from the costs, the profit, both financially and in terms of business objectives and goals, is revealed. When the benefits outweigh the costs, the project is likely worth pursuing. Therefore, this is a decision-making tool that all portfolio managers will want to have in their toolshed.

6. PPM Project Prioritization Matrix

Another value project portfolio management template is the free PPM project prioritization matrix template. This tool helps compare projects objectively to determine which will bring value to the organization and those which can be passed on. This versatile tool can prioritize projects, manage time and reach a consensus. The origin dates back to President Eisenhower’s administration, where the tool was called an Eisenhower matrix, as he used it to help decide what was most important to focus on first.

The project portfolio template is simple in design, but very useful in execution. It is divided into two axes; the vertical axis is divided into two rows. One row is crucial, the other not crucial. The horizontal axis is divided into two columns, one for do now and the other for do later. This breaks up the matrix into four quadrants. The top left is for what must be done immediately, the top right is for that which can be scheduled shortly. The bottom left is to delegate and the bottom right is to delete or move.

7. PPM Resource Capacity Planning Template

Capacity planning is one of the pillars of project portfolio management, which is simply the process of managing resources, time, teams and work. The free PPM resource capacity planning template is used to balance available resources to meet the project’s capacity needs. This project portfolio management template helps portfolio managers keep up with changing demands.

Using this project portfolio template allows portfolio managers to see the utilization, time and effort of teams across projects. It does this by first providing an overview of the project and then listing the tasks and their estimated duration, including start and end dates. Next, there’s a list of resources, with an hourly rate for each resource. That’s followed by the project timeline and resource availability, utilization and remaining resource availability. Users can also see who is over or under-allocated, the resource utilization rate and costs per resource.

8. PPM Project Budget Template

While portfolio management is often focused on governance and resource management, costs are always part of the larger picture. That’s why it’s so important to use this free PPM project budget template for Excel. When planning on whether to include a project or when that decision has been made and the project’s costs have to be forecast, this project portfolio management template helps accurately estimate what the financial commitment will be.

This project portfolio template lists all the project tasks and even the subtasks. Then each task or subtask is broken down into how much it’ll cost to execute. There are columns to capture the planned labor costs, actual hours and rates. Some columns identify the materials used, including how many units and the price per unit. Of course, projects often have other costs, which is why there are columns for travel, equipment and food. The template is also fully customizable so users can add any other expenses they might have.

9. Multiple Project Tracking Template for PPM

Use this free multiple project tracking template for Excel to monitor the progress of a portfolio. It captures all the relevant project information in a single document. This project portfolio management template can be used throughout the portfolio’s life cycle. Projects are constantly in flux and the best way to allocate resources effectively is by tracking those projects to understand what they need and when they need it.

The project portfolio template lists all the projects, their tasks and their dependencies. It shows who’s assigned to which tasks, the priority as well as the start date, planned end date and actual end date. The planned and actual costs are also listed. As this data is added to the template, it is easy to see which projects are overspending or falling behind schedule. Then those projects that aren’t tracking as expected can be adjusted to get back on schedule or within budget.

10. Program Roadmap Template for PPM

A roadmap is a tool that helps view the strategy of all the project phases, objectives, milestones, deliverables, resources, risks, dependencies and the planned project timeline. This is an invaluable project portfolio management template. Use this free program roadmap template to help make large decisions about projects within the context of its strategy, resource allocation and more.

This project portfolio template keeps the project teams and stakeholders aware of project objectives. It’s also an integral part of the process to respond quickly to market changes or when a project pivots, as it shows how those changes will affect the larger strategy. Roadmaps help set expectations, get buy-in and update stakeholders on progress.

11. PPM Project Update Template

Keeping a portfolio on track requires consistent updates. This free project update template for Excel is the perfect tool for portfolio management. Because portfolio management involves overseeing multiple projects simultaneously, often with different scopes, teams and timelines, having standardized updates from each project is extremely useful.

Because the template is ready-made, project managers don’t have to reinvent the reporting structure each time. That saves time, reduces reporting errors and ensures completeness. The template acts as a standard communication backbone for a project portfolio, enabling clarity, alignment and strategic oversight across multiple initiatives.

12. PPM Status Report Template

When portfolio managers need to check in on the progress and performance of their projects or keep their stakeholders informed, they can use this free PPM status report template for Excel. This project portfolio management template improves communication and helps to deliver project update presentations with greater impact by capturing the current status of projects in terms of health and progress.

The project portfolio template covers everything from project information to a summary of the project’s status, which includes completed work, upcoming work, project deliverables and milestones. There’s a section on the project’s health, which includes overviews of the budget, schedule, scope and quality control. There are even risk and change management logs.

13. Project Request Form for PPM

Need to propose new projects to stakeholders or teams? Utilize our free project request form. It captures key information upfront—such as the project’s purpose, expected benefits, scope, costs, required resources, risks and alignment with organizational goals. This gives the PMO or portfolio managers enough detail to evaluate whether the proposed project should move forward.

Use this template to bring structure and fairness to how new projects enter the portfolio. Instead of informal conversations or unclear requests, every idea is documented, comparable and evaluated against the same criteria. This helps the PMO prioritize high-value initiatives, prevent resource overload, screen out low-impact projects and maintain alignment with strategy.

14. Project List Template for PPM

In project portfolio management (PPM), a project list serves as a master registry of every active, planned, or archived initiative across the organization. This project list template gives visibility into the full scope of work, showing which projects are underway, which are coming next and how they relate to strategic goals. With a reliable project list, portfolio managers can better prioritize, balance resources, and ensure alignment across teams and departments.

The template provides a ready-to-use spreadsheet to capture essential details for each project, including the name, owner, status, priority, start and end dates and other metadata. This standardization makes it easy to maintain, filter, and sort projects, ensuring nothing gets lost. By consolidating all projects in one place, it simplifies oversight, helps detect conflicts or overcommitments, and supports clearer decision-making and reporting at the portfolio level.

15. Resource Plan Template for PPM

Use this free resource plan template for Excel to always have the right resources at the right time. This project portfolio management template does that by identifying, listing and organizing all the resources needed to complete the projects as well as determining the quantity needed for each resource, including cost and when it’s needed in the project.

When using this free project portfolio template, there are fields to fill in on the project info, resources and costs. Once this section is completed, there’s a calendar to the right. It goes for a month, but this customizable template can be changed to reflect a week or several months, depending on the project’s needs. Then fill in the calendar to plan resources and ensure that the project is always covered.

How ProjectManager Helps PPM

Project portfolio management templates aren’t the ideal tool to manage multiple projects. Projects are dynamic, templates are static. It’s simply a poor match. Someone has to manually update those templates, which takes time away from more valuable work. Project portfolio management software is a far better solution. ProjectManager is award-winning project and portfolio management software that has features that automatically update in real time, like the project portfolio dashboard that provides a real-time overview of project health without having to do anything but toggle over to the tool.

Manage Resources With Roadmaps

Our powerful project portfolio roadmaps work better than project portfolio templates. Our software can collect all the projects in a portfolio and display them on a Gantt chart that can help with resource management, time tracking and task management. Users can filter by assignee, project manager or customer to make forecasts. View which projects are open and see who is assigned to which tasks. It also helps highlight key metrics to keep stakeholders informed.

Get Detailed Portfolio Reports

Keep stakeholders informed with high-level and in-depth reporting features that share progress and more. Customized project portfolio reporting goes deeper into the data, generating reports on portfolio status, tasks and timelines as well as customizing reports to see only the data that users want to see. There are also reports on variance, timesheets and workload, among others.

Related PPM Content

Project portfolio management templates are only a small part of project portfolio management. To learn more about the best ways to manage multiple projects, check out the recent posts below.

• Free PMO Templates for Excel and Word
• How to Make a Portfolio Management Report: A Quick Guide
• Best Project Portfolio Management Software
• How to Manage Multiple Projects: Strategies & Tools
• Project Intake Process: Prioritizing Project Requests
• Project Selection: Use These 8 Selection Methods

ProjectManager is online project and portfolio management software that connects teams, whether they’re in the office or out in the field. They can share files, comment at the task level and stay updated with email and in-app notifications. Get started with ProjectManager today for free.

The post 15 Free Project Portfolio Management Templates for Excel and Word appeared first on ProjectManager.

Business templates are a great way to work consistently and not have to reinvent the wheel each time you need to do repetitive tasks. ProjectManager is more than great project management software, it’s a depository of dozens of free Word and Excel templates for business that you can download right now.

1. Excel Timeline Template for Business Planning

This Excel timeline template is a versatile Excel template for business that can be used to visualize all the projects your business will execute in the future, identify the team or business department responsible for those projects and mark down milestones and deliverables. One of the main advantages of using this template is that it comes with various time scales to better adjust to your planning needs. You can use it to make 6-month, 1-year or 3-year timelines.

But Excel templates for business are static. To elevate your business planning, try project management software like ProjectManager. ProjectManager offers dynamic project timeline tools to help you plan projects, build schedules and assign work across your resources. You can even track costs, progress and time along the way. Use the roadmap to track multiple project plans at once, so all of your business projects are in one spot. Get started today for free.

2. Business Plan Template

A business plan is a document that shows how a business will operate and establish itself in the market. It shows what that business will do to be profitable. The business plan template for Word is an essential part of any new business, especially those that are looking for funds from investors.

Everything that is needed to outline the background and value of the business is captured in this free business template. There’s an executive summary for the high-level overview, a company description with value proposition and a market analysis with marketing and sales strategy. Plus a whole lot more.

