12 Time Management Tools for Small Businesses

A full schedule, stiff deadlines and a clock that just won't slow down--the combination of the three is enough to drive you nuts. Of course, going crazy isn't on the agenda--you simply don't have time for that, as you've got a business to run. Fortunately, a variety of time management tools are available to help you to maintain your sanity.

As you know, running a small business isn't easy. Throw in household responsibilities and the kids' soccer games and you have an overwhelmingly full plate you feel you can't overcome.

Want to boost your productivity and increase your company's chances of success? Here are 12 time management tools for small businesses that may help you this year.

Let's jump in!

1. Time Management Tools May Improve Your Time Usage

If you're serious about using your time more wisely, why not take advantage of apps designed to help you to do just that?

One of these popular apps is RescueTime. This app analyzes how you use your time online, and it delivers reports that are simple to read so that you can easily decide what needs to be limited or blocked. For instance, maybe it's time to say "Bye-bye, Pinterest."

With this app, you could easily save yourself a few hours of wasted time each week.

This app is excellent if you're the type to wander off online when you should be working. And face it: that's pretty much all of us.

Another one of today's time management tools that can help in this area is StayFocusd.

The name says it all.

This app is essentially a time guardian on steroids--one that isn't horsing around, either. What RescueTime does for you, StayFocusd takes a step farther. For instance, with this app, you can block your access to particular activities once you've reached your established allowable limit every day.

This means you may not be able to access Angry Birds Space or Farmville when you're supposed to be working. Or it may mean no more stalking your latest ex, searching for a new beau on Facebook or even spending half an hour Googling yourself and exploring the results after, say, 5 p.m. each day.

2. Overcoming Anxiety

Does seeing a full agenda fill you with relentless anxiety? Don't worry--there's an app for that.

The app is called Focus Booster. This app is unique in that it utilizes what's known as the Pomodoro Technique--a technique designed to help you to be intentional about staying on task.

The app is particularly useful if you're the type to get overwhelmed easily. This app's starter plan is free, although additional features can be accessed at a cost.

3. Focus

Is staying focused on your business a struggle for you? You're not alone.

Fortunately, focus@will may be the key to a more productive and personally satisfying work day for you. This app claims it can increase your productivity several times its current level--and it can do this immediately.

The app, unlike other time management tools, combines neuroscience with classical and ambient music to enhance your focus.

What's so great about this app is that it can create for you a personalized program based on what you feel works best for you. A free trial will give you a taste of the program for two weeks.

4. Communications

As a small business owner, you no doubt understand how important good communication is to operate a successful business. Fortunately, there are a few apps for that, too.

Google has free apps that are perfect for entrepreneurs who are budget focused. For instance, you can synchronize Google Calendar with others in real time for an enhanced scheduling experience.

Google Docs can also come in handy by helping you to quickly find documents and share them so that your entire team can remain on the same page. In addition, Gmail Chat will keep your entire staff connected throughout the day. Finally, you can't beat Google Voice if you're looking for a nifty one-stop solution that will boost your company's connectivity.

5. Management of Social Media

Speaking of connectivity, social media is becoming an increasingly important part of the business world. So, doesn't it make sense to step up your social media game--but without sacrificing the time you need to complete other business tasks?

Social media is relatively affordable compared with traditional marketing methods, such as television or billboard ads. But on the flip side, it's quite time intensive, which is why the Sprinklr Social Cloud is a must-have if you're all about saving yourself a few hours each week.

The Sprinklr Social Cloud allows you to manage multiple social media accounts, publish content, facilitate conversations and keep track of your accounts' performance in one area. Talk about taking customer experience management to the next level.

6. Project Management

The latest trend in business today is to have virtual staff across the globe. Although this may lead to a more diverse and globally engaged business, it can also lead to annoying time lapses along with collaboration headaches.

That's where Basecamp comes in.

Basecamp, one of the leading time management tools in the business field, brings your entire team together with ease, even if they are scattered throughout Waterloo, Timbuktu and everywhere in between.

It's a proven project management tool that makes sending many emails unnecessary, makes task delegation easy and streamlines updates and workflow without a hitch.

7. Planning

Of course, in today's highly technological world, you may be the type who prefers to jot plans down with pen and paper. There's nothing wrong with that.

In fact, you're the perfect candidate for bullet journaling, one of the few time management tools on this list that you won't find on a smartphone.

Bullet journaling is a customizable system you can utilize for several tasks, including planning out your year, month and week. You can also use it to schedule tasks or even to confirm that you are drinking enough water every day.

There's a robust community of these types of journalers online, so you can easily get some ideas on how to make this system work well for you.

8. Task Management

MyLifeOrganized is yet another one of the many top time management tools that business owners would be wise to maximize.

This task management system essentially tells you what you need to concentrate on to achieve your goals. It automatically produces to-do lists featuring priority actions. Then, it assists you in tracking your progress in a systematic way.

You can call MyLifeOrganized your one-stop shop when it comes to tackling tasks and goals. When used correctly, it can help you to plot out all aspects of the work you have to complete.

Basically, it's like a second right hand in your workspace.

9. Remembering Tasks

If you're paranoid about forgetting an important task on your to-do list, some of the best time management tools you can have in your small business arsenal are those that'll help you to remember all you have set out to do.

Remember the Milk is one of them. The name says it all.

This is an ideal app for you if you enjoy checking off tasks that you have completed. In fact, it allows you to create highly customized lists including subtasks, priorities, due dates, repeats and reminder times as well as locations.

In addition, you can even share your lists with other individuals. This is invaluable if you have several people collaborating on a particular project at your company.

10. Workflow Management

If you need workflow management help, then don't miss out on the chance to try Trello as well.

Trello is like an interactive whiteboard that makes it easy to prioritize and manage your own workflow as well as that of your entire team.

Trello remains one of the most popular time management tools in that everyone on your team can use it to see all of the work that is in progress as well as provide feedback and comments. You can choose either the free, business class or enterprise versions depending on your needs and budget.

11. Money Management

You're in business to make money, right? Of course. So, wouldn't it make sense to use a time management tool focused on helping you to manage your Benjamins, too?

Harvest is the key to better time and money management. This tool can help you to answer the following questions:

• How much money are your projects costing you?


• How much money are your projects generating?

You can also track your team's time and even turn your billable time into professional invoices you can send to your clients right away. This tool makes it easy for you to receive payments online without a hassle so you can focus more on pleasing your clients.

12. An Assistant

This last time management tool isn't an app or online resource. Instead, it's a real person.

Today, you can use an outsourced assistant at a relatively affordable rate, so there's no reason not to have one or two assistants on hand.

Your assistant can handle non-business-related tasks for you over the course of the week. He or she can also screen phone calls for you so that you're talking only to individuals who can turn your valuable time into dollars.

How We Can Help

We offer the opportunity to join our chamber as a member, where you'll have the chance to network with other business people and draw from the talents and manpower available in the community.

Contact us to learn more about how we can help you to grow your business to a whole new level this year