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Gen Z’s latest online fixation is the so-called ‘millennial optimism’ era. The TikTok trend sees users posting early-2000s throwback snaps set to The Middle East’s 2009 song “Blood”. Think moustache tattoos, Apple Photo Booth selfies, and owl-print tops paired with galaxy leggings. For those too young to experience it firsthand: the 2010s were a simpler, happier time. As one TikTok creator posted: “Millennial optimism era really had me thinking I could make a living as a part-time barista and live in a six-bedroom house with all my friends.” As one commenter confirmed: “Tbh this was actually possible in 2012.” In another clip, one Gen Zer wrote: “Every day I’m faced with the sad reality that performative millennial hipsters from 2005-2012 really did have it so much better.” It was a time where Barack Obama was president. Instagram was still for uploading grainy images of nights out and snapshots of your coffee. One Direction was formed. Life was good. Right? In case you may not remember, in 2010, millennials were just starting out in the workforce… and unemployment was as high as 10% in the wake of the Great Recession. Many are still carrying the economic baggage well over a decade later, with research showing that those who graduate during a recession could see stagnation in financial growth for up to 15 years. In the 2010s, college tuition also more than doubled since the 1980s. Wages were suppressed and many millennials struggled to get their careers off the ground (sounds familiar, Gen Z?). In the US, student loans were staggering. Those who lived through this period have stepped in to set the record straight online. One millennial suggests the TikTok trend is “missing the mark in only the way a TikTok trend can.” He explained: “I assure you that during the early 2010s-late 2000s, I was the most pessimistic that I’ve ever been in my life.” Other millennials agreed in the comments, with one writing: “The music was great, the times were hard.” Another added: “Only the millennials living in New York, in poverty, back in 2010s, fresh out of college and post financial crisis, would understand how far back my eyes rolled when I saw this trend.” They added: “we hustled and had 4 different jobs for a decade and we’re dead inside.” For millennials at the time, optimism was simply a survival strategy. “So much music that has been deemed ‘millennial optimism’ is upbeat but has devastating lyrics,” a third commented. “Which mimics how I felt in my twenties, smiling or partying through severe hopelessness.” Chelsea Fagan, a millennial writer, dubbed the early 2010s “the last era of sweet delusion” earlier this year. Objectively, things were tough. And yet, despite these hardships, there was still an enduring belief among millennials that if you worked your way up the ladder, you would be rewarded with a house, a car, and a comfortable life, with an employer who would return your loyalty. “The early 2010s were full of a general sense that everything would just work out,” Fagan wrote. “Was it a little delusional? Absolutely.” Today? Recent graduates seem to have no such delusion. View the full article

Want to visit the U.S.? Be prepared to cough up your social media history. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection filed a legal proposal today that will make it mandatory for many tourists to submit the last five years of their social media history as part of the application required to visit the country. The public has 60 days, until early February, to submit comments to this proposal. The social media requirement, if enacted, would apply to any visitor from the 42 different countries in the Visa Waiver Program. Rather than applying for a visa, these tourists must submit an application to the Electronic System for Travel Authorization and pay a $40 fee for visits of 90 days or less. That list includes many countries with close ties to the U.S. and whose citizens regularly visit, such as the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, Italy, France, Germany, Japan, and Australia. If enacted, this requirement could strike yet another blow to international tourism. Through October, more than 9.3 million tourists have visited the U.S. from five countries that would be affected by this proposal—the United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, France, and South Korea—and the number of overseas visitors more broadly has fallen 2.5% compared with the same period in 2024, according to figures from the International Trade Administration. NEW ‘HIGH VALUE DATA FIELDS’ The social media requirement isn’t the only proposed change for tourists visiting the U.S. The The President administration also wants to add several other “high value data fields” to the ESTA application. These include telephone numbers used in the last five years, email addresses used in the last 10 years, and biometrics information that include fingerprints, DNA, and a photo of the iris. Customs and Border Protection didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment from Fast Company. There was no information in the legal filing about how the U.S. plans to enforce this proposed change, particularly given how many tourists visit from the affected countries. The changes to the requirements for non-visa tourists are being proposed to “comply” with one of the executive orders President Donald The President signed in January, related to protecting the country from foreign terrorists. The latest proposal is similar to a new policy that the State Department announced in June requiring that applicants for certain U.S. visas would be instructed to set their social media profiles to the “public” setting to facilitate the vetting process. A ‘PARADIGM SHIFT’ Such moves are relatively unprecedented. Americans visiting the European Union currently don’t have to submit any sort of application if their stay is less than 90 days. That will change once the EU implements a travel authorization requirement, but a social media history isn’t part of that vetting process. And the administration’s latest proposal could prove to have a chilling effect on tourism, opponents argue. In 2024, tourism spending produced $2.9 trillion in economic output, according to figures from the U.S. Travel Association. This proposal marks a “paradigm shift” of how the government is approaching social media by scrutinizing online speech and using that information to potentially deny travel based on discretion and policy about what the person said, Bo Cooper, a partner at Fragomen, told The New York Times. “It’ll be interesting to watch the tourism numbers.” What’s more, the proposal sends a worrying message to potential tourists, who “should not have to fear that self-censorship is a condition of entry,” Sarah McLaughlin, senior scholar for global expression at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression told Axios. “This is not the behavior of a country confident in its freedoms,” she said. View the full article

María Corina Machado was en route to Oslo after award was accepted by her daughter View the full article

When managing payroll, choosing the right software can greatly impact your efficiency and compliance. The top seven programs for efficient payroll systems offer a range of features customized to various business needs. From Gusto’s user-friendly interface to Rippling‘s global capabilities, each option serves different organizational sizes and requirements. Comprehending the strengths of each program can help you streamline your payroll process effectively. Let’s explore these solutions and see which one might fit your business best. Key Takeaways Gusto offers user-friendly payroll setup in under 30 minutes, automating payroll runs and tax filings for all 50 states. Rippling supports payroll in over 160 countries, integrating HR, finance, and IT into one platform with extensive automation options. QuickBooks Payroll provides seamless integration with QuickBooks Online, featuring same-day direct deposit and automated tax filing for quick operational readiness. Paychex Flex is designed for mid-sized firms, offering 24/7 access to HR professionals and a mobile app for easy payroll management. OnPay specializes in industry-specific compliance, offering flat-rate pricing and features like PTO management, ideal for nonprofits and agriculture sectors. Gusto – Best Overall Ease of Use Gusto stands out as the best overall payroll system owing to its exceptional ease of use, receiving a remarkable 4.7 out of 5 satisfaction rating across major review platforms. This payroll app for small business simplifies the onboarding process, allowing you to set up payroll in under 30 minutes, even though you’re a first-time user. With Gusto, payroll runs and tax filings are automated across all 50 states, ensuring compliance while reducing your administrative burdens. The platform offers a payroll software download that integrates benefits administration, time tracking, and compliance alerts, providing a holistic program for payroll system management. Pricing starts at $49 per month for the Simple plan, with an additional $6 per person monthly, making it a scalable solution as your business grows. Rippling – Best for Global Teams If you’re managing a global team, Rippling stands out as a robust solution for payroll support in over 160 countries. It streamlines various functions like HR, payroll, and compliance, as it automates workflows and onboarding processes to save you time. With its extensive integrations and competitive pricing, Rippling adapts to your unique business needs, making international payroll management more efficient. Global Payroll Support When managing a global workforce, having a reliable payroll system is crucial, and Rippling stands out as a top choice for businesses with international teams. Here’s why: Global Reach: Supports payroll in over 160 countries, allowing you to manage payments seamlessly worldwide. Integrated System: Combines HR, payroll, IT, and finance into one platform, simplifying operations across various functions. Personalization: Offers over 500 integrations, enabling customized automation to suit diverse business needs. With pricing starting at a base rate of $35 per month plus $8 per employee, Rippling additionally provides optional add-ons for global payroll management. This makes it a cost-effective solution for businesses aiming to streamline their payroll processes and ensuring compliance and efficiency. Workflow Automation Features As businesses expand globally, leveraging workflow automation features within Rippling becomes essential for managing a distributed team effectively. Rippling supports payroll in over 160 countries and acts as an Employer of Record, making it an ideal choice for international operations. The platform consolidates HR, payroll, IT, and finance into one dashboard, streamlining workflow management and considerably reducing administrative burdens. With over 500 integrations, it allows for customizable automations that improve operational efficiency across various business functions. Moreover, Rippling automates onboarding processes, enabling new employees to set up their accounts and benefits with minimal manual input from HR teams. Although these features boost compliance and reduce onboarding time, be aware that users may experience a longer initial onboarding process. Onboarding Process Efficiency Rippling’s onboarding process is created to improve efficiency for global teams by seamlessly integrating various functions like HR, payroll, IT, and finance into a single platform. This automation simplifies employee setup across 160+ countries. Here are key features that elevate your onboarding experience: Customizable Workflows: Tailor onboarding tasks to fit your company’s needs, automating compliance and documentation processes. Extensive Integrations: With over 500 integrations, you can reduce manual input and errors during employee setup, streamlining the entire workflow. Compliance Assurance: Rippling keeps you aligned with local labor laws and tax regulations, making it easier to manage a diverse workforce. While the initial onboarding may take longer, these automation features greatly boost the efficiency of future employee integrations. QuickBooks Payroll – Best for QuickBooks Users If you’re already using QuickBooks for your accounting needs, QuickBooks Payroll is an ideal choice for streamlining your payroll processes. This service offers seamless integration with QuickBooks Online, allowing you to synchronize your accounting and payroll management effortlessly. With features like same-day direct deposit and automated tax filing, you can process payroll quickly and efficiently, reducing the risk of errors. The guided setup means most businesses can become operational within a single day, making it accessible even for first-time users. Plus, pricing starts at just $45 per month, plus $6 per employee, which is affordable for small businesses. Mobile access allows you to approve and execute payroll on the go, boosting flexibility for busy business owners and managers. Paychex Flex – Best for Mid-Size Firms For mid-sized firms seeking a thorough payroll solution, Paychex Flex stands out as an excellent choice due to its scalability and strong features. With a starting price of $39 per month plus $5 per employee, it’s designed to grow with your business. Here are three key benefits: 24/7 Access to HR Professionals: You’ll have certified HR experts available around the clock for compliance advice, ensuring you stay on track with regulations. Automated Tax Filing: The platform streamlines payroll processes with automated tax filing and compliance tracking, reducing the risk of costly errors. Mobile Payroll App: Manage your payroll from anywhere with the user-friendly mobile app, enhancing flexibility and convenience. While some users find the interface a bit outdated compared to newer offerings, Paychex Flex remains a robust option for mid-sized firms looking to optimize their payroll systems. OnPay – Best for Industry-Specific Compliance OnPay is an ideal payroll solution for businesses that require industry-specific compliance, particularly in niche sectors like agriculture, nonprofits, and religious organizations. With flat-rate pricing starting at $40 per month plus $6 per employee, it’s a budget-friendly option for those focused on compliance. The platform excels in payroll processing customized to the unique needs of these industries, ensuring you meet complex regulatory requirements seamlessly. OnPay provides 50-state filing for federal, state, and local compliance, simplifying the navigation of various laws. Furthermore, the software includes features like PTO management and contractor payment support, enhancing its compliance capabilities for diverse workforce needs. For nonprofits, OnPay offers a generous 50% discount on pricing, providing further financial incentives for organizations in this sector. Square Payroll – Best for Micro-Businesses Square Payroll is an excellent choice for micro-businesses looking for a straightforward and affordable payroll solution. Designed particularly for smaller operations, it offers a contractor-only plan with no base fee—just $6 per contractor per month. The setup process is quick, taking less than 30 minutes, which is perfect for busy shops and cafes. Here are three key features that make Square Payroll stand out: Seamless Integration: It works smoothly with Square‘s POS system, allowing easy tip importing and payroll management. Employee Self-Service: Workers can access their pay stubs and tax forms directly, enhancing convenience and transparency. Cost-Effective: The pricing structure is straightforward, making it easy to predict costs without hidden fees. However, keep in mind that Square Payroll lacks advanced HR features, which may limit its appeal for businesses needing extensive human resources solutions. ADP RUN – Best for Compliance Depth ADP RUN stands out as a premier payroll solution for small to midsize businesses that prioritize compliance and regulatory accuracy. This platform is renowned for its deep compliance resources, ensuring you stay on top of stringent regulations. With automated payroll forms and tax entries, ADP RUN simplifies payroll entry, improving accuracy and minimizing manual errors. You’ll appreciate the user-friendly payroll dashboard, which offers a variety of HR form templates to streamline employee account management. As a cloud-based Human Capital Management (HCM) system, it provides efficient tools for managing workers’ compensation and tax policies. Furthermore, employees can easily access important documents, such as payslips and tax forms, through a dedicated employee portal. This feature not merely improves transparency but likewise elevates the overall user experience, making ADP RUN an excellent choice for businesses focused on compliance depth and operational efficiency. Frequently Asked Questions What Is the Best Payroll Program? Choosing the best payroll program depends on your specific needs. If you’re a small business, Gusto’s user-friendly interface might be ideal, as it simplifies setup and automates tasks. For global teams, Rippling supports payroll in over 160 countries. If you’re already using QuickBooks, their payroll service integrates seamlessly. For mid-sized firms, Paychex Flex offers HR support, whereas Square Payroll is perfect for micro-businesses needing a cost-effective solution for contractors. Evaluate each based on your requirements. Who Is Adp’s Biggest Competitor? ADP‘s biggest competitor is Gusto, especially popular among small businesses because of its user-friendly design and integrated HR solutions. Paychex Flex also competes effectively, targeting mid-sized firms with customized services. QuickBooks Payroll is a strong option for those already using QuickBooks, whereas Rippling offers global payroll support and combines payroll, HR, and IT functions. Paycor presents customizable plans and mobile access, creating further competition in the payroll services market. Which Software Is Used for Payroll Management? For payroll management, you can choose from various software options like Gusto, which automates payroll and tax filings for small businesses. Rippling supports global teams, integrating HR and finance. QuickBooks Payroll offers seamless integration with QuickBooks Online for easy accounting. Paychex Flex caters to mid-sized firms with 24/7 HR access, whereas Square Payroll is ideal for micro-businesses with a contractor-only plan. Each has unique features customized to different business needs. What Software Does ADP Use for Payroll? ADP uses its proprietary software called RUN Powered by ADP for payroll management. This platform simplifies payroll entry and compliance tracking for businesses. With automated payroll processing, it guarantees accurate tax filings and regulatory adherence. You’ll find a user-friendly dashboard that includes templates for HR needs, making employee account management easier. Plus, the cloud-based Human Capital Management system provides 24/7 access to documents like pay stubs and tax forms through an employee portal. Conclusion In summary, selecting the right payroll system is essential for streamlining your business operations. Each of the seven programs discussed—Gusto, Rippling, QuickBooks Payroll, Paychex Flex, OnPay, Square Payroll, and ADP RUN—offers unique features customized to different business needs. By comprehending their strengths, you can choose a solution that improves efficiency, guarantees compliance, and supports your workforce effectively. Evaluate your specific requirements to make an informed decision that best suits your organization’s payroll management. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Top 7 Programs for Efficient Payroll Systems" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