3. Profit and Loss Statement Template

Business performance isn’t measured only by what is sold but by what remains after costs are paid. A profit and loss statement template shows how revenue turns into profit by detailing income, expenses and operational spending over a specific period. Leaders use it to evaluate financial health, understand cost drivers and make informed decisions about pricing, investment and growth. Regularly reviewing this report keeps companies on track toward long-term profitability.

This free profit and loss statement template for Excel organizes revenue categories, cost of goods sold, operating expenses and taxes into a clean, professional layout. As numbers are entered, it automatically calculates gross profit, operating income, earnings before taxes and final net income. The structure allows businesses to compare performance over time, spot financial trends and identify areas that need attention. It’s a practical tool for budgeting, financial reporting and day-to-day management.

4. Balance Sheet Template

At any point in time, a company’s financial position can be seen by comparing what it owns to what it owes, and a balance sheet template does exactly that. It lists assets, liabilities and equity to show how resources are financed—whether through debt or ownership. This snapshot helps leaders gauge financial stability, meet lending requirements, and evaluate the capacity for growth, investment or risk-management decisions in the business.

Our free balance sheet template for Excel organizes current and non-current assets alongside short- and long-term liabilities, automatically calculating total equity so the statement balances. It also includes key financial ratios like the current ratio and debt-to-equity ratio for quick insights into liquidity and leverage. With a structured format and ready-to-analyze figures, the template makes financial reporting easier and supports strategic assessments of a company’s overall health.

5. Cash Flow Statement Template

Profit doesn’t always mean cash is available, which is why businesses rely on a cash flow statement template. It tracks how money is generated and used through operating, investing and financing activities, revealing whether a company can meet short-term obligations and fund growth. By monitoring liquidity rather than just earnings, leaders can better manage spending, borrowing and investment decisions to keep the organization financially healthy.

This free cash flow statement template for Excel separates cash movement into operational, investing and financing sections for clearer analysis. It calculates net cash flow and updates beginning and ending cash balances automatically. Teams can see where cash is coming from, where it’s going and whether liquidity is increasing or shrinking. With a clean structure and accurate calculations, the template supports budgeting, forecasting and strategic financial planning with confidence.

6. Business Proposal Template

Securing new partnerships often depends on how well a company can communicate its value, and a business proposal template is the document that does this job. It shows a clear understanding of a client’s problem and recommends a tailored solution backed by data, expertise and measurable outcomes. By outlining scope, costs, and delivery expectations upfront, proposals build trust and help both sides feel confident before any work officially begins.

Our free business proposal template for Word guides you through every essential section needed for a strong bid. It includes a compelling executive summary, a detailed problem statement and a needs analysis to show alignment with client priorities. The solution, project scope and timeline sections clarify how work will be delivered, while the cost breakdown and company overview provide transparency and credibility. Terms and signature fields complete the agreement, making this a ready-to-use proposal framework.

7. Business Impact Analysis Template

Every organization depends on certain functions to stay operational, and a business impact analysis template identifies which ones are most critical. It evaluates the consequences of disruptions—financial, operational, reputational and regulatory—to reveal where recovery efforts should be focused first. By highlighting dependencies, acceptable downtime and risk exposure, a BIA supports stronger continuity planning and helps leadership act quickly and effectively when unexpected events occur.

This free business impact analysis template for Word structures all essential components of continuity planning. It includes fields for defining impacted functions, estimating downtime tolerance, prioritizing recovery efforts and assessing resource needs across departments. Risk and vulnerability sections expose weak points, while mitigation strategies turn insights into action. Appendices allow key documents and contacts to be stored in one place. With everything organized clearly, the template strengthens preparedness and speeds decision-making during disruptions.

8. PESTLE Analysis Template

Businesses operate within a broad external environment, and a PESTLE analysis template helps them understand the forces shaping that landscape. By examining political, economic, social, technological, legal and environmental factors, companies can anticipate risks, spot opportunities and adapt strategies before conditions shift. This structured view of external influences supports better decision-making, long-term planning and stronger competitive positioning across changing markets.

Our free PESTLE analysis template for Word breaks each environmental factor into clear sections with space to document relevant trends, threats and opportunities. It guides teams in assessing how government policies, market conditions, societal shifts, technology changes, legal requirements and environmental pressures influence their operations. With an organized layout and prompts for detailed insights, the template makes strategic scanning easier and ensures external risks are thoroughly evaluated during planning.

9. SWOT Analysis for Business

Businesses need to make strategic plans if they want to remain competitive and profitable. Our free SWOT analysis template for Word is a method that can be used to evaluate your business environment. SWOT stands for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, which can then be defined within and outside of your organization.

The free business template is set up in four quadrants. One for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Vertically, up the left-hand side of the template are two distinctions: one for external and the other for internal. Then on top there are also two categories: one for positive and another for negative. As you do your research, place what you find in the appropriate square. From this visual tool, you can make a viable strategic plan for your business.

10. Vision Statement Template for Business

A vision statement is used by businesses to distill what they do, their core values and future goals. The catch? It has to be done in only a couple of sentences at most. Use this free vision statement template for Word to succinctly define the purpose of a business and what it plans to achieve in the future.

This business template is like a high-level pitch for the future of an organization. To help write this, there are a series of steps and associated questions. The answers are collected on the right-hand side of the template. When done, the pieces are all there to be assembled into a powerful and appropriate vision statement.

11. SIPOC Template for Business Processes

SIPOC is an acronym for suppliers, inputs, process, outputs and customers. This free SIPOC template for Excel is a visual diagram that shows a business process from start to finish. This Excel business template gives team members a better understanding of the process and helps with continuous improvement.

The reason to use this Excel business template is that it can improve business processes. It helps with onboarding, especially for when a new team member joins a project. It quickly brings them up to speed. That’s because it provides a high-level overview of key steps, including suppliers, inputs, etc.

12. Operating Budget Template for Business Expenses

Use this free operating budget template for Excel to get a detailed view of the coming year and accurately predict revenue and expenses. But there’s more to this Excel business template than a financial snapshot of the future. It can be used by organizations to set realistic business goals for the coming year.

This Excel business template can also be used to look back at the past month or quarter of an operating budget and see if the predicted sales in fact occurred and if there were any unexpected expenses that require the annual balance to be adjusted. This analytic tool helps organizations adapt, update and remain strategic as business conditions change.

13. Budget Proposal Template for Business Projects

Before a project can start it has to be approved. The free budget proposal template for Excel is the sales pitch. It details the investment required to take the project across the finish line by estimating all the costs associated with the potential project. It’s presented to stakeholders to secure funding.

This Excel template for business is flexible enough to be used by companies, campaigns or any endeavor to show how its benefits outweigh the costs. It does this by breaking down the project into categories, such as salaries, materials, equipment, travel, communications, etc.  Then there is a section to show the anticipated revenue or benefits to compare that to the funding.

14. Weekly Work Schedule Template

How you handle your human resources is instrumental to the success of your business. Organizing the work schedules of your employees keeps the company productive. Manage workflow with our free weekly work schedule template for Excel. This free Excel template for business lists all your employees, where and when they work as well as their responsibilities over a period of a week.

This not only helps with productivity but ensures that you are efficiently balancing your workforce. It’s a way to organize work and keep everyone working at capacity without over-allocating them. This helps to reduce the cost of your resources while keeping to deadlines. There’s also the fact that you can prioritize the work that must be done over the week. It also keeps the work-life balance that retains employees and lifts morale.

15. Timesheet Template

It’s said that your employees are your most valuable resource. So, why would you want to give them cumbersome timesheets? Using our free timesheet template for Excel is a simple and effective tool for keeping track of the time your employees spend on their work. It’s good for them and it’s good for managers to track time spent on tasks.

16. Standard Operating Procedure Template

This free standard operating procedure template for Word captures a step-by-step set of instructions that will direct an organization or project team on how to do a task. This free business template is used to ensure that a process or task is always being done correctly.

The importance of this template is clear: it documents company processes, which keep things consistent. It establishes guidelines for teams, which leads to greater productivity. The standard operating procedures template is helpful for fast growing companies to build clear communication between management and employees, especially if hands-on instruction isn’t possible.

17. Business Case Template

Use this  business template to show the costs related to a project. The free business case template for Word will help clients, customers or stakeholders see that they’re getting a return on their investment and the project is worth initiating.

Once the research for the project is completed, use this free template to write the executive summary, share the mission statement and describe the product or service that will be delivered. There’s space for how the project will be organized, its financial appraisal, market assessment and strategy. There’s even a place to add risk assessment.

18. Business Requirements Document Template

Use this free business requirements document template for Word to capture all the information needed to deliver a project successfully. This template has everything from the objectives the project is trying to achieve to the project scope, schedule and more.

Use this business requirements document format to give stakeholders a clear picture of the project’s priorities, design and structure to help them make better business decisions. It can also act as a contract between customer and vendors outlining the project and deliverable expectations.

19. Project Budget Template

One of the most important aspects of any business is its bottom line. If you can’t make a profit, you can’t stay in business. Budgets are estimates of the costs that you’ll spend over a period of time. They need to be accurate, which is where our free project budget template for Excel comes in. It is certainly one of the more important free Excel templates for business.

Making an accurate forecast for a budget is hard. There are many uncertainties. But you can use our free Excel template for business to capture labor costs, consultant fees, raw materials, software licenses, travel expenses and even those costs that are recurring, such as telephone charges, office space and equipment, general administration and company insurance. Be sure to use our free project budget template before you embark on any business endeavor.

