Let’s face it.
Most of the time, small businesses have limited staff or are a one-man team. You tend to lack the resources that big businesses have.
And what can you do to make up for it? Having the best planner for small business owners in your arsenal.
As someone who worked with start-up founders and small business owners, I know how hard it can be to juggle all the responsibilities that come with running a small business.
Planners are a great productivity tool to have on hand. They can help you manage your time better, plan ahead of time, and stay on top of your business.
That’s why I decided to write this guide to help you find the right fit for your business.
And I found that the Full Focus Planner stands out among the others as it follows a structured goal-setting and SMARTER goals approach that emphasizes daily and weekly top priorities.
🏆 The Best Planner For Small Business Owners 🏆
Full Focus Planner by Michael Hyatt
Structured Goal-Setting
SMARTER Goals Framework
Quarterly, Weekly, and Daily Planning
Of course, there are other planners that are just as functional too.
To know more about these planners, read on.
Table of Contents
9 Best Planner For Small Business Owners
Full Focus Planner by Michael Hyatt: Best Planner Overall
What’s inside this planner?
- Structured Goal-Setting: Clear and actionable goals for personal and professional life.
- Quarterly Goal-Setting: Break down larger objectives into manageable tasks. Includes quarterly previews, habit trackers, reflections, and planning.
- Weekly Planning: Allows for routine scheduling and noting key commitments. Includes weekly previews, habit trackers, reflections, and planning.
- Daily Planning: Dedicated space to prioritize tasks and allocate time blocks. Includes a daily task list and space to celebrate daily wins.
The Full-Focus Planner sits at the top of my list because of its core strength in structured goal-setting. As small business owners, our main aim should be to make sure we’re consistently and effectively executing our business goals.
The Full-Focus Planner can help you do this by providing a place to keep track of the big picture. And at the same time allowing you to get granular with the details in each section.
It follows the full focus system which requires you to set your goals using the SMARTER Goals framework. Then, you need to choose your daily and weekly big three to ensure that you keep those goals on track.
In a sense, it uses the rule of three productivity method, but with a more involved approach.
Buy on AmazonPlanberry Large Planner Premium: Best Planner for Freelancers
What’s inside this planner?
- Pages for creating Bucket Lists, outlining your Ideal Routine, engaging in Life Reflection, planning Monthly Budgets, and tracking Expenses.
- Sections for setting Yearly and Quarterly Goals, as well as Yearly To-Do Lists.
- Monthly Planner spreads and accompanying Monthly Review pages.
- Weekly Planner spreads to keep your week organized.
- Lists for keeping track of Contacts and Passwords.
- Five sheets of vibrant stickers adorned with motivational quotes and budgeting tips.
- An internal pocket designed for storing notes and bills.
I am a freelance content writer and I know that freelancers tend to work with multiple clients on a daily basis. So having a planner with a password and contact list is a great feature to have.
Most of the time, freelancers don’t have a fixed monthly salary or profit so the monthly budget and expense tracker feature will be extremely helpful.
Plus, the motivational stickers are sure to help boost your morale and keep you motivated throughout the month.
Buy on AmazonClever Fox Planner Pro: Best Planner for Creatives
What’s inside this planner?
- Life Goals: Picture your ideal future for 1, 5, 10, and 20 years, encouraging a thoughtful and strategic approach.
- Quarterly Goals: Choose three specific aims every three months to create a dynamic path for progress.
- Yearly Goals: Define significant yearly targets in different life areas to nurture long-term growth.
- Monthly Plan: Strategically plan events and goals for the coming month, ensuring organized and proactive scheduling.
- Monthly Review: Look back on achievements and areas for improvement at the end of each month, fostering continuous development.
- Weekly Spread: Boost productivity with a comprehensive weekly setup featuring goal-setting, habit tracking, planning, to-do lists, and a reflective weekly review.
If you’re a creative soul constantly seeking ways to channel your inspiration into meaningful actions, the Clever Fox Planner Pro is your perfect match.
With a free quick-start guide and stickers, you can dive right into using the Clever Fox Planner Pro.
Plus, it’s undated— you can start anytime without wasting pages. You can view all 12 months in the beginning, followed by 52 weekly spread. Flip between weekly and monthly pages using the three colorful ribbons provided.
Buy on AmazonHatch Project Planner Notebook: Best Planner for Marketers
What’s inside this planner?
- Structured Process: Divided into three sections, the planner guides users through the journey of idea realization.
- Step 1 – Conceive: Provides a unique table of contents for idea cataloging, along with dot-grid pages for brainstorming.
- Step 2 – Incubate: Offers 14 spreads of thoughtful questions to evaluate idea feasibility and personal alignment.
- Step 3 – Hatch: Guides the development of ideas with 5 project sub-sections, action plans, and space for specifications.
As a seasoned affiliate marketer, I’ve searched high and low for the perfect planner that aligns with the dynamic nature of the industry. I found it in the Hatch Project Planner.
It not only organizes ideas but also helps turn them into successful campaigns. It’s smart design and useful sections make it the ultimate tool for marketers facing today’s business challenges.
Buy on AmazonPaperage Undated Planner: Best Planner for Writers
What’s inside this planner?
- It provides date-tracking at the page’s header for quick referencing.
- Each line features checklists with fill-in circles, for your to-do lists.
As a content writer myself, having a planner with a lot of writing space is something that I always look for and the Paperage Undated Planner is just what we need.
Each page contains date-tracking and a to-do list designed in a space-efficient manner. You’ll have the rest of the page for your writing needs.
The planner also comes with stickers that you can use to personalize it further.