When managing payroll, choosing the right software can greatly impact your efficiency and compliance. The top seven programs for efficient payroll systems offer a range of features customized to various business needs. From Gusto’s user-friendly interface to Rippling‘s global capabilities, each option serves different organizational sizes and requirements. Comprehending the strengths of each program can help you streamline your payroll process effectively. Let’s explore these solutions and see which one might fit your business best. Key Takeaways Gusto offers user-friendly payroll setup in under 30 minutes, automating payroll runs and tax filings for all 50 states. Rippling supports payroll in over 160 countries, integrating HR, finance, and IT into one platform with extensive automation options. QuickBooks Payroll provides seamless integration with QuickBooks Online, featuring same-day direct deposit and automated tax filing for quick operational readiness. Paychex Flex is designed for mid-sized firms, offering 24/7 access to HR professionals and a mobile app for easy payroll management. OnPay specializes in industry-specific compliance, offering flat-rate pricing and features like PTO management, ideal for nonprofits and agriculture sectors. Gusto – Best Overall Ease of Use Gusto stands out as the best overall payroll system owing to its exceptional ease of use, receiving a remarkable 4.7 out of 5 satisfaction rating across major review platforms. This payroll app for small business simplifies the onboarding process, allowing you to set up payroll in under 30 minutes, even though you’re a first-time user. With Gusto, payroll runs and tax filings are automated across all 50 states, ensuring compliance while reducing your administrative burdens. The platform offers a payroll software download that integrates benefits administration, time tracking, and compliance alerts, providing a holistic program for payroll system management. Pricing starts at $49 per month for the Simple plan, with an additional $6 per person monthly, making it a scalable solution as your business grows. Rippling – Best for Global Teams If you’re managing a global team, Rippling stands out as a robust solution for payroll support in over 160 countries. It streamlines various functions like HR, payroll, and compliance, as it automates workflows and onboarding processes to save you time. With its extensive integrations and competitive pricing, Rippling adapts to your unique business needs, making international payroll management more efficient. Global Payroll Support When managing a global workforce, having a reliable payroll system is crucial, and Rippling stands out as a top choice for businesses with international teams. Here’s why: Global Reach: Supports payroll in over 160 countries, allowing you to manage payments seamlessly worldwide. Integrated System: Combines HR, payroll, IT, and finance into one platform, simplifying operations across various functions. Personalization: Offers over 500 integrations, enabling customized automation to suit diverse business needs. With pricing starting at a base rate of $35 per month plus $8 per employee, Rippling additionally provides optional add-ons for global payroll management. This makes it a cost-effective solution for businesses aiming to streamline their payroll processes and ensuring compliance and efficiency. Workflow Automation Features As businesses expand globally, leveraging workflow automation features within Rippling becomes essential for managing a distributed team effectively. Rippling supports payroll in over 160 countries and acts as an Employer of Record, making it an ideal choice for international operations. The platform consolidates HR, payroll, IT, and finance into one dashboard, streamlining workflow management and considerably reducing administrative burdens. With over 500 integrations, it allows for customizable automations that improve operational efficiency across various business functions. Moreover, Rippling automates onboarding processes, enabling new employees to set up their accounts and benefits with minimal manual input from HR teams. Although these features boost compliance and reduce onboarding time, be aware that users may experience a longer initial onboarding process. Onboarding Process Efficiency Rippling’s onboarding process is created to improve efficiency for global teams by seamlessly integrating various functions like HR, payroll, IT, and finance into a single platform. This automation simplifies employee setup across 160+ countries. Here are key features that elevate your onboarding experience: Customizable Workflows: Tailor onboarding tasks to fit your company’s needs, automating compliance and documentation processes. Extensive Integrations: With over 500 integrations, you can reduce manual input and errors during employee setup, streamlining the entire workflow. Compliance Assurance: Rippling keeps you aligned with local labor laws and tax regulations, making it easier to manage a diverse workforce. While the initial onboarding may take longer, these automation features greatly boost the efficiency of future employee integrations. QuickBooks Payroll – Best for QuickBooks Users If you’re already using QuickBooks for your accounting needs, QuickBooks Payroll is an ideal choice for streamlining your payroll processes. This service offers seamless integration with QuickBooks Online, allowing you to synchronize your accounting and payroll management effortlessly. With features like same-day direct deposit and automated tax filing, you can process payroll quickly and efficiently, reducing the risk of errors. The guided setup means most businesses can become operational within a single day, making it accessible even for first-time users. Plus, pricing starts at just $45 per month, plus $6 per employee, which is affordable for small businesses. Mobile access allows you to approve and execute payroll on the go, boosting flexibility for busy business owners and managers. Paychex Flex – Best for Mid-Size Firms For mid-sized firms seeking a thorough payroll solution, Paychex Flex stands out as an excellent choice due to its scalability and strong features. With a starting price of $39 per month plus $5 per employee, it’s designed to grow with your business. Here are three key benefits: 24/7 Access to HR Professionals: You’ll have certified HR experts available around the clock for compliance advice, ensuring you stay on track with regulations. Automated Tax Filing: The platform streamlines payroll processes with automated tax filing and compliance tracking, reducing the risk of costly errors. Mobile Payroll App: Manage your payroll from anywhere with the user-friendly mobile app, enhancing flexibility and convenience. While some users find the interface a bit outdated compared to newer offerings, Paychex Flex remains a robust option for mid-sized firms looking to optimize their payroll systems. OnPay – Best for Industry-Specific Compliance OnPay is an ideal payroll solution for businesses that require industry-specific compliance, particularly in niche sectors like agriculture, nonprofits, and religious organizations. With flat-rate pricing starting at $40 per month plus $6 per employee, it’s a budget-friendly option for those focused on compliance. The platform excels in payroll processing customized to the unique needs of these industries, ensuring you meet complex regulatory requirements seamlessly. OnPay provides 50-state filing for federal, state, and local compliance, simplifying the navigation of various laws. Furthermore, the software includes features like PTO management and contractor payment support, enhancing its compliance capabilities for diverse workforce needs. For nonprofits, OnPay offers a generous 50% discount on pricing, providing further financial incentives for organizations in this sector. Square Payroll – Best for Micro-Businesses Square Payroll is an excellent choice for micro-businesses looking for a straightforward and affordable payroll solution. Designed particularly for smaller operations, it offers a contractor-only plan with no base fee—just $6 per contractor per month. The setup process is quick, taking less than 30 minutes, which is perfect for busy shops and cafes. Here are three key features that make Square Payroll stand out: Seamless Integration: It works smoothly with Square‘s POS system, allowing easy tip importing and payroll management. Employee Self-Service: Workers can access their pay stubs and tax forms directly, enhancing convenience and transparency. Cost-Effective: The pricing structure is straightforward, making it easy to predict costs without hidden fees. However, keep in mind that Square Payroll lacks advanced HR features, which may limit its appeal for businesses needing extensive human resources solutions. ADP RUN – Best for Compliance Depth ADP RUN stands out as a premier payroll solution for small to midsize businesses that prioritize compliance and regulatory accuracy. This platform is renowned for its deep compliance resources, ensuring you stay on top of stringent regulations. With automated payroll forms and tax entries, ADP RUN simplifies payroll entry, improving accuracy and minimizing manual errors. You’ll appreciate the user-friendly payroll dashboard, which offers a variety of HR form templates to streamline employee account management. As a cloud-based Human Capital Management (HCM) system, it provides efficient tools for managing workers’ compensation and tax policies. Furthermore, employees can easily access important documents, such as payslips and tax forms, through a dedicated employee portal. This feature not merely improves transparency but likewise elevates the overall user experience, making ADP RUN an excellent choice for businesses focused on compliance depth and operational efficiency. Frequently Asked Questions What Is the Best Payroll Program? Choosing the best payroll program depends on your specific needs. If you’re a small business, Gusto’s user-friendly interface might be ideal, as it simplifies setup and automates tasks. For global teams, Rippling supports payroll in over 160 countries. If you’re already using QuickBooks, their payroll service integrates seamlessly. For mid-sized firms, Paychex Flex offers HR support, whereas Square Payroll is perfect for micro-businesses needing a cost-effective solution for contractors. Evaluate each based on your requirements. Who Is Adp’s Biggest Competitor? ADP‘s biggest competitor is Gusto, especially popular among small businesses because of its user-friendly design and integrated HR solutions. Paychex Flex also competes effectively, targeting mid-sized firms with customized services. QuickBooks Payroll is a strong option for those already using QuickBooks, whereas Rippling offers global payroll support and combines payroll, HR, and IT functions. Paycor presents customizable plans and mobile access, creating further competition in the payroll services market. Which Software Is Used for Payroll Management? For payroll management, you can choose from various software options like Gusto, which automates payroll and tax filings for small businesses. Rippling supports global teams, integrating HR and finance. QuickBooks Payroll offers seamless integration with QuickBooks Online for easy accounting. Paychex Flex caters to mid-sized firms with 24/7 HR access, whereas Square Payroll is ideal for micro-businesses with a contractor-only plan. Each has unique features customized to different business needs. What Software Does ADP Use for Payroll? ADP uses its proprietary software called RUN Powered by ADP for payroll management. This platform simplifies payroll entry and compliance tracking for businesses. With automated payroll processing, it guarantees accurate tax filings and regulatory adherence. You’ll find a user-friendly dashboard that includes templates for HR needs, making employee account management easier. Plus, the cloud-based Human Capital Management system provides 24/7 access to documents like pay stubs and tax forms through an employee portal. Conclusion In summary, selecting the right payroll system is essential for streamlining your business operations. Each of the seven programs discussed—Gusto, Rippling, QuickBooks Payroll, Paychex Flex, OnPay, Square Payroll, and ADP RUN—offers unique features customized to different business needs. By comprehending their strengths, you can choose a solution that improves efficiency, guarantees compliance, and supports your workforce effectively. Evaluate your specific requirements to make an informed decision that best suits your organization’s payroll management. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Top 7 Programs for Efficient Payroll Systems" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Android remains one of the most customizable mobile operating systems out there, despite Google's recent efforts to rein it in. You don't necessarily have to root your Android device to get it to do something off script, either. The fix you need might be hidden behind a system menu or Developer Options. You can personalize Android to address common frustrations with speed, battery life, privacy, and the interface as a whole. I've compiled ten helpful Android hacks that require no third-party apps, no ADB commands, and no rooting. All you need is the patience to dig through the operating system and tap as required. Please note that many of these hacks require you to enable Developer Options, Android's hidden menu of settings. To do so, head to the Settings menu, scroll to About phone, then tap Build number. Tap it seven times to unlock developer mode. (You'll see a countdown pop-up if you did it correctly.) Eliminate battery hogging appsHave you ever looked at your battery usage stats and wondered what to do about a specific app that's draining your battery? Android needs apps to run in the background, sync with the cloud, and check for updates by default. As it does this, it wakes the device and consumes battery in the background. Android introduced a battery optimization feature in version 6.0 that's supposed to help with apps that drain too much battery. While it's helped shut down unused apps, it can be either too aggressive or not aggressive enough at identifying bad apps. And while you can force-close an app to kill it when you notice it's causing issues, it will likely start up again the next time you reboot your device. Credit: Florence Ion/Lifehacker You can manually set an app's background privileges to the most restrictive setting without deleting or disabling it. In Settings, under Apps, scroll down and tap to view all your apps in a list. Then, tap App battery usage. Here, you will find details about the last time the app was accessed. Tap on the app to adjust its background usage. You can choose to have it optimized by the Android system or unrestricted—something you might use on a wearable to ensure it works properly, for instance. If you want it restricted completely, use the master switch to toggle off background usage. On Samsung devices, this same option is called "sleeping apps" or "deep sleeping apps." Credit: Florence Ion/Lifehacker Optionally, you can turn to Developer Options to get more robust control over background processes. Head back to Developer Options, then scroll or search for Background process limit, and from here, you can decide how many background apps fire off at a time. Block ads and trackers without VPNEven with an ad blocker, background apps can still track your phone use, where you shop, and which ads to show you. You could easily circumvent this by installing a VPN app to route traffic, but that relies on a third party app, and slows down performance. You are better off configuring your phone's Private DNS settings to filter web traffic through a service of your choosing. Private DNS seals the request your device makes to look up a website's IP address, so your carrier can't see the website you're visiting. Since that browser data stays hidden, third parties don't have the data they need to track your habits and, subsequently, target you with ads. Credit: Florence Ion/Lifehacker Navigate back to the Settings panel and select Network & Internet > Private DNS. Change the setting to Private DNS provider hostname. You will need to find the URL of a filtering service to link here. Options include Ad Guard, Control D, and Mullvad, which is what I use to block ads in Chrome. Once you save, this will redirect all DNS requests from every app and browser on your Android device through this specific block list. It should help cut down on ads and tracking servers watching you without cutting down on performance or battery life. This is also a great hack if you're a parent and your kid has access to an Android device. Use Private DNS to route them away from unsafe sites and adult content. Unearth long-lost notificationsSometimes, we accidentally dismiss a notification on Android. If you're always snoozing and missing out on important pings, you can turn on notification history. Credit: Florence Ion/Lifehacker In Settings, under Notifications, tap to turn on Notification history. Now, when you swipe to dismiss your alerts, you can peek in here to see what you forgot or accidentally swiped away. This feature is also helpful for tracking any apps that might be quietly running in the background. Maximize (or minimize) screen real estateI don't know what it is about these latest versions of Android, but the text feels either too small or too big when adjusted with the built-in display size settings. You could go into the Accessibility settings to make the text smaller or larger, though it doesn't affect the rest of the interface much. Or you could deploy Android's display density (DPI) scaling hack. Credit: Florence Ion / Lifehacker This is where the developer options come in handy again. You can use the Smallest Width setting to control the DPI precisely, which scales every interface element up and down. Change the value to a higher number if you want fonts and images to shrink down within the resolution—if it starts in the 400s, for instance, try 500 and work backwards until you like what you see. To make fonts and graphics even larger, start around 300. Adjust what happens when you plug your device inWhen you plug an Android phone into a PC, it defaults to charging the device rather than turning on file transfer. You can change the option from the notification shade, though it adds a few extra steps to something that should be straightforward. Fortunately, you can tweak the USB default behavior to prioritize file transfers when the device is plugged in via USB-C. Credit: Florence Ion/Lifehacker In the Developer Options, look for Default USB configuration. Change the setting to File Transfer/Android Auto. Test it by plugging a USB-C cable into a PC to ensure it defaults to file transfer mode. Get the best audio qualityWhen you stream music or podcasts through headphones or another external source, the audio isn't at its best. And while you could adjust the equalizer settings in the app that's streaming media, it won't fix much. Your phone and the audio device default to standard codecs rather than high-fidelity ones, which is why it doesn't sound as crisp and loud as it could. Credit: Florence Ion/Lifehacker You can force Android to use the highest-quality codecs whenever the audio device connects in Developer Options. Search for a Bluetooth audio codec and select the highest-quality option supported by your wireless device. Note that you must be connected to the device when you look for this option, or it will appear grayed out. While you're in the Developer Options, look for Bluetooth Audio Sample Rate and Bits Per Sample. You can adjust these to higher sampling rates if your hardware supports it. Make Android look smoothEven on the latest Android flagships, the interface can feel sluggish as you're moving between screens. That's because Android deliberately animates between every swipe and flick. But you can eliminate or shorten these animations to make the interface feel more fluid. Credit: Florence Ion/Lifehacker In Developer Options, look for Window animation scale, Transition animation scale, and Animator duration scale. You can adjust their defaults; the lower the number, the faster the animation. You can also choose to turn the animation off completely if it's just too much. Force dark modeI suffer from migraines, and the brightest background can trigger the pain. I figured out how to force every Android app into dark mode, regardless of whether the developer coded it in. Credit: Florence Ion/Lifehacker First, ensure "Dark Theme" is on in your main display settings. Then, navigate to Developer Options and search for Override force-dark. Toggle it on to save your eyes. This feature is also super helpful if you prefer to stare at the screen at night to read. Note that it may cause some apps not to display text properly, in which case, you might want to reserve this ability for when it's most necessary. Keep the screen on foreverSometimes you need the display to stay on without timing out. Most Android devices tap out at 30 minutes. But in the developer settings, there is an option to keep the screen "awake" as long as the device is plugged into a power source. I've had this feature enabled since I started covering Android phones. It's the best way to run benchmarks without being affected by random variables. Credit: Florence Ion/Lifehacker In Developer Options, search for Stay awake, then switch it on. Note that you will need to turn off the screen when charging the device overnight. Your phone could get hot from being connected and having the screen on for too long. Get the right device to answer the phoneThis has happened to me so many times: my phone rings, I answer it, but the call is routed to my smartwatch instead of my buds. While you could manually go into the phone and select the appropriate Bluetooth device, make it easier on yourself by eliminating the devices that you never want to answer the phone. Credit: Florence Ion/Lifehacker In the Settings panel, under Bluetooth, select the offending device. The easiest way to keep it from rearing its ugly head is to find the switch that completely disables phone calls. You should see an option for it at the bottom of the device's Bluetooth settings. I've disabled the Pixel Watch 4 from answering any calls because there's no instance I'd ever want to take a call from my watch. It's too public! View the full article