20. RACI Matrix Template

There are multiple stakeholders in every business. From executives to employees and customers, everyone has some vested interest in the business. Being able to identify those roles and responsibilities as well as how they relate to the overall business and its communications is what our free RACI matrix template for Excel helps you determine.

RACI is another acronym, this one stands for responsible, accountable, consulted and informed. The value of this free Excel template for business is that it lists everyone in the business on the left-hand column and then the top row identifies them by title. Then you can add the corresponding initial (R, A, C or I) that allows you to understand their place in the business and will help everyone know as well.

21. Stakeholder Analysis Template

Stakeholders are anyone or anything that has a vested interest in the project. Use this free stakeholder analysis template for Excel to better understand project stakeholders and how to communicate with them to manage their expectations.

Understand and map the strategy for dealing with stakeholders with this Excel template for business. First, identify the project stakeholders and then determine how to deal with each. This is a key part of stakeholder management, showing each stakeholder’s relationship to the project and the level of commitment.

22. Cost-Benefit Analysis for Business

A free Excel template for business that no enterprise should be without is our free cost-benefit analysis template for Excel. When you’re exploring business opportunities you need to make sure that they’re worth the time, effort and especially cost. This free template will allow you to test the waters so you know if you will swim or sink if you take on the project.

A cost-benefit analysis is used by businesses to look at what they expect to pay for a project against what benefits or opportunities it will provide them. In short, will they make money or gain some advantage? Is it worth it? That answer can save a company a lot of frustration down the line or put them in a position to reap the rewards of its endeavor. Either way, it’s a free template that no business can do without.

23. Strategic Plan Template

Company leaders can use this business template to define its long-term vision, goals and objectives. The free strategic plan template for Word can then be shared across the organization so that it’s clearly understood by everyone from employees to customers, business partners and investors.

Everything that needs to be defined is outlined in this template. There’s space for an executive summary, vision and mission statements. A SWOT analysis addresses the company’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Business goals, marketing and operational goals are defined. There’s also a place for financial projections and identifying the team that will execute the plan.

24. Meeting Minutes Template

One thing that business people seem to agree about is that there are too many meetings. However, meetings are essential for communication, brainstorming and more. That doesn’t mean they don’t meander, but with an agenda, they can stay on point. With our free meeting minutes template for Word, you can also capture the important takeaways.

Using our free template for business allows you to collect all the necessary information in a format that is easy to read and, therefore, more likely retained by those who are in attendance. Minutes also help with documentation and save time during the meeting. That’s because everything is laid out, from the agenda to action items and even scheduling the next meeting.

25. Executive Summary Template

An executive summary template is a document that outlines the key points of a project. It’s usually the first part of a larger project document that is being used to sway stakeholders or sponsors. This business template can be viewed as the elevator pitch. It should be short and compelling to draw readers in for more details.

This free template covers all the bases, from the vision and mission statements to the company’s role and strengths. It identifies the need or problem that the project will address and offers a unique solution, with documentation to back it up, the return on investment (ROI) and the budget required.

26. Work Order Template for Business

Use this free work order template for Excel to explain the labor, tools and materials that will be required to complete a task. It includes instructions on what the task is, an estimation of the costs involved, the deadline by which it should be completed, who’s responsible for doing the work and more.

This Excel template for business can also track work orders, be used to communicate tasks and the how to do them, which helps ensure that those tasks are done correctly. They’re especially useful for service providers or working with independent contractors. They can be found in construction, maintenance and other industries.

27. Inventory Template

Businesses run lean and mean if they want to stay in business. If your business has inventory then knowing exactly what you have and what you need is key to success. If you have our free inventory template for Excel then you’ll always have the materials you need on hand and never have costly delays in production to restock your inventory.

The free inventory template records the level of stock you’re warehousing as well as tracking turnover. It’s all there on one document, which makes it easy for managers to know what they have and when they have to order more. Not only manufacturers, but retailers can use the free Excel template for business to see what is and isn’t selling.

28. Flowchart Template for Business Operations

A flowchart is a visual tool that represents a process by breaking down the essential steps. The free flowchart template for Word makes it easy to create a flowchart, which is made up of ovals that represent the start and end points of the process, arrows to show the direction of the process, a diamond which means a decision on an activity and a rectangle that shows the action or deliverable.

Using this free business template helps turn complex processes into easily digestible visual steps. It creates clarity in showing how the process should be done. The flowchart template can be shared with the team, who can then see the entire process and their place in the larger whole.

29. Gap Analysis Template

Businesses don’t have the luxury of resting on their laurels. Stagnation leads to death. But wanting to improve and improving are two different things. That’s why our free gap analysis template for Excel is so critical for any business that wants to stay competitive. It helps businesses set long-term goals and stay innovative.

This free Excel template for business is a chart that collects the data you need to create an action plan that will move a business from where it currently stands in the marketplace to where it wants to be in the future. It does this by focusing on areas of improvement, using a gap percentage to show how far you have to go, including a timeline and resource management to get you there.

30. SMART Goals Template for Business Objectives

SMART goals are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound. A free SMART goal template for Word is a great tool to ensure that a project’s or organization’s goals are reasonable. This business template also gives direct to the project team as they develop objectives to achieve these goals.

The free template works by breaking down each of the five aspects of a SMART goal into a series of questions. There’s then a space on the template to answer these questions. Work through the entire template and whatever goals that are being decided on are now more clear and understandable.

31. Project Prioritization Matrix Template

The insight to know which project needs your attention if you’re managing a portfolio or program is key to managing your precious resources wisely to get the best return on your investment. Your business has a long-term strategy and using our free project prioritization matrix template for Excel helps you determine which projects are aligned with that strategy objectively and need attention immediately.

It does this with what’s commonly referred to as an Eisenhower matrix. It’s a chart broken up into four quadrants: must be done immediately, scheduled for the near future, delegated and delete or move. Across the top of the chart are two columns, one for do now and the other for doing later. On the left-hand side are two rows: crucial and not crucial. By placing your projects in one of these quadrants you can make more insightful decisions as to where to place your business efforts.

32. Organizational Chart Template

As businesses grow, they can become like a freighter, too big to turn swiftly. Our free organizational chart template for Excel won’t necessarily make your business more nimble, but it’ll help you stay competitive and improve departmental communication. Knowing who reports to who and who has authority to do what in a business will help you respond quickly to market forces and that makes this free Excel template for business so valuable.

A visual chart that shows the internal structure of a business, this hierarchical document breakdown the chain of command from top to bottom. It lists everyone’s name and position and shows where they stand in the organization of the business. Besides showing the relationships of the employees in a business it also helps to analyze the needs of a workforce, which makes it easier to know when you have to hire staff or streamline to create greater efficiency.

33. Action Plan Template

Businesses have strategies, but they’re just ideas on paper until they’re executed. An action plan turns that strategy into actionable steps that will ideally lead to the outcome you’ve planned to achieve. To outline those steps use our free action plan template for Excel. It will visualize the steps necessary to meet your business objectives and goals.

This action plan is made up of tasks and the free Excel template for business even breaks these tasks into subtasks, which are action items. It also notes the team, time and resources that will be required to complete the work. This includes a timeline to organize those tasks, prioritize them and assemble the team who will execute the work.

34. Request for Quote Template

Businesses can’t do everything themselves. They contract out work often but even more, they build relationships with suppliers who provide them with the materials they require to get their work done. Getting the supplies they need, when they need them is done through a request for quote (RFQ) process. To secure the procurements you need for your business, use our free request for quote template for Word.

The RFQ is often used with the request for proposal, the latter being how contracts between businesses and suppliers are defined. This free template is key to negotiating the price, amount and delivery of those supplies necessary for your work. Through a RFQ, both sides can come to an equitable agreement. This free template is ideal for keeping your supply costs down.

35. Marketing Calendar Template

If your business is marketing a product or service that’s a whole other job you have to do on top of everything else. Planning a marketing campaign involves deadlines, coordinating resources and much more. Using our free marketing calendar template for Excel shows you the campaign and activities on a monthly, quarterly or yearly basis to help you stay on track.

This customizable free Excel template for business will allow you to visualize your marketing plan over a specific period of time. You can organize your schedule, the many tasks that are involved and their duration. There’s a place to describe the work and when it’s due as well as the people who are involved in doing that work. You can even set marketing goals to measure the success of your campaign.

36. Change Log Template

There isn’t a business that has not had to change something in order to remain solvent. But changes are disruptive and if you’re not managing them they can end up causing damage or worse to your business. Our free change log template for Excel captures those changes and tracks them throughout their life cycle until they have been resolved.

This provides a business with greater visibility. You identify the change and assign someone in the business to be responsible for addressing it. That creates accountability and managers can be certain that the change, whatever it might be, is taken care of. Not all changes are created equally, either. You can prioritize the change on this free Excel business template and better manage the time and cost related to the change.

37. Implementation Plan Template

This free implementation plan template for Excel charts the steps that lead to the delivery of a project. It’s a plan to implement a strategy and reduce the risk of surprises negatively impacting the project’s goals and objectives.

This free Excel business template defines the strategy, process and actions required to deliver a successful project. This free template is used by project managers to take the executive leadership team’s ideas and turn them into viable projects.

38. KPI Dashboard Template

Both project management teams and businesses need to establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to monitor their performance. This free KPI dashboard template is ideal for monitoring tasks, workload, costs, budgets and revenue.