Buy on AmazonProductivity Store Planner Pro: Best Planner for Coaches
What’s inside this planner?
- A 12-Month Undated Planner for flexible scheduling.
- Sections for daily task lists and prompts to boost productivity.
- A productivity score feature.
- Weekly Reflection and Goal sections, Habit trackers, Inspirational Quotes, and Priority Lists.
- Pages for setting Annual Goals and planning actions.
- Dedicated spaces for defining Skills and Habit Goals.
I worked with a stress management coach, a fitness coach, and a digital marketing consultant before.
And what they all have in common is:
- They always keep their client’s goals in check,
- They are constantly improving the different aspects of their life, and
- They try to make their workflow as efficient as possible.
That is why I think this planner suits coaches because it has a ton of pages for goal setting and habit tracking.
I love how the goal-setting pages feature sections for different areas of life like personal, career, financial, health and fitness, and more.
Buy on AmazonLife & Apples Weekly Meal Planner: Best Planner for Chefs
What’s inside this planner?
- A weekly timetable for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, accompanied by grocery lists, note space, and a gratitude section.
- A calendar featuring seasonal produce information.
- Catalog of the family’s preferred meals and take-out options.
- Pages for tracking expenses.
I found this meal planner and I think it suits chefs, cooks, or anyone who likes to cook and eat—including moms.
The planner makes it easy for you to plan meals, shop for ingredients, and cook. It will help you save time and money while also making sure that your family/customers get the most out of their food.
Buy on AmazonReal Estate Agent Planner: Best Planner for Realtors
What’s inside this planner?
- Monthly Planning Pages: Six months’ worth of undated planner pages for flexible use. Monthly goal-setting for Commissions, Closings, New Listings, etc. Tracking monthly business expenses and cultivating positive habits.
- Weekly Planning Pages: Gain an overview of the week’s schedule, prioritize weekly tasks, manage a To-Do List, track habits and rituals, review weekly goals, assess key numbers (e.g., new listings, leads, showings), and engage with journal prompts to mentally prepare for the week ahead.
- Daily Planning Pages: Focus on weekly objectives, identify the top three daily priorities, capture gratitude in a dedicated section, manage daily tasks, and structure your day with a Time Blocking Schedule.
- Goal Setting: Strategically plan for six months, setting targets for Commissions, Volume, Closings, Buyers, and Listings. Establish an annual budget for common real estate fees and extend goal-setting to all life domains (Family & Friends, Personal Growth, Health & Fitness, etc.).
- Additional Resources: Access tools such as Cashflow Tracking, Pending Sales Trackers, Seller Lead Sheets, Buyer Consultation Sheets, Listing Management Checklists, Closing Trackers, Mileage Trackers. and Meeting Notes Sheets.
For those working as a real estate agent, this planner might be the perfect way to keep your business organized.
As a real estate agent, you’ll need keep track of your clients and their needs as well as the properties for sale in your area. You can also use this planner to track your own goals and monitor your progress toward achieving them.
Buy on AmazonKaicn Store Undated Weekly Planner: Best Affordable Planner
What’s inside this planner?
- Weekly Intention: Set your focus for the week ahead.
- Habit Tracker: Monitor and cultivate positive habits.
- Affirmation: Encourage yourself with empowering statements.
- Daily Schedule: Organize your day-to-day activities.
- Note-Taking: Jot down important points and highlights for the week.
If you are looking for an affordable planner that is simple and practical, this Kaicn Store planner is for you.
It comes with undated pages so that you can use it at any time of the year. This planner has a weekly layout with ample space to write down your tasks, goals, and plans.
Buy on AmazonWhat to Look for in the Best Planner for Small Business Owners?
Consider the following factors when choosing a planner:
Type of Planner
Think about what type of planner you prefer.
Dated or Undated: Decide if you prefer a planner with pre-dated sections or one that allows you to fill in the dates yourself. This choice gives you more flexibility and control over your planning.
Layout: Choose a layout that suits your planning needs. Options include weekly, daily, or monthly spreads. This helps you organize your schedule effectively.
Planner Features
Look for a planner that caters specifically to small business owners. Features such as dedicated sections for tracking income and expenses, worksheets for goal setting, and spaces to manage client details and project timelines make it easier for you to stay on top of your business.
Quality
Ensure the planner you choose is built to last, especially if you plan to use it extensively. Durability is key to ensuring it withstands frequent use.
Cost
Determine your budget before shopping for a planner. While there are high-priced options available, there are also affordable alternatives that provide all the necessary features and functionality you need. Don’t overspend if you don’t have to.
Which Planner for Small Business Owners is Best Overall?
Depending on what kind of industry you are in, you may need a planner that has more than just a monthly calendar.
That is why the Full Focus Planner is my top pick as the best planner for small business owners. This planner is exceptional at structured goal-setting for personal and professional life.
What makes it is its focus on helping small business owners succeed with their goals. It follows the SMARTER goals approach and emphasizes daily and weekly top priorities.
This planner covers both the big picture and small details.
Best Planner for Small Business Owners (FAQs)
What is the top-rated planner?
The top-rated planner in this article is the Full Focus Planner. It follows the SMARTER goals approach and emphasizes daily, weekly, and monthly top priorities.
How do I choose a planner?
If you are an entrepreneur or a small business owner, you should find a planner that is suitable for your industry. For instance, a planner with listing, commission, and cash flow tracking is extremely useful for someone who is working in the real estate business.
What is a top 3 in planners?
When you see a top 3 section in a planner, it usually means your top 3 priorities, goals, or areas of focus.
What to do next?
Without proper planning, your business might fail or lose important resources like time and money. And a good business planner can help you avoid this.
Remember: if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.
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