Charli XCX is making a trip to the Sundance Film Festival in January. The pop singer-songwriter appears in three films premiering at the 2026 festival, including a mockumentary that she produced and stars in. Programmers on Wednesday unveiled a lineup of 90 feature films set for the festival’s last hurrah in Park City, Utah. The slate includes documentaries on basketball great Brittney Griner, Nelson Mandela, Salman Rushdie, Courtney Love, and Billie Jean King. There are starry features with the likes of Natalie Portman, Jenna Ortega, Seth Rogen, Channing Tatum, Danielle Brooks, Olivia Colman, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Alexander Skarsgård, and Ethan Hawke. Olivia Wilde directs her first feature since “Don’t Worry Darling,” in “The Invite.” Judd Apatow chronicles comedian Maria Bamford’s mental health journey. And Gregg Araki will be back in Park City with a restoration of his 2004 coming-of-age drama “Mysterious Skin” and a new film as well. “It’s a broad, eclectic and bold program,” Sundance public programming director Eugene Hernandez told The Associated Press. He said the lineup for the festival’s final year in Park City “really honors that well with this mixture of new, exciting voices paired with some really, really great familiar faces from Sundances past that I think will create a great alchemy for this really unique edition in Utah.” Ever a festival of discovery, of the 90 features culled from 4,255 submissions, 40% are from first-time directors. The programmers laugh when they hear people say things like “that’s a Sundance movie,” as if it’s one, easily categorizable thing. “I look at the films in this program and say, ‘You tell me what a Sundance film is’ because they’re so different,” said programmer John Nein. Three Charli XCX movies Charli XCX plays a rising pop star prepping for her first arena tour in the mockumentary “The Moment,” which Hernandez said is “like her version of ‘This is Spinal Tap’.” She also appears in Araki’s “I Want Your Sex,” in which Cooper Hoffman plays an intern who gets wrapped up in the world of an artist and provocateur (Wilde). And she’s among the ensemble of “The Gallerist.” “There’s a sense of humor that she has about herself and her work, but also a creativity and a star quality that is apparent. I mean, she is magnetic on the screen,” Hernandez said. “It’s great to have someone who represents sort of a next generation of creativity embracing the world that we inhabit.” Some great comedies This year’s slate includes more than a few exciting comedies in unexpected places. Cathy Yan directed and co-wrote “The Gallerist,” a satirical look at the art world and attempting to sell a corpse at Art Basel Miami, with a large ensemble including Portman, Ortega, Sterling K. Brown and Zach Galifianakis. David Wain also has “Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass” about a woman out to even the score after her fiance uses the “free pass,” starring Zoey Deutch and Jon Hamm. Programmer Kim Yutani said she thinks “Wicker,” about a woman who asks a basket maker to weave her a husband, starring Colman and Skarsgård, will be a big crowd pleaser. Other standouts are Jay Duplass’s grief-themed “See You When I See You,” with Cooper Raiff and David Duchovny, “Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty!” set inside Tokyo’s ballroom dance scene and Wilde’s “The Invite,” about a crumbling marriage in which she stars alongside Rogen. “They are finding comedy in some of the toughest places,” Nein said. In the Midnight section, there’s “Buddy,” from “Too Many Cooks” creator Casper Kelly, about a girl who has to escape a kids TV show. There are some quirky, humorous documentaries too, including “Joybubbles” and John Wilson’s “The History of Concrete.” Timely documentaries at Sundance Sundance has become famous for its documentary programming, many of which go on to be nominated for and win Oscars. This year is likely to be no different. “Across the board, both in the U.S. and internationally, you have a program that deals with the world where it is right now,” Nein said. “These documentaries, they’re incredibly sophisticated, they’re very mindful of how complex world issues are, and they bring you into that process.” One that might make waves is “When A Witness Recants,” in which author Ta-Nehisi Coates revisits the case of the 1983 murder of a boy in his Baltimore middle school and learns the truth. “American Doctor” follows three professionals trying to help in Gaza. “All About the Money” looks at heir-turned -communist Fergie Chambers. Daniel Roher and Charlie Tyrell take on artificial intelligence in “The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist” and “Sentient” is about animal testing. “A lot of them are sort of optimistic in one sense, in that they’re about people power,” Nein said. “It’s about the power of community to affect change, the power of one person who you haven’t heard of necessarily.” Those include “Jane Elliott Against the World,” about an Iowa schoolteacher who taught anti-discrimination in 1968, and “Seized,” about the police raid on the Marion County Record in Kansas. Ones to watch at Sundance 2026 New talents often emerge from Sundance, like Eva Victor last year with “Sorry, Baby.” This year programmers noted several gems in the lineup, including Beth de Araújo’s “Josephine,” about an 8-year-old who witnesses a crime, with Tatum and Gemma Chan. TV veteran Molly Manners’ “Extra Geography,” about boarding school friends in England, is one that Nein said is one of the funniest, most sophisticated debut features that he’s seen from the U.K. in years. He also spotlighted “LADY,” a first feature from Nigerian filmmaker Olive Nwosu about a cab driver in Lagos, as well as the queer genre film “Leviticus.” As in years past, the Sundance competition titles will also be available to watch online. Yutani said her go-to recommendation for the remote audience is the world dramatic competition title “Levitating,” from Indonesian director Wregas Bhanuteja. “It’s set in this community where there’s these trance parties,” Yutani said. “It is a thrilling film.” This year’s festival will also honor its late founderRobert Redford with legacy screenings and serve as a celebration of its 40+ years in Park City before it relocates to Boulder, Colorado in 2027. The 2026 festival kicks off on Jan. 22 and runs through Feb. 1. —Lindsey Bahr, AP film writer View the full article