ProjectManager Helps With Business Planning

All of these free Word and Excel templates for business are helpful, but they can only take you so far. They are, after all, static documents. You have to manually update them and, if they’re shared, it can be difficult to impossible to know which version has the most current data. ProjectManager is cloud-based software that empowers businesses to work more productively and streamline their processes for greater efficiency. Plus, everyone is connected, any time and anywhere, and they’re working off of real-time data to make more impactful decisions.

Plan Business Strategy With Robust Gantt Charts

Businesses need to plan ahead, whether to implement their strategies and meet objectives and goals or to execute projects. That involves scheduling costs, resources and time. Our robust Gantt charts do all that and more. They link all four types of dependencies to help you avoid delays. You can also create milestones and set a baseline to track your planned effort against your actual effort in real time to keep your strategic plans on track.

Track Projects With Real-Time Dashboards

Once you’ve set a baseline, you can track your progress and performance across our software in real time. Toggle over to the live dashboard where colorful graphs and charts make it easy to see metrics, such as time, cost and more. Unlike lightweight tools, there’s no configuration required. It’s ready when you are to show a high-level view of the work you and your employees are doing.

That’s just a sampling of the features we have. There are also resource management tools that can help you balance your employees’ workload to make them more productive. Risk management features allow you to track those changes and make sure they don’t impact your schedule or budget. All this on a collaborative platform that makes it easy to share files, comment and more. Business templates are fine, but our software takes your business to the next level. Get started with ProjectManager today for free.

Related Business Content

If you’re not ready to take our free trial and upgrade your business, but still curious about how ProjectManager can help your business, we’ve got more for you to read. Below is a sampling of the free content on our site,, which includes weekly blogs, guides and, of course, free templates.

• 15 Must-Have Business Report Templates
• What Is a Business Budget? Business Budgeting Basics
• SWOT Analysis: Definitions, Examples & Templates
• How to Write a Mission Statement (Definition & Examples Included)
• What Is a Vision Statement? 15 Vision Statement Examples to Inspire You
• How to Create a Small Business Plan
• How to Write a Business Case (Template Included)
• 25 Must-Have Project Management Excel Templates and Spreadsheets

The post 38 Free Excel Templates for Business (Plus 10 Word Templates) appeared first on ProjectManager.

If that’s the case, check out these free software development templates for Excel, Word and more. They’re just a sampling of all the free project management templates available to download on our site. They cover every aspect of managing a project across multiple industries.

For those wanting a more efficient and effective tool than software development templates, there’s ProjectManager, award-winning project and portfolio management software with robust Gantt charts to plan software projects, especially with waterfall or V-shaped models. Yes, it’s easy to assign teams and drag and drop timelines, but it also links all four types of task dependencies to avoid costly delays, filters for the critical path and sets a baseline to compare planned effort against actual effort in real time to keep the project on track. Get started with ProjectManager today for free.

Why Use a Software Development Template?

Still reading? Then let’s explain why some prefer to use a software development template. For one, they provide consistency. Templates help maintain uniformity across projects, ensuring that coding standards, documentation and processes are followed. This creates a level of efficiency by saving time with a ready-made structure. This allows developers to focus on the actual coding rather than starting from scratch.

Using a software development template incorporates industry best practices and guidelines, which promotes better coding habits and quality. It reduces errors and omissions to enhance overall code quality and stability. They also help new team members onboard quickly as templates make it easier for them to understand the project structure and standards.

With templates, developers can set up new projects or features faster. This accelerates the development cycle, enabling teams to iterate more rapidly and respond to changes in requirements or market conditions. In agile environments, where speed and flexibility are key, templates can help teams spin up user stories or feature branches, aligning with the fast-paced nature of agile methodologies.

18 Free Software Development Templates

While templates will always lag behind project management software, they do have benefits and can act as a bridge for teams as they transition from templates to software. The demands of software development are unique and these free software development templates address the specific needs of software developers and their teams.

1. Software Development Plan Template

Software development without a plan is foolhardy. That’s because it provides a structured framework for development processes and outlines phases, tasks and timelines. This helps managers see the entire project on a timeline. It provides an overview of the project and helps track progress to ensure the work is done according to the software development plan.

Download this free software development plan template for Excel to organize tasks and monitor progress. On one side of the template is a project scheduling spreadsheet. Here all tasks are listed, including their start and end dates. This indicates the duration of the work. This data automatically populates a timeline, which can be color-coded to differentiate project phases. There are columns on the spreadsheet that note the task’s priority and the percentage complete to track progress.

2. Test Case Template

The test case is a critical component of software development. It ensures the quality and reliability of the software product by allowing testers to create test case scenarios for the software product or one of its features. This free test case template for Excel is a methodical tool for doing a thorough test of the product that developers and testers can use to discover missed errors and defects.

Use this software development template to carefully check every aspect of the software to ensure it’s working properly before releasing it to the public. The free template has a column to give the test case an ID, another for defining the test case scenario and one to explain how it will be tested. There’s a field to capture pre-conditions, test steps, expected results, actual results, post-conditions and more.

3. Agile Sprint Plan Template

Sprint planning is a meeting that occurs at the beginning of each sprint, which is a time-boxed iteration, usually between one and four weeks. The team discusses and decides which items from the product backlog will be worked on. This free agile sprint plan template incorporates the entire scrum team to motivate and challenge them to drive success.

This software development template opens in ProjectManager, which gives users a variety of project views to work from. There are kanban boards for agile teams, task lists for developers and the aforementioned Gantt charts to track progress. Real-time data is shared across all project views, which keeps cross-functional teams working off the most current information to foster better collaboration.

4. Project Plan Template

Project plans serve as a comprehensive document that outlines the strategy for managing a software project from initiation to completion. It includes such vital information as defining the scope of the project, creating a timeline and adding milestones to ensure that the project stays on schedule. It also includes resource allocations, budgeting, risk management and more.

The free software development template includes all these components in a thorough Word document. It breaks the project into phases and tasks and creates a schedule with task dependencies, project assumptions and constraints. It also defines the change management process to log and track any changes to the project plan.

5. Bug Report Template

This free bug report template for Excel is used to maintain software quality and ensure that issues are identified and resolved effectively. It documents defects or issues found in the software and serves as a communication tool between developers, testers and other stakeholders. They prioritize and track progress and promote accountability within the team.

The bug report is an essential software development template that captures all the pertinent information needed to fix the bug. There’s the bug ID, including the reporter’s name, assigned developer and the date it was submitted. The bug is then summarized, adding a URL or screenshot if possible. The environment is defined and the details of the bug are listed. The severity and priority are also noted.

6. Roadmap Template

A roadmap provides a strategic overview of a project’s direction and milestones. This free roadmap template for Excel outlines the long-term vision and goals of the software project, which helps stakeholders understand where the project is heading. This free software development template is similar to the Gantt chart, with a spreadsheet that populates a timeline to keep the project team and stakeholders aware of the project’s objectives.

But why bother with limited templates when one can sign up for a free trial and use ProjectManager’s dynamic roadmap feature for long-term planning? Our roadmap can also be used for portfolio management, capturing all projects on a Gantt chart that has resource management, time tracking and task management tools. The roadmap can be filtered by the assignee, project manager or customer to make forecasts and highlight key metrics for stakeholders.

7. Test Plan Template

A test plan provides a structured roadmap for verifying that a product, system or feature works as intended. It can help save time, prevent defects and reduce risks. It defines what will be tested, how it will be tested and who is responsible for ensuring thorough coverage. This improves product quality, builds stakeholder confidence and supports smooth project delivery.

Rather than creating a plan from scratch for each product or feature, use our free test plan template for Excel. It improves consistency across testing cycles, reduces the risk of missed defects and helps developers and stakeholders see progress clearly. Ultimately, it supports higher-quality products, faster release cycles, and more reliable decision-making throughout development.

8. Requirements Gathering Template

Requirements gathering is an important part of software development as it collects, analyzes and documents the needs and expectations of stakeholders. This helps to understand the use needs for the software, defines the project scope and ensures all stakeholder perspectives are considered. This software development template is about business, user and system requirements and is crucial to complete before starting any software development project.

When you download the free requirements gathering template for Word, there’s everything needed for a thorough listing of project requirements. It has a cover page with the project name and a chart to track the versions of the document. There’s a section to show the project plan and describe the project and its purpose, scope and timeline, which has milestones, goals, dependencies and more.

9. Risk Tracking Template

The free risk tracking or risk register template is essential for identifying and mitigating risks that can impact the project’s success. This software development template allows teams to proactively identify the risks that could arise as issues in the project and note the impact, which will help to categorize risks by levels, such as high, medium and low. This allows risks to be prioritized.

This free template allows developers and their teams to systematically track and evaluate the actions taken to mitigate the risks that show up as issues in the project. Risk is an inevitable part of any project management. Being prepared for risk is key to software development to ensure the delivered product is high quality, on time and stays within budget.

10. Bug Report Template

Catching bugs early is pivotal, so a bug report is key. It typically includes details like a clear description of the problem, steps to reproduce it, expected versus actual behavior, severity or priority, screenshots or logs and the environment in which the bug occurred.

Use this free bug report template to help maintain software quality, prevent recurring issues and ensure that stakeholders are aware of defects that could impact performance, user experience or timelines. Well-documented bug reports streamline debugging, improve accountability and support a smoother, more predictable development process.

11. Issue Tracking Template

Another software development template that helps to keep work moving smoothly is our free issue tracking template for Excel. Unlike a risk, which is an event, both positive and negative, which might occur, an issue is presently impacting the project for the worse. The issue must be resolved.

