Best Project Management System Tools for Small Businesses
Entrepreneurs are always looking at ways to better manage their business through best project management system tools. From developing a business strategy, communicating with clients, and organizing tasks for employees to allocating work while responding to important emails each day, project management system is an indispensable part of every business.
If you’re not using one, here are Junglepreneur’s top 5 picks:
1. Trello
Trello is an online collaborative tool to manage tasks with drag-and-drop functionality. It scores because of its efficient visual design that lays out all tasks on the screen. Mostly used for Agile project management, Trello is also very useful for those working freelance and of course, the current favourite – work from home (WFH).
Unlike Gantt charts, reporting tools and time-tracking elements, Trello has provisional add-in functions via plug-ins and app integrations. However, these are not included in either the free or the premium account.
Cost: Free package; $9.99 for Business Class; $17.50 Enterprise
Integrations: Google Drive, Dropbox, Slack, Salesforce, and Evernote Teamwork among others
2. Basecamp
A comprehensive workspace project management tool, Basecamp lets you track tasks-in-progress, upload files you could share besides other awesome things. It also helps teams in collaborating more efficiently than email through message boards, event scheduling, task lists, and chat rooms.
Simply put, Basecamp is a comprehensive project management workspace that provides a broader overview on one screen, where you get details and communication on projects and teams.
Cost: Free trial and $99/month for business; Free with limited features for students and teachers
Integrations: Zoho Flow, Easy Insight, Tick, Zapier, Hubstaff, ACTIVE Campaign etc.
3. ACTIVE Collab
ACTIVE Collab tool allows you to keep all your tasks on one screen, where your team can collaborate efficiently and set agenda for projects. It scores on its simple yet dynamic design and is a great tool especially for small businesses. As its name suggests, it is a combination of task management and tracking time taken to accomplish those tasks.
ACTIVE Collab also lets you share files, discuss important topics have your clients included. It ensures protection of your sensitive data by controlling permissions, where you can decide what a user can see and access. In addition, this project management tool operates on cloud. This means that you don’t need to worry about hosting or maintenance work.
Price: Free trial; $7/month up to 1 user and $4/month for a “paid bundle”
Integrations: Slack, QuickBooks, Xero, PayPal, Hubstaff, and Zapier
4. Asana
Asana is an internet-based team collaboration tool that ensures a smooth workflow and task management. It has an organized interface that allows you to create a task, set its priority level, allocate it to your team members, schedule a deadline, upload files, write comment, and subscribe or unsubscribe to receive notifications whenever any change occurs on the said task.
Asana also has a premium version that lets you add tasks in waterfall methodology. For instance, you cannot complete task B before completing task A. Like Trello, Asana too does not include time-tracking tools, Gantt charts, and other advanced components for managing specific projects.
Cost: Free for up to 15 members; $10.99/member per month for premium and $24.99 for business teams
Integrations: Microsoft Teams, Slack, Google apps, Box, Zapier, Slack, Okta and others
5. Teamwork Projects
Teamwork Projects is another popular project management system built for small businesses, making it easier to create projects and tasks, allocate them and make “milestones”.
This visually appealing platform has an efficient interface that comes equipped with all the tools needed to manage projects. Moreover, it also allows you to color code tasks, upload files, write comments, manage client billing and keep track of your employee’s time.
Cost: Free version, free trial; $10 Pro and $18 Premium package
Integrations: Google Drive, Slack, Dropbox, Microsoft Office, Xero, Box
Apart from these, there are such project management tools such as TeamGantt, Freedcamp, Project Bubble, Apollo, Solo and so on. Depending upon requirements unique to your business, take your pick from best project management system tools.