As small business owners increasingly seek innovative tools to enhance customer service and streamline operations, Lyft’s latest initiative may provide valuable insights. The rideshare company recently announced a groundbreaking advancement in their customer support system, driven by a partnership with Anthropic and AWS, which aims to redefine the experience for both riders and drivers. Lyft’s new artificial intelligence (AI) system is designed to shift from traditional customer support methods to a more intuitive and conversational approach. Historically, navigating customer service menus could be a time-consuming challenge, especially for Lyft’s vast user base of over 40 million riders and 1 million drivers. “Previously, getting help meant navigating endless menu options,” Lyft stated. This tedious process often led to considerable frustration, particularly during peak times when swift resolutions were critical. The newly developed “intent agent” promises to transform this experience. By understanding context and utilizing data-driven insights, the AI can engage in real conversations. For example, if a driver messages saying, “My earnings aren’t showing up,” the AI comprehends their recent ride history and responds with relevant solutions. This approach leads to quicker resolutions and a more personalized experience. Key benefits emerge from this AI-driven model. Lyft reports an astounding 87% reduction in average resolution time, with thousands of support requests resolved daily—more than half within three minutes. “The future of customer service has fundamentally shifted through AI,” remarked Ameena Gill, Vice President of Safety and Customer Care at Lyft. This suggests that small businesses could similarly enhance their customer interactions through integrated AI systems, freeing up time for staff to focus on more complex tasks. Moreover, the AI system is available 24/7 in English and Spanish, addressing a critical need for immediate support. “Lyft is embracing agentic AI to advance its commitment to delivering great rider and driver experiences,” stated Sri Elaprolu from AWS. Consistent support is vital for small businesses looking to maintain high customer satisfaction, especially as consumer demand for rapid responses continues to grow. Small business owners can also take note of the anticipated growth potential. Lyft is projecting a 70% increase in driver usage by 2025, which could serve as a valuable indicator for those looking to implement similar technologies. By leveraging AI, companies may find that their customer base expands, driven by improved efficiency and customer experience. However, adopting such technology isn’t without challenges. Small business owners should consider the costs associated with implementing advanced AI systems, including the need for ongoing maintenance and updates. Additionally, integrating AI requires a cultural shift within the organization, ensuring that staff are prepared and supported during the transition. Another potential concern is the reliance on technology for functions that traditionally require human interaction. While AI can enhance customer service, it may not replace the personal touch that some clients prefer. Small business owners should weigh these factors against the benefits of faster response times and increased availability. Lyft’s partnership with Anthropic and AWS is a compelling case study for small business owners contemplating a similar leap in customer service enhancement. Their commitment to leveraging AI reflects a broader shift towards innovative solutions that prioritize user experience. Lyft plans to share further insights at the upcoming AWS re:Invent 2025 event, focusing on the ongoing collaboration aimed at enhancing human connection through technology. As the digital landscape evolves, small business owners may find it beneficial to explore how AI can not only improve operations but also foster stronger relationships with their customers. For further details on Lyft’s groundbreaking AI initiatives, you can read the full announcement here. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Lyft Unveils AI-Driven Customer Support Revolution for Riders and Drivers" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