Download this issue tracking template to ensure that issues are not only identified but resolved without negatively impacting the project. Each issue is listed and described with the potential impact to the project defined. A priority is then set and the date the issue is opened is noted. There’s space to list the date when the issue has closed as well as who on the team is responsible for dealing with it. A column with the status tracks whether the issue is open or closed.

12. Product Backlog Template

A product backlog is a prioritized, dynamic list of all the work items required to build or maintain a product: new features, bug fixes, improvements, technical tasks, or other requested changes. It acts as a “single source of truth” for everything that could or should be done for the product.

The product backlog template helps teams organize and manage all work items in one place. It lets you list each task or feature, assign priorities, estimate effort, track status and record acceptance criteria. By keeping everything structured and visible, the template makes it easier to plan sprints, communicate with stakeholders and focus on the most valuable work. It ensures clarity, transparency, and flexibility as priorities change during product development.

13. Change Log Template

Change is a constant and if it isn’t managed it’s a project-destroyer. Change can come from problems in the project to last-minute requests from stakeholders. Wherever they originate, change has to be logged to determine if it should be followed. This free change log template from Excel helps to manage equipment breaks, team members getting sick or whatever change occurs in the project.

Use this software development template to capture change as it happens and track it throughout the project until it’s no longer impacting work. The template notes the type of change, describes it and prioritizes it to help the team know which to address first. The team member who’s assigned to own the change is listed and much more to ensure that the change never falls through the cracks.

14. Change Request Form Template

Another component of change management is this free change request form template for Word. It collects data that determines how to deal with the proposed change. This way, if the change request is approved, the work won’t create issues with the current workflow. This ensures that approved changes are smoothly implemented.

This software development template has everything one needs to capture the specifics of the requested change. It shows who requested the change, the date it was submitted, the priority and the impact on deliverables. There’s also a field to note the impact of not responding to the change and why. Other fields note the cost, quality and duration of the change, impact on deadlines and much more.

15. Kanban Board Template

In software development, a kanban board provides a visual way to manage and track work as it moves through different stages of the development process. Typically, tasks or user stories are represented as cards that move across columns such as “To Do,” “In Progress” and “Done.”

This kanban board template helps teams see workflow bottlenecks, manage workload and prioritize tasks. It promotes transparency, encourages continuous delivery, and allows developers, testers, and product owners to quickly understand project status at a glance.

16. Root Cause Analysis

Root cause analysis is a systemic process used in software development to identify the underlying reasons for defects or issues within a system. This free software development template can help identify problems when a bug or failure occurs and analyze the contributing factors.

Use this free root cause analysis template for Word to identify and document what is responsible for the problem. The root cause analysis template is a fishbone diagram where the problem is at the head and the spine captures various causes that are the reason for the problem being analyzed.

17. Timesheet Template

Timesheets help with payroll. Specifically, as a software development template, timesheets can help track contractors. They tend to work long hours when doing development work. Timesheets not only help them log their hours but also allow managers to track their labor costs to ensure that the project stays within its budget.

Download this free timesheet template for Excel to manage payroll and track expenses. There’s a box for the employee’s name, department, supervisor and hourly rate. Under that, the days they’re working for the pay cycle are listed, including start and end times, with a lunch break. There’s a column for any overtime hours and then it’s all added, with signature lines for the employee and their supervisor.

18. Progress Report

A progress report is a document that shows how far the project has progressed in comparison to where the project plan says it should be. This software development template is key to tracking the project to ensure that it stays on schedule.

Download the free progress report template for Word to keep software products meeting deadlines. The template opens with a summary and then lists all the tasks that were executed over the period covered in the report. If there are issues, they’re highlighted in another section. Both progress and the budget are tracked. The template closes with accomplishments over that period and what is expected to be accomplished over the next period covered.

ProjectManager Helps With Software Development

While these software development templates are helpful, as we’ve mentioned, they cause frustration. That’s because they’re only static documents working in a dynamic field. It’s hard enough to do a software development project without having to stop and manually update templates. And forget about collaborating with other team members. Templates aren’t capable. Project management software clears all those hurdles and more. ProjectManager is award-winning software that has Gantt charts and roadmaps that are updated in real time, and can be shared with teams whether they’re working side-by-side or in another time zone.

Execute Work on Kanban Boards and Task Lists

While Gantt charts are great for planning and roadmaps illustrate strategic objectives, dev teams need tools designed to help them execute their work. That’s why we have multiple project views that share data so everyone is working on the same page. They can visualize workflow with kanban boards. Teams can collectively plan sprints, manage their backlog and managers can see potential roadblocks and reallocate resources quickly to clear the way and keep the project moving forward as planned. Task lists and calendar views give stakeholders a monthly overview of progress to keep them informed.

Track Progress, Costs and More in Real Time

Instead of using a software development template to report on progress, use one of our customizable reports on status, portfolios, workload, variance, timesheets and more. They can be filtered to go deep into the details for teams or a more general overview for stakeholders. For a high-level overview, toggle to the real-time project or portfolio dashboard. It automatically collects live data, which is displayed on easy-to-read graphs and charts that show time, cost, workload and more. There are also secure timesheets that can help managers track labor costs.

ProjectManager is online project and portfolio management software that connects teams, whether they’re in the office or anywhere in the world. They can share files, comment at the task level and stay updated with email and in-app notifications. Get started with ProjectManager today for free.

The post 18 Free Software Development Templates for Excel, Word & More appeared first on ProjectManager.

ProjectManager is award-winning software that can help you plan, manage and track your events. We’re also the online hub for everything project management-related. You can read weekly blogs, guides and download free event planning templates for Excel and Word. We have free templates for every phase of a project. Below, we collected 17 free event planning templates that you can use to propose, plan and manage your next event.

1. Event Proposal Template

Every event starts as an idea. Someone or some organization wants to have an event and puts out requests for proposals (RFPs). Just as you’d bid for any project, you have to propose why you’re the best contractor to do the job. Convincing that potential client is where our free event proposal template for Word comes in. It gives you the space to prove to stakeholders that you can do what they need to deliver a successful event.

This free event template is broken up into customizable sections. You can add or remove sections that aren’t pertinent to your proposal, but we boiled down the event proposal to the essentials. You’ll find a field to fill in on the purpose of the event, similar to the mission statement. There’s also a place to define the event’s goals and objectives to show you understand what the client wants to achieve with the event. Further cementing your expertise is a field for the target audience you’ll attract to the event, marketing and promotions, value proposition and costs. This free event proposal template should seal the deal for you.

2. Event Plan Template

Once you get the job you’ll need an event plan template to show how the event will run from start to finish. Our free event plan template for Excel helps make sure that you’ll meet deadlines and do so within the budget approved by your client. No different than any other type of project plan, the free event planning template identifies resources and includes phases to make it easier to manage.

Best of all, there’s an option to skip the Excel spreadsheet and get a free trial of ProjectManager, award-winning project management software that can do much more than a static template. Open the software in the Gantt chart to organize your event tasks and add resources and associated costs. You can even make assignments, attach files and add descriptions, tags, priority and more. Everything you add to the spreadsheet populates on a visual timeline so you can see the event in one place, adding milestones and linking dependent tasks to avoid delays. Then set a baseline to track your planned effort against your actual effort in real time, something you can’t do on a spreadsheet. Get started with ProjectManager today for free.

3. Event Schedule Template

Events run smoothly when everyone knows where to be and what’s happening next, and an event schedule template for Excel provides that structure. It outlines session times, activities, speakers and locations so attendees and organizers stay aligned throughout the day. With a clear schedule, planning becomes easier, transitions are quicker and participants experience the event as organized and professional, rather than chaotic or rushed. It’s a simple tool that has a big impact on success.

This free event schedule template for Excel offers a detailed table to map out each session from start to finish, including the description of activities, hosts, target audience and objectives. Header fields capture essential context like venue, goals, contacts and guidelines, ensuring event logistics are centralized in one place. The format supports both in-person and virtual gatherings, making it easy to coordinate teams, guide attendees and deliver a polished, well-timed experience.

4. Event Budget Template for Excel

You got the job and you’re making a plan, but you need to have an event budget to know what to bill your client. If your financial forecast is off, then you could possibly be out a large sum of money. It could be enough to make the whole event a loss for you. To avoid that disaster, you need to use our free event budget template for Excel. This allows you to more accurately estimate the costs of the event before you commit to it so you can make a profit and not lose money.

It’s hard to know how much an event will cost. There are a lot of variables and you have to consider risk, which might impact the event’s costs. Our free budget template lets you collect costs, such as those associated with labor, any consultant fees you might have, raw materials and more. Of course, no two events are exactly alike. That’s why our free template is customizable. You can add things like marketing and promotions or anything else that might be missing from the template to ensure you come up with an accurate figure. There are even columns to track your actual budget against your planned budget to keep on track.

5. Event Budget Template for Google Sheets

Some teams prefer to collaborate online when making an event budget, so we’ve created an event budget template for Google Sheets as well. It greatly helps during the process of making a budget and getting it approved, as it can be easily shared with stakeholders like investors and event sponsors.

6. Event Budget Dashboard Template

Event budgets can shift quickly as plans evolve, and an event budget dashboard template helps planners stay in control. Instead of scanning long spreadsheets, teams get a real-time snapshot of where money is being spent and how it compares to expectations. By highlighting cost variances early, dashboards support smarter decisions, protect resources and help ensure funding is directed toward the activities that matter most for a successful event.

This budget dashboard template tracks major cost categories such as materials, labor, equipment and overhead, while visually comparing planned vs. actual spending through bar charts and donut charts. It also calculates the remaining budget balance so teams can spot overruns before they escalate. With structured tables and a graphical view of financial performance, the template improves transparency, supports forecasting and makes budget reviews quicker and more accurate for event planners and stakeholders.

7. Event Report Template

Once an event is completed, organizers need a clear record of what happened and how it performed. An event report template captures the purpose, audience outcomes, marketing results, budget accuracy and lessons learned. It enables teams to celebrate successes, understand challenges and justify investments to stakeholders. By reviewing data alongside attendee feedback, planners can continuously improve and deliver stronger events in the future.

This event report template compiles everything required for a full post-event evaluation. It includes fields for general event details, goals and key outcomes, demographic insights and timeline effectiveness. Budget tracking highlights variances between planned and actual spending, while marketing sections measure engagement and reach. Feedback and lessons learned provide actionable takeaways. With all performance metrics in one place, this template makes reporting transparent and guides smarter planning for upcoming events.

8. Event Marketing Calendar Template

Speaking of marketing, no event is successful without a marketing campaign to attract the event’s target audience. That’s easier said than done. Just like the event plan, there are deadlines, resources and costs involved. It doesn’t matter if you’re working on an email blitz, direct mail or even billboards; there’s a lot to coordinate. Our free event marketing calendar template for Excel helps you put all those ducks in a row. This versatile tool shows you the marketing campaign on a monthly, quarterly or yearly calendar. You can see who’s responsible for what and when that work is due.

The deceptively simple design is very powerful for marketing management. It’s a grid, the same as what you’d see in any calendar, but it allows you to look at the big picture and see the marketing campaign laid out over the month, quarter or year. The template is broken up into tabs, each with the date on the left and the name of the campaign. Following that are the tasks associated with that campaign, including a description, due date and who’s responsible for completing that work. Then you can add the cost for that task, which is a line item of the total budget. There’s even space to add the goals of the campaign and the duration of the entire marketing campaign.

9. Event Task Tracker Template

We’ve talked about landing the job, planning for the event, estimating the budget and even the marketing and promotion campaign that’ll ensure that it’s well attended. What we’ve not talked about yet is how to ensure you’re staying on track. To do that, you need to compare the planned versus actual effort. That way you can see if you’re adhering to your event schedule or lagging behind. You don’t want to find out that you’re behind schedule when it’s too late to take action. You don’t have to worry if you use our free event task tracker template for Excel.

You’ll find everything you need to track your tasks. There’s a place to list the name of your tasks and add a description of the work. If there’s a dependency, you can also list that to avoid costly delays. Then add who on your team is assigned to that task. There’s a place to add the priority of the tasks to know which needs to be done first and the due dates, including start, planned end and actual end dates. Then add the task status to know if it’s delayed, paused open or completed.

10. Event Task Tracking Dashboard Template

Keeping event tasks organized can be challenging when deadlines overlap and multiple teams contribute. A task tracking dashboard template gives planners a centralized view of responsibilities, progress and urgency so nothing slips through the cracks.

By monitoring priorities and status in real time, it becomes easier to remove bottlenecks, reassign resources and keep everyone aligned. This visibility helps events stay on schedule and supports better collaboration across the entire event planning team.

This task tracking dashboard template lists every activity along with owners, dates, priority level and current status. It includes visual pie charts that break down work by urgency and completion stage, making it simple to spot risks or overdue tasks at a glance. With clear structure and built-in tracking insights, the template improves accountability, supports proactive decision-making and helps ensure planning remains smooth from start to finish.

11. Event Planning Gantt Chart Template

Of course, all of this must be done within a certain timeframe. Events take place over a specific time, day or days. There’s no wiggle room. Marketing materials have been sent out with the time of the event and nothing is going to change that. Producing that event on time means you have to schedule wisely. Using our free Gantt chart event planning template for Excel can help you make sure that everything is done when it needs to be done.

With our event timeline, you have two parts. On the left is a spreadsheet, again fully customizable, in which we have four columns. There you can list the tasks, start dates, end dates and duration. On the right is a visual timeline, like a Gantt chart, which automatically populates the timeline for your event. You can make phases different colors to make them easy to discern as you get an overview of the event plan in one place.

12. Cost-Benefit Analysis Template

Before you propose to produce an event, you need to know that the project is going to bring a return on your investment. Otherwise, you’re a charity, not a business (though even charities need to remain solvent to continue their good work). To determine whether the event is worth bidding for, use our free cost-benefit analysis template for Excel and see if the expenses you have to put out are going to be recouped.

Our free event planning template does this by capturing the quantitative costs, such as indirect, intangible and opportunity, and pushes those out to whatever the length of your event plan is. Then you list the quantitative benefits, such as direct, indirect, intangible and competitive, again forecast out over the life cycle of the event. From that, the template calculates the total cost and compares that to the total benefit to help you make the right decision.

13. RACI Matrix Template

If you’ve bid and won the event, then you’ve already done a cost-benefit analysis, plan and schedule. Now you have to get your team to work and keep your client updated. They do, after all, have a vested interest in your success. This requires identifying the stakeholders and defining their roles and responsibilities, including your team, and how they relate to the project and its tasks. This is done with our free RACI matrix template for Excel.

RACI is an acronym for responsible, accountable, consulted and informed. Our free event planning template is a spreadsheet in which you can list the project tasks as rows and across the top list all the members of your team, each as an individual column. Then next to the box where their name meets the task, you can note whether they’re an R, A, C or I. This greatly improves your management of the project, team and client.

14. Stakeholder Map Template

Another tool to identify the stakeholders in your event project is our free stakeholder map template for Excel. Remember, stakeholders can be anyone from your team and the target audience for the event, and, of course, the client. Using this visual tool makes it easy for you to see each stakeholder’s impact and how they influence your work.

The free event planning template is easy to use. It’s broken up into a grid of four squares. First, list your stakeholders and color-code them either green to indicate they’re an advocate, yellow if they’re neutral and red if they’re critical and potentially can block work. Then add each to the grip, which is broken up by how to manage them, keep satisfied, manage closely, and the level of their influence, from low to high. This helps you create a stakeholder management and communication plan.

15. Timesheet Template

Finally, you’ll need to keep track of your team as they do their work. Timesheets are valuable tools not only for payroll but to keep track of the cost per hour, vacation and overtime of your team. Using our free timesheet template for Excel can help you manage your team’s time while keeping track of their hours.

The timesheet template helps you track your employees. Start by capturing the personal data, such as name, department, hourly rate, etc. Then define a timeframe for the timesheet and collect their hours. Add the total work hours and you’re able to keep track of where they are in terms of completing their tasks and ensure they’re paid promptly and accurately.

16. Budget Proposal Template

No event has an unlimited budget, so it’s important to have a means to propose what the budget will be. Plus, depending on what the budget is, it could make or break whether the event comes to fruition. Use the budget proposal template for Excel to concisely capture the financial data surrounding a possible project to determine if it’s worthwhile. This is a versatile template that allows you to add a detailed breakdown of salaries, materials, equipment, travel, communication and more.

This template can help ensure you have the funds to pay for all aspects of the event. From hiring the right team of vendors to gathering the needed resources, it allows the project manager to get an accurate estimate of the project’s cost.

17. Creative Brief Template

Creative projects, such as throwing an event, start with a creative brief. It’s similar to a project brief except it’s aimed at marketing, advertising and design projects, including event planning. Think of the creative brief as a game plan that aligns everyone on the project objectives. Use this free creative brief template for Word to outline the project name, objective, target audience, key message, how it will benefit the customer and more.

In addition to creating consistency in project documentation, creative briefs help get stakeholder approval on the event. Once you get their approval, use the creative brief template to better communicate project goals to the involved parties in the venue, including photographers, graphic designers, caterers, etc. Feel free to reference it in the future to help improve project outcomes.

Use ProjectManager to Deliver a Successful Event

Free event planning templates are great, but only to a point. For example, our timesheet template has to be manually inputted and there’s no security. ProjectManager is award-winning project management software that has timesheet features that automatically populate and give managers a real-time look into how far they are in completing their tasks. But that’s just one feature of many to help you manage and deliver a quality event for your client.

Plan Your Event on a Gantt Chart

Rather than using an event planning template, timeline template, event budget, tracker, etc., our Gantt chart organizes your tasks, resources and costs and tracks your progress in real time. You can link all four task dependencies and set a schedule baseline, which allows our software to show you real-time data on your progress and performance. That’s how you stay on track and don’t go over budget.

Track Your Progress on Real-Time Dashboards

It’s easy to edit the Gantt; just drag and drop as things change. All details of your event plan adjust accordingly. Then you can toggle over to our real-time dashboard and get a high-level view of everything from your time, cost to workload and the overall health of your project. You don’t have to waste time configuring it as you do with lightweight tools. It’s ready when you are.

Our software has more than Gantt charts, which are more suited for managers. There are kanban boards to visualize the workflow, task lists and calendars for your marketing and promotion push. The multiple project views all work in unison so no matter which tool you’re using, it has the most up-to-date data. Everyone is always on the same page.

Related Event Planning Content

Whether you’re new to managing an event or have worked on dozens in the past, there’s always more to learn. Our site is an online hub for all things project management, which includes event planning. Here is a sampling of our weekly blogs, guides and tutorial videos.