As small business owners increasingly seek innovative tools to enhance customer service and streamline operations, Lyft’s latest initiative may provide valuable insights. The rideshare company recently announced a groundbreaking advancement in their customer support system, driven by a partnership with Anthropic and AWS, which aims to redefine the experience for both riders and drivers. Lyft’s new artificial intelligence (AI) system is designed to shift from traditional customer support methods to a more intuitive and conversational approach. Historically, navigating customer service menus could be a time-consuming challenge, especially for Lyft’s vast user base of over 40 million riders and 1 million drivers. “Previously, getting help meant navigating endless menu options,” Lyft stated. This tedious process often led to considerable frustration, particularly during peak times when swift resolutions were critical. The newly developed “intent agent” promises to transform this experience. By understanding context and utilizing data-driven insights, the AI can engage in real conversations. For example, if a driver messages saying, “My earnings aren’t showing up,” the AI comprehends their recent ride history and responds with relevant solutions. This approach leads to quicker resolutions and a more personalized experience. Key benefits emerge from this AI-driven model. Lyft reports an astounding 87% reduction in average resolution time, with thousands of support requests resolved daily—more than half within three minutes. “The future of customer service has fundamentally shifted through AI,” remarked Ameena Gill, Vice President of Safety and Customer Care at Lyft. This suggests that small businesses could similarly enhance their customer interactions through integrated AI systems, freeing up time for staff to focus on more complex tasks. Moreover, the AI system is available 24/7 in English and Spanish, addressing a critical need for immediate support. “Lyft is embracing agentic AI to advance its commitment to delivering great rider and driver experiences,” stated Sri Elaprolu from AWS. Consistent support is vital for small businesses looking to maintain high customer satisfaction, especially as consumer demand for rapid responses continues to grow. Small business owners can also take note of the anticipated growth potential. Lyft is projecting a 70% increase in driver usage by 2025, which could serve as a valuable indicator for those looking to implement similar technologies. By leveraging AI, companies may find that their customer base expands, driven by improved efficiency and customer experience. However, adopting such technology isn’t without challenges. Small business owners should consider the costs associated with implementing advanced AI systems, including the need for ongoing maintenance and updates. Additionally, integrating AI requires a cultural shift within the organization, ensuring that staff are prepared and supported during the transition. Another potential concern is the reliance on technology for functions that traditionally require human interaction. While AI can enhance customer service, it may not replace the personal touch that some clients prefer. Small business owners should weigh these factors against the benefits of faster response times and increased availability. Lyft’s partnership with Anthropic and AWS is a compelling case study for small business owners contemplating a similar leap in customer service enhancement. Their commitment to leveraging AI reflects a broader shift towards innovative solutions that prioritize user experience. Lyft plans to share further insights at the upcoming AWS re:Invent 2025 event, focusing on the ongoing collaboration aimed at enhancing human connection through technology. As the digital landscape evolves, small business owners may find it beneficial to explore how AI can not only improve operations but also foster stronger relationships with their customers. For further details on Lyft’s groundbreaking AI initiatives, you can read the full announcement here. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Lyft Unveils AI-Driven Customer Support Revolution for Riders and Drivers" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Keir Starmer has become increasingly frustrated by House of Lords attempts to curb government billsView the full article

The automatic door has been reinvented. The home-focused tech startup Doma just announced its first product line: a set of residential doors capable of opening and closing automatically at the sight of an approaching homeowner. Packed with sensors, motors, and facial recognition technology, Doma Intelligent Doors bring automatic functionality and programmable controls to a home’s front door—all without clunky and unsightly equipment. Doma is led by founders Jason Johnson and designer Yves Béhar, who previously founded and later sold the smart door lockcompany August Home. The two joined forces again after sharing a frustration with the state of smart home technology. Despite more than a decade’s worth of smart home gadgets like the Nest thermostat, Ring doorbells, and robotic vacuums, the ideal of an integrated, Jetsons-esque automated home has never quite materialized. “It’s a lot of little devices that are peppered around the outside of your home, inside of your home, but nothing that really goes from products and apps to something that’s within the walls, within the systems of the home,” Béhar says. “We decided to move forward from this notion of the smart home, which didn’t really happen, to the intelligent home.” Doma Intelligent Doors aim to streamline one of the most common interfaces in the residential environment. But for how often people open and close their front doors, the process has always been manual. A relatively light lift in terms of effort, the simple act of opening and closing a door is not without its challenges. Particularly for people who are living with disabilities or limited mobility, automatic doors can be hugely beneficial. But even those who can open a door easily, a little help can sometimes be handy. “It’s amazing how often you actually have your hands full,” says Johnson. “At least me personally, I always have things in my hands and it’s really nice to have the door open for you. And just as nice as that is, it’s really nice to have the door closed for you.” Doma’s goal is for this type of automation to spread throughout the home. Doma’s doors work by recognizing a home’s residents and opening the door when they approach. A doorknob-sized circular screen on the exterior of the door contains the facial recognition sensors that allow the door to open as a resident approaches. Aside from facial recognition, Doma designed the system to operate in five other ways, including Bluetooth, ultra-wideband positioning sensors, access by a scannable QR code, password access through a keypad, or via the internet. A larger screen on the interior side of the door functions as a control panel for locking, unlocking, and temporarily holding the door open, and also functions as an oversized peephole with a live video feed. Doma’s motors and closures are integrated inside the door itself, making them compatible with conventional door frames. On the hinge side, the closure attaches to the door frame at a single point, and the system is hard-wired into the home’s electricity. All the door’s components, including a backup battery that can run for up to 30 days, are accessible from the edge of the door. Johnson says this approach was part of the reason he and Béhar started the company. They wanted, he says, “to make technology more blended into the surfaces of the home and disappear as much as possible.” The technology behind the opening and closing of Doma’s automatic door was a key focus during the design process. “One of the things we really don’t like about existing motorized openers is when you don’t expect it to be to be closing. It starts closing on you and you go to touch it and it and you feel that motor, like it fights you,” Johnson says. The company invented a mechanism using highly sensitive millimeter wave radar sensors that stop the door’s motor the moment it sees a human in its path. They’ve also created what they call an electronic clutch that immediately disengages the motor if the door is pulled or pushed manually. “It operates just like a normal door without any friction or resistance,” Johnson says. “The technical term is motor drag. We have no motor drag and that is something we’ve filed a patent on and we’re very excited about.” For its automatic doors, Doma has already partnered with six major door manufacturers: Kolbe Windows & Doors, GlassCraft, MasterGrain, Doors & More, Artema, and Liberty Openings. By the time sales officially launch in summer 2026, the company expects to have another six partners to broaden its offerings. Doma claims its doors will have costs “equivalent to the price of a premium entry door, hardware and electronics purchased separately, depending on style, materials, and configuration.” In early 2026 the company plans to announce a second product line featuring smart windows. Sales are expected to begin in the fall. Using the same open and close technology and a similar approach to automation and user control, the windows are seen as part of a comprehensive package for improving a home’s security, air quality, and climate control. The idea behind Doma is that by connecting various parts of the home to these controls, the technology can automate simple but repetitive tasks, saving effort while also optimizing the interior environment. With windows and doors that can open and close on their own, Béhar and Johnson suggest, a home can react in teal-time to the needs of its users without their having to ask. In conjunction, it’s a closer approximation of the kind of smart home Béhar and Johnson had in mind when they made their first smart device. “Doma really represents a shift from device-centric thinking to environment-centric thinking,” Béhar says. “So it’s not a product you install, it’s really a living system that you inhabit.” View the full article

Mega billionaire Elon Musk, in a friendly interview with his aide and conservative influencer Katie Miller, said his efforts leading the Department of Government Efficiency were only “somewhat successful” and he would not do it over again. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO, who also owns the social media platform X, still broadly defended President Donald The President‘s controversial pop-up agency that Musk left in the spring before it shuttered officially last month. Yet Musk bemoaned how difficult it is to remake the federal government quickly, and he acknowledged how much his businesses suffered because of his DOGE work and its lack of popularity. “We were a little bit successful. We were somewhat successful,” he told Miller, who once worked as a DOGE spokeswoman charged with selling the agency’s work to the public. When Miller pressed Musk on whether he would do it all over again, he said: “I don’t think so. … Instead of doing DOGE, I would have, basically, built … worked on my companies.” Almost wistfully, Musk added, “They wouldn’t have been burning the cars” — a reference to consumer protests against Tesla. Still, things certainly have turned up for Musk since his departure from The President’s administration. Tesla shareholders approved a pay package that could make Musk the world’s first trillionaire. Musk was speaking as a guest on the “Katie Miller Podcast,” which Miller, who is married to top The President adviser Stephen Miller, launched after leaving government employment to work for Musk in the private sector. The two sat in chairs facing each other for a conversation that lasted more than 50 minutes and spanned topics from DOGE to Musk’s thoughts on AI, social media, conspiracy theories and fashion. Miller did not press Musk on the inner workings of DOGE and the controversial manner in which it took over federal agencies and data systems. Musk credited the agency with saving as much as $200 billion annually in “zombie payments” that he said can be avoided with better automated systems and coding for federal payouts. But that number is dwarfed by Musk’s ambitious promises at one time that an efficiency commission could measure savings in the trillions. Miller has not responded to an Associated Press request for comment. —Bill Barrow, Associated Press View the full article

It’s “where are you now?” month at Ask a Manager, and all December I’m running updates from people who had their letters here answered in the past. There will be more posts than usual this week, so keep checking back throughout the day. Remember the letter-writer whose friend hired them but wasn’t paying what they had agreed on? Here’s the update. I’m happy to say that the outcome of the conversation with my now former boss was positive and I didn’t expect it to end as well as it did. Thank you, Alison, and everyone who provided helpful feedback. I respectfully brought up with my friend what she was thinking to do in terms of the summer when the days were longer and I told her I needed to know what she was thinking to figure out my finances. I also said I was expecting the benefits and the pay we had discussed. I wanted to see what she would do / if it would change anything before making my final decision to leave. Instead, this led to her changing my pay once again and paying me by the hour instead of by the booking, both of which were not what we had first agreed upon. I was supposed to be paid a salary amount we had discussed when she was hiring me. I realized it was time to have the conversation to leave. I ended up telling her that I was no longer able to work for her as I required some stability in my life financially and I was not receiving the pay and benefits that we had initially discussed. I also told her that I valued my time as I had given up many weekends and worked sometimes seven days a week at both jobs and it affected me financially, as well as my health. I said I understood if it was difficult in the beginning but that as time went on, I realized that she wasn’t capable of holding her end of the deal and I had to consider my well-being as well. Surprisingly, she took it well. I was expecting her to try to convince me to stay, but I think she realized it herself too that she was stringing me along. She admitted that it was a lot to ask of me to be on call and how it affected my life. I’m a bit wary of how genuine it was, though. In the aftermath, we still talk and are amicable but I have made my boundaries clear and I have been all the better for it. She did ask if she could reach out to me if she was ever in a tight spot and needed an extra hand, and I left the door open to that but only on my terms. I have not gone back to help as of yet, I’m focusing on my primary job and enjoying some free time. I’m realizing that running yourself into the ground for an extra check isn’t always worth it! Some questions that came up in the comments: I hadn’t ever signed a written work agreement (though looking back I should’ve). Lesson learned. But she was my “friend” or so I thought and I didn’t think it through as I should have. She did lure me away from my previous job with promises of the same pay plus benefits and that I would be hired as a full-time employee from a government program incentive she had received to start her business. She had kept saying “by February” or “by March” I would be officially “hired,” but come May/June nothing had happened yet. I am currently living and working in Greece so things are a lot different than how it is in the U.S. and perhaps other countries. This was a part-time gig but she was treating it as full-time. At the time, I heavily relied on a second job to stand on my own two feet here. The boss of the job I worked at before I started working for my friend happily would take me back in a heartbeat. He is a kind and genuine man and very straightforward, almost the polar opposite of my friend. I am a private English teacher here. That is my full-time job that I have focused on building here on my own. The job my friend hired me for was focused on tourists and highly seasonal and dependent on weather, among other things. It was for horseback riding tours in the area. I had years of experience riding and training horses and it was what I did as a hobby. The post update: my friend hired me but isn’t paying me what we agreed appeared first on Ask a Manager. View the full article