• How to Plan an Event: Event Planning Steps, Tips & Checklist
• How to Plan a Virtual Event: Virtual Event Planning Checklist
• Event Scheduling Basics: How to Make an Event Schedule
• Event Management: A Quick Guide
• Event Project Management Software
• How to Create an Event Budget
• Event Budget Template for Google Sheets

ProjectManager is online software that empowers teams to plan, manage and track events in real time. Use our task management, risk management and resource management features to stay productive and on track. Our collaborative platform makes it easy to comment and share files wherever you are. Get started with ProjectManager today for free.

The post 17 Free Event Planning Templates for Excel and Word appeared first on ProjectManager.

ProjectManager is project management software that’s more dynamic than static PMO templates, but if you’re not ready to upgrade, our site is rich with free project management templates for Excel and Word. We’ve collected 33 free templates that are suitable for a PMO. These templates cover everything from Gantt charts, project planning, resource allocation, status reports on project data and so much more.

1. PMO Gantt Chart Template

The Gantt chart is one of the essential tools for project managers. It provides a view of the entire project on a timeline and includes tasks, milestones, schedules and more. The project management office can use our free Gantt chart template for Excel to get an overview of a project or use it as a roadmap to track multiple projects in one place to allocate resources when and where they’re needed.

The Gantt chart template is broken up into two sections. On the left is a regular spreadsheet where you can add the tasks or projects that you’re overseeing. Next to that are columns to capture the start and end dates. Finally, there’s a column for the duration of the task or project. Once you’ve filled out this information, the color-coded timeline on the right automatically populates and allows you to see the tasks, phases and projects all in one place.

2. PMO Project Dashboard Template

PMOs need a high-level view of the projects they’re overseeing. They need metrics to help them chart the course of those projects and know when changes are required to keep everything on track. Our free PMO project dashboard template for Excel is made up of easy-to-read graphs and charts that give them the data at a glance.

You need real-time data to make better decisions or you might act on inaccurate data. ProjectManager is online project management software with portfolio dashboards that capture real-time data that requires no time-consuming configuration or manual input as with PMO templates. Instead, you get fast and reliable data on the health of your projects, tasks, progress, time, cost and workload whenever you need it. Get started with ProjectManager today for free.

3. PMO Cost-Benefit Analysis Template

There are certain projects that are worth pursuing, while others are going to end up in a money pit. A PMO helps guide companies to choose projects that will give them value for their investment. To do this, they can use our free PMO cost-benefit analysis template for Excel.

A cost-benefit analysis is used to compare what you expect to pay for a project against what you hope it’ll provide in terms of opportunity. This is done by adding a dollar amount to all your quantitative costs and quantitative benefits. From there, it’s easy to see if you’ll be getting a return on your investment.

4. PMO Strategic Plan Template

Oftentimes, when a company needs help executing a major strategy, it turns to a PMO. A strategic plan will help define how an organization can reach long-term objectives, so the team can use it as a reference document through the months and years. This free strategic plan template for Word will help you get started with such a long-term plan.

This strategic plan template will help a PMO nail down the essentials for any strategy. There are fields for the vision statement, mission statement and a SWOT analysis to help everyone come to terms with their competitive environment. It’s an ideal place to start when trying to solve the big questions.

5. PMO Strategic Roadmap Template

PMOs, by definition, oversee multiple projects. When an organization creates a strategic plan it usually involves many projects working together to achieve a common goal. Using our free PMO strategic roadmap template for Excel visualizes the steps that lead to reaching the organization’s long-term goals.

Our free PMO template is customizable so you can adjust it to fit your long-term goals. When you open ours you’ll find a timeline, tasks and activities with deliverables and timelines to track your progress. There’s even a column to list your team and the departments they’re working in.

6. PMO Strategic Map Template

Another job for PMOs is to provide guidelines and communicate the strategic plan throughout the organization to ensure that everyone is working together on that common cause. A PMO template that helps do this is our free PMO strategy map template for Excel is a visual tool that disseminates the strategic plan across the organization.

The PMO strategy map template shows the cause-and-effect of an organization’s strategic objectives and breaks up those objectives into four perspectives: financial, customer, business process and learning and growth. The strategic objectives are represented by ovals on the map and arrows show the relationship between them.

7. PMO Balanced Scorecard Template

PMOs use tools to manage strategy and get metrics to measure their performance. One of these tools is our free PMO balanced scorecard template for Excel. This free PMO template can help with the improvement of internal operations and external outcomes.

This PMO template helps to communicate targets and goals for an organization and informs its day-to-day operations. This is both a planning tool and a way to communicate the plan, but can also be used to track and assess the effectiveness of that plan.

8. PMO Project Prioritization Matrix Template

One thing a PMO does is provide guidance. This guidance and insight can help with how you manage projects, but also whether those projects are worth taking on in the first place. One tool to help make those types of decisions is our free project prioritization matrix template for Excel.

The process is deceptively simple, but it’s an effective way to prioritize your projects. The matrix is divided into four sections. On top, there are two columns, one for doing now and the other for doing later. The lefthand side has two rows, one for crucial and the other for not crucial. Depending on where you place the project, it can be a must-do immediately, scheduled for the near future, delegated, delete or move. You can also use this for tasks or anything you need to prioritize.

9. PMO Project Portfolio Template

A project portfolio template for Excel helps you manage many projects at once in a single, organized workbook. It lets you list each project’s name, sponsor or manager, project status, priority level, progress (e.g. phase or percent completion), start and end dates (planned vs actual) and budget.

Using it means you get a high-level snapshot of everything underway, which projects are on track, which might be delayed, which are high priority and how budgets and timelines compare across the board. It makes it easier to allocate resources, identify conflicts or overloads, spot risks and make strategic decisions about which projects to push forward or pause.

10. Resource Plan Template for PMOs

Allocating limited resources across multiple projects so everyone has what they need when they need it is a large part of what a PMO does. Being able to plan those resources smartly will help deliver successful projects. Our free Excel resource plan template for PMOs helps PMOs make sure teams are properly allocated.

Using this PMO template lets you list all your team members by department and their individual tasks. Then you can show each team member’s total effort, rate and the cost for that work. There’s even a calendar to map out when each team member will be working.

11. PMO Resource Capacity Planning Template

Another PMO template is our free PMO resource capacity planning template for Excel. This helps PMOs to figure out how much production capacity is needed to meet demand. This is especially useful as demand is constantly fluctuating.

This PMO template allows you to list your tasks and their estimated duration, including the start and end dates. There is another chart for resources to be listed, including hourly rates and a project timeline. Other info includes resource utilization, availability and more.

12. Project Update Template for PMOs

PMOs need visibility into projects to ensure the portfolio is running smoothly. Regular updates show whether projects are on schedule, within budget and aligned with organizational goals. Download this free project update template for Excel for a streamlined way to communicate with stakeholders.

Project updates also ensure consistency in reporting across teams, which allows the PMO to compare performance, support decision-making and maintain accountability. Ultimately, timely updates help the PMO guide projects toward successful, predictable outcomes.

13. Project Estimate Template for PMOs

Having accurate forecasts for the cost of your projects is part of delivering them successfully. Our free Excel project estimate template for PMOs helps PMOs figure out how much each project will cost to the best of their ability.

The phases of the project are broken up in this PMO template. In each of these sections the vendor or contractor is listed as well as the labor and materials for the specific line item task. Adding all this up will give you an accurate estimate for the project.

14. PMO Flow Chart Template

As a PMO, it’s critical to understand all the steps for a project or a process. A flow chart will allow you to map out those steps and provide a visual reference point for others in the organization. Our free flow chart template for Word will provide you with springboard to make your own flow chart.

Making a flow chart is often a rock-solid place to start understanding a key process or project. Once you’ve identified key tasks and their relationships, you can start assigning responsibility and developing a full-blown schedule for execution.

15. PMO Project Budget Template

Money is always going to rule decisions when overseeing projects. Companies have finite costs and don’t want to find themselves continuously updating a budget because it demands more funds. Using our free PMO project budget template for Excel can help you accurately forecast budgets and avoid overspending on projects.

There are so many costs related to a project that our free template helps you capture them all. The template itself is customizable, so if there’s anything you don’t need or want to add, it’s easy to do. Our template has fields for labor costs, consulting fees, raw materials, software licenses, travel, utilities, office space and equipment and so much more. Get accurate estimates of project costs before executing the project.

16. Stakeholder Analysis Template for PMOs

If you look at PMOs as service providers, it’s clear that they have stakeholders. For a project management office, those stakeholders can include executives, project managers, functional managers and even team members. All will have their specific expectations. With our free stakeholder analysis template for Excel, you can identify and manage them all.

This PMO template begins with basic stakeholder information. That is, you list all the stakeholders and their projects. Then you can add their relationship to those projects, whether they have any subject matter expertise or are decision-makers. You also get to define how to communicate with them. Finally, there’s a dropdown menu to define their commitment, from C for the level of commitment and R for the required level of commitment.

17. PMO Project Handover Template

A project handover marks a critical point where a project’s deliverables, documentation, and responsibilities are transferred from the project team to the operations team or client. Download this free project handover template for Excel to document the current status of a project.

A smooth handover ensures that all work is complete, quality standards are met, and nothing is lost in transition. For the PMO, this is crucial for maintaining accountability, confirming that objectives were achieved, enabling ongoing support or maintenance and capturing lessons learned for future projects.

18. PMO Project Review Template

A PMO is responsible for evaluating past projects as well as planning new ones. If you don’t have a consistent method for evaluation, your review process could be spotty and deliver unreliable results. Try this free project review template for Word and bring some consistency to your project evaluation.