Google expands Preferred Sources to English users worldwide and launches pilot AI partnerships with publishers. The post Google Expands Preferred Sources & Publisher AI Partnerships appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

Businesses need all the help they can get. These 38 free Word and Excel templates for business help with everything from cost-benefit analysis to timesheets. 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. /wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Excel-Timeline-Template.webp 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. /wp-content/uploads/2023/02/CTA-portfolio-roadmap-cropped.pngLearn more 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. /wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Small-Business-Plan-Screenshot-600x444.jpg 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 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. /wp-content/uploads/2025/03/profit-and-loss-statement-template-600x664.png 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 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. /wp-content/uploads/2025/03/balance-sheet-template-screenshot-600x471.png 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. 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. /wp-content/uploads/2025/03/cash-flow-template-600x475.png 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 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. /wp-content/uploads/2025/04/business-proposal-template-1600x736.png 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 (BIA) 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. /wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Business-Impact-Analysis-Template-600x308.png 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 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. /wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Pestle-analysis-template-600x522.png 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. /wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Swot-analysis-template-screenshot-600x513.jpg 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. /wp-content/uploads/2024/01/vision-statement-template-screenshot-600x537.png 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. /wp-content/uploads/2024/05/sipoc-template-image.png 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. /wp-content/uploads/2023/04/operating-budget-template-correct.jpg 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. /wp-content/uploads/2022/11/budget-proposal-screenshot-template-600x545.jpg 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. /wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Work-Schedule-Screenshot.jpg 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. /wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Timesheet-Screenshot.jpg 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. /wp-content/uploads/2023/08/SOP-Template-image-600x586.jpg 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. /wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Business-case-template-word-projectmanager-600x631.jpg 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. /wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Business_Requirements_Template_Screenshot.png 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. /wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Project-Budget-Screenshot.jpg 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. /wp-content/uploads/2020/05/RACI-Matrix-Screenshot.jpg 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. /wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Stakeholder-Analysis-Screenshot.jpg 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. /wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Cost-Benefit-Analysis-Screenshot.jpg 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. /wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Strategic_Plan_Template_for_Word_Image.png 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. /wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-08-at-1.45.51-PM.png 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 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. /wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Executive-Summary-Screenshot-1-600x472.jpg 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. /wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Work-Order-Screenshot-600x438.jpg 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. /wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Inventory-template-v2.jpg 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. /wp-content/uploads/2023/11/flowchart-template-screenshot-600x618.png 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. /wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Gap-Analysis-Screenshot.jpg 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. /wp-content/uploads/2023/08/smart-goals-template-image-600x603.jpg 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. /wp-content/uploads/2022/09/project-prioritization-template-screenshot-final-600x554.jpg 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. /wp-content/uploads/2022/11/organizational-chart-template-screenshot.jpg 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. /wp-content/uploads/2022/11/action-plan-template-action-steps.png 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. /wp-content/uploads/2021/01/RFQ-Screenshot-600x508.jpg 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. /wp-content/uploads/2022/09/marketing-calendar-template.jpg 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. /wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Change-Log-Screenshot.jpg 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. /wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Implementation-Plan-Screenshot.jpg 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. /wp-content/uploads/2024/08/KPI-Dashboard-Template-Screenshot-600x369.png 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. /wp-content/uploads/2022/11/gantt-chart-marketing.webp 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. /wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Dashboard_Construction_Wide_Zoom-150.webp 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. View the full article

If you’re looking for efficient ways to edit MP4 videos online, you’ve got several excellent options at your disposal. Free video editors like Adobe Express and Clipchamp provide straightforward interfaces with drag-and-drop features, making editing accessible. For those who want more advanced tools, Shotcut and Lightworks offer professional-grade capabilities. As you explore these choices, consider what each editor brings to the table, ensuring you find the right fit for your editing needs. Key Takeaways Clipchamp offers unlimited watermark-free exports up to 1080p, making it ideal for social media quick edits. Shotcut is a free, open-source editor with customizable features that support various video formats, including MP4. Lightworks provides a free version with basic editing tools, though exports are limited to 720p and MP4 format. Adobe Express features a user-friendly interface with customizable templates and easy resizing for various platforms. ACDSee Luxea includes screen recording and keyframing, providing robust options for quick video edits in its free version. Adobe Express Video Editor If you’re looking for an intuitive way to edit videos without any prior experience, Adobe Express Video Editor could be the perfect tool for you. This free online MP4 video editor features a user-friendly interface with drag-and-drop tools, making video editing accessible for everyone. You can choose from thousands of customizable templates designed for various social media formats, allowing for quick and engaging content creation. Effortlessly crop, trim, and split videos, and improve your storytelling by adding free Adobe Stock soundtracks or your own audio. With just one click, you can resize videos for different platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Plus, its animation tools let you animate icons and text with a single tap, ensuring dynamic visual effects. Clipchamp Clipchamp stands out as a versatile web-based MP4 video editor that simplifies the editing process by allowing you to work directly in your browser without the hassle of software installation or high-end hardware requirements. The platform offers unlimited, watermark-free exports up to 1080p in its free version, making it especially suitable for social media content creation. With a user-friendly, template-based interface, you’ll find tools like speech-to-text and auto-compose, which improve the editing experience with AI-powered features. Furthermore, Clipchamp provides access to a library of free stock images, audio, and video resources, enabling you to make quick and professional edits without extra costs. Nevertheless, be aware that it may experience slow rendering times for longer video projects. ACDSee Luxea Video Editor For those looking for a robust video editing solution, ACDSee Luxea Video Editor offers an intuitive interface designed to cater to serious beginners and intermediates alike. It supports keyframing and 4K video editing, making it perfect for both quick edits and more advanced projects. The software includes screen and webcam recording capabilities, improving its versatility for content creators. As the free version is user-friendly, it does add an intro and outro to videos and isn’t suitable for commercial use. ACDSee Luxea is frequently updated to incorporate new features and improvements, ensuring you have access to the latest editing tools. User-friendly design Supports 4K editing Keyframing functionality Screen and webcam recording Regular updates and upgrades Shotcut Shotcut stands out as a strong free, open-source video editing software that supports a broad array of video formats, including MP4. Its customizable interface allows you to arrange tools and panels according to your editing preferences, making it user-friendly for both beginners and advanced editors. You’ll find advanced editing capabilities like 360-degree video filters, pitch compensation, and a variety of audio and video effects, which can enhance your projects beyond basic editing. Regular updates guarantee that Shotcut continues to improve, incorporating new features and bug fixes to support the latest technology. Although the unique interface may present a learning curve for new users, its robust capabilities make it a popular choice among editing enthusiasts. Lightworks Lightworks provides a robust free version that includes professional-grade editing tools, making it a solid choice for both beginners and experienced users. Its layer-based timeline interface simplifies the editing process, although still allowing for intricate project management. Nevertheless, keep in mind that the free version limits your export options to 720p, which may not meet the needs of everyone looking for higher-resolution outputs. Professional-grade Editing Tools In relation to professional-grade editing tools, Lightworks stands out as a robust option for both novice and experienced video editors. Its free version provides crucial features that enable you to create high-quality videos without breaking the bank. With support for multi-cam editing and real-time effects, you can improve your projects considerably. Here are some key benefits of using Lightworks: Intuitive interface that simplifies complex editing tasks Customizable layouts to fit your workflow Regular updates ensuring access to the latest features Supportive community for troubleshooting and advice Ability to export videos at 720p resolution in the free version Lightworks truly offers an all-encompassing suite for anyone looking to boost their video editing skills. Layer-Based Timeline Interface When tackling video editing, having a layer-based timeline interface can greatly improve your workflow and creativity. Lightworks provides this feature, enabling you to manage multiple video and audio tracks at once. Its intuitive drag-and-drop functionality allows for quick clip arrangement, making it easier to experiment with sequences. You can likewise add effects and transitions directly onto the timeline, which lets you see real-time adjustments as you work. The timeline supports multi-cam editing, helping you sync and edit footage from various angles seamlessly. Plus, it’s customizable, so you can adjust the workspace to fit your editing style. Feature Description Multi-Track Editing Organize multiple video and audio tracks simultaneously Drag-and-Drop Functionality Quickly arrange clips and experiment with sequences Real-Time Adjustments Apply effects and transitions directly onto the timeline Customizable Workspace Adjust the layout to suit your editing preferences Export Limitations Explained Though the layer-based timeline interface in Lightworks improves your editing experience, it’s important to contemplate the export limitations that come with the free version. The free version restricts video exports to a maximum resolution of 720p, which mightn’t suit your needs for high-quality outputs. Furthermore, you can only export in MP4 format, limiting compatibility with several platforms. You also miss out on advanced export options available in the Pro version, like multi-cam editing and real-time effects. Moreover, you’ll need to create an account to access the free version, which could hinder quick edits. Nevertheless, Lightworks still provides a solid set of tools for beginners. Limited export resolution Restricted to MP4 format Missing advanced features Account creation required Great for casual editing DaVinci Resolve DaVinci Resolve stands out as one of the best free online MP4 video editors available today, catering to both beginners and seasoned professionals. This professional-grade software offers advanced editing tools without the cost, making it accessible for everyone. It supports various formats, including MP4, and thrives in color correction and audio post-production, features typically reserved for premium software. Although its interface might present a steeper learning curve, the robust capabilities make it ideal for serious video editing tasks. Moreover, DaVinci Resolve includes a multi-user collaboration feature, allowing teams to work on projects simultaneously, which is especially beneficial for larger productions. Regular updates keep the software current, ensuring you have access to the latest features and improvements. Canva Video Editor Canva Video Editor stands out as a free, user-friendly tool that simplifies the video editing process with its intuitive drag-and-drop interface. You’ll find an extensive library of customizable templates and stock assets, which can enhance your projects without extra costs. Furthermore, its AI editing features help streamline your workflow, making it suitable for both beginners and seasoned editors alike. User-Friendly Interface When you’re looking for a video editing tool that won’t overwhelm you, the user-friendly interface of Canva Video Editor stands out as an excellent choice. Its simple drag-and-drop design allows you to create and edit videos quickly, regardless of your experience level. You can effortlessly resize videos for different platforms with just one click, streamlining your workflow. Plus, the collaborative features enable multiple users to work together in real-time, making it ideal for team projects. Intuitive navigation for easy use Quick access to over a million stock assets Customizable templates for brand consistency One-click resizing for various social media formats Real-time collaboration for seamless teamwork Extensive Template Library With over 27,000 customizable templates at your fingertips, the extensive template library in Canva Video Editor makes video creation straightforward and efficient. You can easily find templates optimized for various platforms, including social media ads, promotional content, and video stories, ensuring a professional look with minimal effort. The user-friendly interface allows you to utilize drag-and-drop functionality, making it simple to personalize templates with your own media and branding elements. Canva frequently updates its templates to reflect current design trends, providing you with fresh options for every project. Moreover, the ability to batch process multiple video edits means you can create consistent content across different formats quickly and efficiently, maximizing your productivity. AI Editing Features AI editing features in Canva Video Editor transform the video creation process by streamlining tasks that traditionally require extensive manual effort. With tools like Magic Design, you can automatically edit footage and receive music suggestions, making your project come together effortlessly. The Highlights function helps you save time by identifying the best moments in your videos, whereas Magic Media allows you to generate videos from simple text prompts. Create polished videos without extensive editing skills. Enjoy automated text, overlays, and shifts for a professional touch. Save time and effort with intelligent editing features. Experience a user-friendly interface suitable for all skill levels. Improve your creative projects quickly and efficiently with AI assistance. Frequently Asked Questions How to Edit an MP4 Video Online for Free? To edit an MP4 video online for free, start by uploading your video to a web-based editor like Clipchamp or Adobe Express. Utilize tools for trimming, cropping, and splitting to improve your footage. You can additionally add royalty-free music or upload your own audio tracks for better sound quality. Many platforms offer templates for easy editing. Once you’re satisfied with your video, download it as an MP4 file to share on social media. What Is the Best Free MP4 Editor? The best free MP4 editor depends on your needs. PowerDirector offers a user-friendly interface and advanced features, making it versatile. If you’re into social media, Promeo’s templates streamline ad creation efficiently. For beginners, VideoPad provides a straightforward editing experience. OpenShot boasts a wide array of changes, whereas Clipchamp specializes in social media content. If you’re seeking professional capabilities, DaVinci Resolve’s robust free version is a top choice for advanced editing and color correction. What Is the Best and Easiest Free Video Editing Software? The best and easiest free video editing software includes options like OpenShot, known for its beginner-friendly drag-and-drop interface, and PowerDirector, which offers AI-driven tools for improved creativity. VideoPad is great for home users, providing clean templates and multiple export options. If you’re looking for social media ads, Promeo’s extensive template library is ideal. For advanced features, DaVinci Resolve stands out, offering professional-grade editing with a steep learning curve for those interested. What Is the Fastest Video Editing Software? When you’re looking for the fastest video editing software, consider options like DaVinci Resolve for its optimized performance and collaborative features. Cloud-based tools, such as Clipchamp, enable quick editing without heavy installations. EnergyDirector utilizes AI to streamline processes, as user-friendly interfaces in programs like Promeo help you create videos efficiently. These tools emphasize real-time editing and quick rendering, allowing you to make and export changes swiftly without significant delays. Conclusion To conclude, the seven best free online MP4 video editors offer a range of features suitable for various skill levels. Whether you need a straightforward tool like Adobe Express and Clipchamp for quick edits or more advanced options like Shotcut and DaVinci Resolve, you have choices that cater to your needs. Each editor provides unique functionalities, ensuring you can find the right fit for your video projects, enhancing your editing experience without any cost. Image via Google Gemini This article, "7 Best Free Online MP4 Video Editors for Quick Edits" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

If you’re looking for efficient ways to edit MP4 videos online, you’ve got several excellent options at your disposal. Free video editors like Adobe Express and Clipchamp provide straightforward interfaces with drag-and-drop features, making editing accessible. For those who want more advanced tools, Shotcut and Lightworks offer professional-grade capabilities. As you explore these choices, consider what each editor brings to the table, ensuring you find the right fit for your editing needs. Key Takeaways Clipchamp offers unlimited watermark-free exports up to 1080p, making it ideal for social media quick edits. Shotcut is a free, open-source editor with customizable features that support various video formats, including MP4. Lightworks provides a free version with basic editing tools, though exports are limited to 720p and MP4 format. Adobe Express features a user-friendly interface with customizable templates and easy resizing for various platforms. ACDSee Luxea includes screen recording and keyframing, providing robust options for quick video edits in its free version. Adobe Express Video Editor If you’re looking for an intuitive way to edit videos without any prior experience, Adobe Express Video Editor could be the perfect tool for you. This free online MP4 video editor features a user-friendly interface with drag-and-drop tools, making video editing accessible for everyone. You can choose from thousands of customizable templates designed for various social media formats, allowing for quick and engaging content creation. Effortlessly crop, trim, and split videos, and improve your storytelling by adding free Adobe Stock soundtracks or your own audio. With just one click, you can resize videos for different platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Plus, its animation tools let you animate icons and text with a single tap, ensuring dynamic visual effects. Clipchamp Clipchamp stands out as a versatile web-based MP4 video editor that simplifies the editing process by allowing you to work directly in your browser without the hassle of software installation or high-end hardware requirements. The platform offers unlimited, watermark-free exports up to 1080p in its free version, making it especially suitable for social media content creation. With a user-friendly, template-based interface, you’ll find tools like speech-to-text and auto-compose, which improve the editing experience with AI-powered features. Furthermore, Clipchamp provides access to a library of free stock images, audio, and video resources, enabling you to make quick and professional edits without extra costs. Nevertheless, be aware that it may experience slow rendering times for longer video projects. ACDSee Luxea Video Editor For those looking for a robust video editing solution, ACDSee Luxea Video Editor offers an intuitive interface designed to cater to serious beginners and intermediates alike. It supports keyframing and 4K video editing, making it perfect for both quick edits and more advanced projects. The software includes screen and webcam recording capabilities, improving its versatility for content creators. As the free version is user-friendly, it does add an intro and outro to videos and isn’t suitable for commercial use. ACDSee Luxea is frequently updated to incorporate new features and improvements, ensuring you have access to the latest editing tools. User-friendly design Supports 4K editing Keyframing functionality Screen and webcam recording Regular updates and upgrades Shotcut Shotcut stands out as a strong free, open-source video editing software that supports a broad array of video formats, including MP4. Its customizable interface allows you to arrange tools and panels according to your editing preferences, making it user-friendly for both beginners and advanced editors. You’ll find advanced editing capabilities like 360-degree video filters, pitch compensation, and a variety of audio and video effects, which can enhance your projects beyond basic editing. Regular updates guarantee that Shotcut continues to improve, incorporating new features and bug fixes to support the latest technology. Although the unique interface may present a learning curve for new users, its robust capabilities make it a popular choice among editing enthusiasts. Lightworks Lightworks provides a robust free version that includes professional-grade editing tools, making it a solid choice for both beginners and experienced users. Its layer-based timeline interface simplifies the editing process, although still allowing for intricate project management. Nevertheless, keep in mind that the free version limits your export options to 720p, which may not meet the needs of everyone looking for higher-resolution outputs. Professional-grade Editing Tools In relation to professional-grade editing tools, Lightworks stands out as a robust option for both novice and experienced video editors. Its free version provides crucial features that enable you to create high-quality videos without breaking the bank. With support for multi-cam editing and real-time effects, you can improve your projects considerably. Here are some key benefits of using Lightworks: Intuitive interface that simplifies complex editing tasks Customizable layouts to fit your workflow Regular updates ensuring access to the latest features Supportive community for troubleshooting and advice Ability to export videos at 720p resolution in the free version Lightworks truly offers an all-encompassing suite for anyone looking to boost their video editing skills. Layer-Based Timeline Interface When tackling video editing, having a layer-based timeline interface can greatly improve your workflow and creativity. Lightworks provides this feature, enabling you to manage multiple video and audio tracks at once. Its intuitive drag-and-drop functionality allows for quick clip arrangement, making it easier to experiment with sequences. You can likewise add effects and transitions directly onto the timeline, which lets you see real-time adjustments as you work. The timeline supports multi-cam editing, helping you sync and edit footage from various angles seamlessly. Plus, it’s customizable, so you can adjust the workspace to fit your editing style. Feature Description Multi-Track Editing Organize multiple video and audio tracks simultaneously Drag-and-Drop Functionality Quickly arrange clips and experiment with sequences Real-Time Adjustments Apply effects and transitions directly onto the timeline Customizable Workspace Adjust the layout to suit your editing preferences Export Limitations Explained Though the layer-based timeline interface in Lightworks improves your editing experience, it’s important to contemplate the export limitations that come with the free version. The free version restricts video exports to a maximum resolution of 720p, which mightn’t suit your needs for high-quality outputs. Furthermore, you can only export in MP4 format, limiting compatibility with several platforms. You also miss out on advanced export options available in the Pro version, like multi-cam editing and real-time effects. Moreover, you’ll need to create an account to access the free version, which could hinder quick edits. Nevertheless, Lightworks still provides a solid set of tools for beginners. Limited export resolution Restricted to MP4 format Missing advanced features Account creation required Great for casual editing DaVinci Resolve DaVinci Resolve stands out as one of the best free online MP4 video editors available today, catering to both beginners and seasoned professionals. This professional-grade software offers advanced editing tools without the cost, making it accessible for everyone. It supports various formats, including MP4, and thrives in color correction and audio post-production, features typically reserved for premium software. Although its interface might present a steeper learning curve, the robust capabilities make it ideal for serious video editing tasks. Moreover, DaVinci Resolve includes a multi-user collaboration feature, allowing teams to work on projects simultaneously, which is especially beneficial for larger productions. Regular updates keep the software current, ensuring you have access to the latest features and improvements. Canva Video Editor Canva Video Editor stands out as a free, user-friendly tool that simplifies the video editing process with its intuitive drag-and-drop interface. You’ll find an extensive library of customizable templates and stock assets, which can enhance your projects without extra costs. Furthermore, its AI editing features help streamline your workflow, making it suitable for both beginners and seasoned editors alike. User-Friendly Interface When you’re looking for a video editing tool that won’t overwhelm you, the user-friendly interface of Canva Video Editor stands out as an excellent choice. Its simple drag-and-drop design allows you to create and edit videos quickly, regardless of your experience level. You can effortlessly resize videos for different platforms with just one click, streamlining your workflow. Plus, the collaborative features enable multiple users to work together in real-time, making it ideal for team projects. Intuitive navigation for easy use Quick access to over a million stock assets Customizable templates for brand consistency One-click resizing for various social media formats Real-time collaboration for seamless teamwork Extensive Template Library With over 27,000 customizable templates at your fingertips, the extensive template library in Canva Video Editor makes video creation straightforward and efficient. You can easily find templates optimized for various platforms, including social media ads, promotional content, and video stories, ensuring a professional look with minimal effort. The user-friendly interface allows you to utilize drag-and-drop functionality, making it simple to personalize templates with your own media and branding elements. Canva frequently updates its templates to reflect current design trends, providing you with fresh options for every project. Moreover, the ability to batch process multiple video edits means you can create consistent content across different formats quickly and efficiently, maximizing your productivity. AI Editing Features AI editing features in Canva Video Editor transform the video creation process by streamlining tasks that traditionally require extensive manual effort. With tools like Magic Design, you can automatically edit footage and receive music suggestions, making your project come together effortlessly. The Highlights function helps you save time by identifying the best moments in your videos, whereas Magic Media allows you to generate videos from simple text prompts. Create polished videos without extensive editing skills. Enjoy automated text, overlays, and shifts for a professional touch. Save time and effort with intelligent editing features. Experience a user-friendly interface suitable for all skill levels. Improve your creative projects quickly and efficiently with AI assistance. Frequently Asked Questions How to Edit an MP4 Video Online for Free? To edit an MP4 video online for free, start by uploading your video to a web-based editor like Clipchamp or Adobe Express. Utilize tools for trimming, cropping, and splitting to improve your footage. You can additionally add royalty-free music or upload your own audio tracks for better sound quality. Many platforms offer templates for easy editing. Once you’re satisfied with your video, download it as an MP4 file to share on social media. What Is the Best Free MP4 Editor? The best free MP4 editor depends on your needs. PowerDirector offers a user-friendly interface and advanced features, making it versatile. If you’re into social media, Promeo’s templates streamline ad creation efficiently. For beginners, VideoPad provides a straightforward editing experience. OpenShot boasts a wide array of changes, whereas Clipchamp specializes in social media content. If you’re seeking professional capabilities, DaVinci Resolve’s robust free version is a top choice for advanced editing and color correction. What Is the Best and Easiest Free Video Editing Software? The best and easiest free video editing software includes options like OpenShot, known for its beginner-friendly drag-and-drop interface, and PowerDirector, which offers AI-driven tools for improved creativity. VideoPad is great for home users, providing clean templates and multiple export options. If you’re looking for social media ads, Promeo’s extensive template library is ideal. For advanced features, DaVinci Resolve stands out, offering professional-grade editing with a steep learning curve for those interested. What Is the Fastest Video Editing Software? When you’re looking for the fastest video editing software, consider options like DaVinci Resolve for its optimized performance and collaborative features. Cloud-based tools, such as Clipchamp, enable quick editing without heavy installations. EnergyDirector utilizes AI to streamline processes, as user-friendly interfaces in programs like Promeo help you create videos efficiently. These tools emphasize real-time editing and quick rendering, allowing you to make and export changes swiftly without significant delays. Conclusion To conclude, the seven best free online MP4 video editors offer a range of features suitable for various skill levels. Whether you need a straightforward tool like Adobe Express and Clipchamp for quick edits or more advanced options like Shotcut and DaVinci Resolve, you have choices that cater to your needs. Each editor provides unique functionalities, ensuring you can find the right fit for your video projects, enhancing your editing experience without any cost. Image via Google Gemini This article, "7 Best Free Online MP4 Video Editors for Quick Edits" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