Of course, project review doesn’t have to be limited to the conclusion of a project. Reviewing an ongoing project can also be beneficial in terms of staying on track and meeting stakeholder requirements. When you consider all the ways you can leverage this PMO template, it’s self-evident how impactful it can be.

19. PMO Timesheet Template

Being able to track time over a specific period helps ensure the project is progressing on schedule. This is an essential resource management tool as well as part of payroll. Therefore, the PMO is going to want to have access to timesheets to track progress. They can use our free timesheet template for Excel.

The first thing you do with our free template defines a timeframe for the timesheet. Next, you can add the start time, lunch start and end and the end time for each person’s day. There is a column to add regular hours, overtime hours and then the total work hours. Now you have a high-level view of your costs.

20. Project Request Form for PMOs

A project request serves as a starting point for evaluating and approving new projects. This free project request form template captures essential information such as objectives, scope, resources, timelines, risks and benefits. In return, a PMO can quickly and consistently review project requests.

This ensures that each request includes all the information needed to evaluate alignment with organizational priorities and resource availability. The uniform structure makes it easier to compare multiple proposals, prioritize effectively and decide which projects should move forward.

21. Communication Plan Template for PMOs

All activities that are part of a company’s project management go through the PMO. Communication is a vital part of this process. If things aren’t clearly stated and distributed properly, issues will arise that can impact the bottom line. That’s why our free communication plan template for Word is so important.

This PMO template helps you define the vision and objectives for the project, program or portfolio as well as their goals and timeframes. There are also places to add the communication staff and what tools they’ll be using. Then you can show how you’ll measure the effectiveness of your communication plan to make sure it’s doing what you want it to do.

22. Project Plan Template for PMOs

PMOs improve project management by standardizing processes and boosting efficiency. That means they create and maintain documentation, tracking and training. But they also plan. That’s where our free project plan template for PMOs comes in handy.

This PMO template has everything you’ll need for a PMO. There’s a place to define the scope of the project, program or portfolio, including milestones, phases and tasks. You can also add your effort and resource requirements. Then schedule the plan, including task dependencies, project assumptions and constraints, budget, risk log, change management process and much more.

23. PMO Project Tracking Template

PMOs monitor the projects they oversee. They need to track their progress in order to make sure that they’re running as per schedule. If they’re not, resources might need reallocation to get everything back on track. Our free PMO project tracking template for Excel is designed to work as a task management system to track tasks and make sure the work is being done on time.

Using the project tracking template allows you to track individual projects or programs and portfolios. First, you list the task name or project name and a brief description. If there are any task dependencies, you add them to the next column. There’s space to add who the task is assigned to or the project manager. Now note the priority, start date, planned end date and actual end date. Finally, there’s a pulldown menu to capture the status.

24. Project List Template for PMOs

A project list template gives the PMO a single, consolidated view of all projects in the organization, whether they’re active, planned or completed. Leverage this free project list template for Excel to avoid overlooked initiatives, duplicate work or conflicting schedules.

With this template, the PMO can standardize how projects are recorded and monitored, creating consistency across teams. That standardization supports easier reporting, comparison and decision‑making (which projects to prioritize, where to allocate resources, when to start new ones).

25. Project Requirements Template for PMOs

A requirements template gives the PMO a clear, formal baseline for what the project is supposed to deliver. That baseline helps prevent scope creep, misunderstandings and misaligned expectations. Download this free project requirements template for Excel to capture exactly what the project must do before work begins.

With requirements documented in a consistent format, the PMO can verify that deliverables actually meet the agreed‑upon criteria, track changes over time and log who requested or approved which requirements. That makes audits, quality control and stakeholder communications cleaner and more reliable.

26. Multiple Project Tracking Template for PMOs

PMOs are monitoring multiple projects at once in order to ensure that all are working towards the common strategic goal of the organization. To achieve that goal means these projects must be delivered on time and stay within budget. Our free Excel multiple project tracking template for PMOs is a great PMO template for this.

When you open the template, there are several charts, each a separate project. You can name the project, list the tasks and dependencies, who those tasks are assigned to and their priority. There’s also a place to list the planned start and end dates, the actual start and end dates and the same with the costs. This allows you to see if your actual progress is aligned with the planned progress. If not, you can make adjustments to get back on track.

27. Requirements Gathering Template for PMOs

The purpose of requirements gathering is to guide the PMO through the whole project, from initiation to delivery. Requirements are a condition or capacities that stakeholders need to solve a problem or achieve an objective. Using our free requirements gathering template for PMOs, you can collect everything in one place.

Everything you’d need to understand the project is within the pages of this Word document, including the project plan, a description of the project’s purpose, scope and a timeline that has milestones, dependencies and so forth. The goals and objects are also defined as well as the constraints and restrictions and how to resolve them.

28. Risk Log Template for PMOs

Risk is always something that PMOs are tracking. Whether it’s a good risk or a bad risk, the sooner it’s identified and dealt with, the better. Our free risk log template for PMOs gives you a tool to prepare for risk and have a plan in place to resolve it if it shows up as an issue.

Begin by describing the risk and its impact. Then add how you’ll respond to the risk if it in fact becomes an issue. To help in your response, add the risk level, such as high, medium or low. Now you know how to prioritize the risk if it becomes an issue. There’s also a place to add the project manager or team member who owns that risk and is responsible for identifying and leading the response to it.

29. PMO Change Log Template

Change is going to happen, and the PMO is there to help ensure that it doesn’t negatively impact the project. One way to do that is by using our free PMO change log template for Excel. It’s part of any larger, effective change management plan that helps control the change by tracking it from the moment it’s identified until it’s been resolved.

This spreadsheet gives you a place to put everything you need to know about the change in your project to manage it. Note when the change is first observed, who on the project team owns it, which means they will lead the effort to resolve it, and you can also add the priority and status of that change.

30. PMO Change Request Template

Before you resolve or respond to any change, you need to decide whether it’s worth doing. There are changes, such as inclement weather or equipment failure, which must be dealt with. But more often than not, changes come from owners and other stakeholders. Our free PMO change request form for Word provides you with a place for everyone to agree on what to do.

You can customize the change request form to have as much or as little detail as you want. We’ve included space for a brief description and the impact it’ll have on the project. There’s enough information on the form for project managers to work with the PMO on deciding if the change is worth doing, and if so how, or to take no action.

31. Project Status Report Template for PMOs

Reporting is key to PMO work. For example, a status report delivers key project data that will inform how a PMO will guide the project management of that project. With our free project status report template for PMOs, you can chart the project’s health and progress, among other things, within a specific period of time.

The status report has a summary of key accomplishments, the work that has been completed over that period, planned work still to come in the project scope, milestones achieved and deliverables. There’s also a place to list action items for what needs to come next. Other things under review include the budget, schedule, quality, risks, issues and roadblocks.

32. Progress Report Template

PMOs need to track the progress of the projects they’re overseeing. Reporting is a valuable tool that captures data from the project over a specific period of time, including if it’s moving forward as planned. Our free progress report template for Word gives PMOs that snapshot in one document.

This PMO template gives PMOs everything from a summary to data on tasks, any issues that have come up over the time period covered and how the project is performing in terms of its budget. There’s also space for accomplishments and what is expected to be accomplished moving forward.

33. Program Roadmap Template

This free program roadmap template for Excel allow PMOs to visualize the timelines of the multiple projects that make up a program and identify their tasks, milestones and deliverables. It can be used to track projects on a weekly, monthly, quarterly or yearly basis.

This PMO template gives PMOs everything from a summary to data on tasks, any issues that have come up over the time period covered and how the project is performing in terms of its budget. There’s also space for accomplishments and what is expected to be accomplished moving forward.

How ProjectManager Helps PMOs

That’s a lot of templates. And although free is free, there’s always a price. PMO templates are static and you have to do all the work. ProjectManager is award-winning project management software that delivers task management, risk management and resource management features to help PMOs guide their projects, programs and portfolios in real time. It has automation and updates so you’re always looking at the most current information.

Manage Resources With Roadmaps

PMOs oversee many projects at once. They have to provide direction on which needs what resources and when. To do that, they need more than PMO templates can provide. Our project management software gives you an overview of all your projects on one screen. See them from start to finish on a visual timeline, including metrics such as the planned effort, actual effort and more. You can open any project, print the roadmap and easily edit and adjust the column to view what you want.

Keep Teams Balanced With Workload Charts

Teams are your most valuable resource. You can track their time on tasks with our secure timesheets, but our workload view goes even further in providing resource management. Use it to efficiently track progress and workload across projects. You can see total hours and reassign tasks to balance the workload and keep everyone productive.

PMOs can also benefit from customized reports, including status and portfolio reports, and many more. All can be filtered to focus on what you want to see and then easily shared. There’s also a portfolio view where you can group projects and view progress, project manager, team members, status and much more.

Related PMO Content

If you’re looking for more resources on project management offices and the tools and techniques they use, we have blog posts, ultimate guides and much more.

• Project Management Tools and Techniques Every PMO Should Use
• Project Management Excel Templates
• Project Management Templates for Google Sheets
• Project Management Office (PMO) – The Ultimate Guide
• Project Portfolio Management (PPM): The Ultimate Guide
• Project Prioritization: How to Prioritize Projects & Strategy

ProjectManager is online project and portfolio management software that does what templates can do. Open our collaborative software and connect with teams across departments or time zones. Share files, comment and more. Get started with ProjectManager today for free.

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