As the year winds down to a close, with just three weeks left on the calendar, Nextdoor may be the next, last, big meme stock of 2025. Here’s why. What happened? On Wednesday, Nextdoor Holdings Inc. (NXDR) shares rose 49% in early trading, the most in over four years, according to Bloomberg. The gains come on the heels of a series of posts on X on Wednesday morning by investor Eric Jackson, founder of EMJ Capital hedge fund, who described the neighborhood-focused site as “one of the most misunderstood platforms in the market” and touted its AI potential: “Nextdoor isn’t a social network. It’s a neighborhood operating system with AI-native revenue,” as well as its large membership (100 million households in 10 countries). At the time of this writing, Nextdoor was holding steady, up over 17% in midday trading. What is a meme stock? A meme stock is when a company’s stock gains popularity in online forums, often on social media. This can happen when a discussion thread on, say, Reddit, X, or Facebook kicks off a conversation about a company, often leading to the buying, selling, or shorting of shares. A meme stock starts when investors gather on discussion boards and chat rooms, such as Reddit’s r/wallstreetbets, to swap tips and ideas of unconventional stocks they are going to “bet” on. And the efforts of those individuals, collectively, often end up influencing the stock’s share price, either up or down: “Meme stocks can become overvalued relative to fundamental technical analysis,” according to Investopedia, often causing large price swings in either direction. Is Nextdoor the next GameStop? GameStop (GME) is generally considered the first real meme stock. However, it remains unclear whether Nextdoor will be able to sustain today’s double-digit rise. View the full article

If you've chosen a Chromebook as a laptop, then you know the main benefits that it brings: namely, speed, ease of use, and affordability. Despite the simplicity of ChromeOS, however, there's more that you can do with it than you might realize. You can use it offline, and you can sync files to and from local storage, for example. The operating system is a lot more powerful and versatile than it often gets credit for. These hacks are for power users who want to level up their Chromebook capabilities, and get extra value out of their laptop, beyond the standard use cases that everyone knows about. No matter how you use ChromeOS, there should be something here to help. Use your Chromebook offline Google Drive can work offline. Credit: Lifehacker Chromebooks are often criticized for being useless without wifi, but that's not actually the case: All of the Docs, Sheets, and Slides tools can be used offline, with changes syncing back when your internet connection is restored: From Google Drive, click the gear icon (top right), then choose Settings > General and check the option under the Offline heading. You can use Gmail offline, too. You can't send or receive emails, obviously, but you can read through and organize your inbox, and draft emails ready to go once you get your internet back. From Gmail, click on the gear icon (top right), then pick See all settings > Offline. Check the Enable offline mail box and choose how much of your email you want to sync. Sync media offlineThis offline functionality extends to third-party streaming apps too, as ChromeOS supports Android apps. With apps such as Netflix and Spotify, you can sync content to your Chromebook to watch when you don't have a reliable internet connection—when you're on a long flight, for example, or traveling between countries. Talk to your Chromebook Enable dictation through the Accessibility settings. Credit: Lifehacker Typing is all well and good, but sometimes talking is faster. Launch Settings, then choose Accessibility > Keyboard and text input > Dictation to enable the feature. You can then press the Launcher (G) button and D to start dictating in any app—whether you're composing emails or writing essays. Move local files to Google DriveOne of the pros of using a Chromebook is that everything is synced online pretty much instantly, if you're using one of Google's own online apps or something similar. However, there may be local files that accumulate on the laptop, including screenshots and downloads, and sometimes you'll want to get those synced to the cloud as well. You can see these files via the Files app that comes built into ChromeOS, and upload them manually via the Google Drive web interface. There's an easier way to get them into Google Drive, though: From the Files app, select all the local files you want to upload in the pane on the right, then drag them into My Drive under Google Drive in the left-hand menu bar. Set up virtual desktopsChromebooks don't always have the biggest or highest-resolution screens, but you can give yourself more room by managing multiple virtual desktops (which ChromeOS calls "desks"). Press the "show windows" key (it's the one with little rectangles on it, usually also labeled F3) to view open desks, switch between them, and create new ones. Enable guest accessAs ChromeOS is so tightly tied to your Google account, you don't necessarily want other people borrowing your laptop and being able to get into your Google apps. The solution is guest mode: Restart your Chromebook or sign out of your current user account, then click Browse as Guest to launch a Chrome window without any Google account attached. Make full use of the clipboardChromeOS can sometimes feel limiting in that you can't quickly drag files to the desktop or to a temporary folder in the same way that you can on Windows or macOS. You might also see that as a benefit—it means less junk will be cluttering your system—but there could well be times that you just need to store something temporarily for transfer. That's where the ChromeOS clipboard comes in: It actually stores five items rather than one, so it's a useful (if rather hidden) way of moving images, text, and links between websites and apps. Use the usual Ctrl+C, Ctrl+X, and Ctrl+V shortcuts to copy, cut, and paste, then hold down the Launcher (G) button and V to see all the clipboard items. Open the ChromeOS Task Manager ChromeOS comes with its own Task Manager. Credit: Lifehacker The ChromeOS Task Manager is useful for everything from shutting down crashed apps to seeing exactly where all your RAM is going, and it can be a key tool in the power user's belt. Open it by pressing the Launcher (G) key and Esc: You'll see you can browse between individual tabs and system processes, or search for something specific on ChromeOS. Save an older laptopChromeOS isn't just for Chromebooks: You can give an older, struggling laptop a new lease of life by installing ChromeOS Flex on it (even old laptops can usually handle Chrome). Google has full instructions for what you need to do to get this working, and will guide you through the process of creating a bootable USB drive with the ChromeOS software on. Explore beta and dev channels Switching up the channel on ChromeOS. Credit: Lifehacker As with a lot of software, there are beta and dev channels of ChromeOS available as well as the stable one. If you want to get the newest Chromebook features before everyone else, and don't mind a few bugs along the way, then you can make the switch. It doesn't take long, and you can always switch back again, though a system reset is sometimes required. To change between ChromeOS channels, click on the time panel (bottom right), then click the gear icon to get to the main Settings page. Choose About ChromeOS > Additional details > Change channel, then choose whichever one you want to use. You'll keep getting over-the-air updates for your selected channel until you switch to a different one. View the full article

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US central bank expected to deliver third reduction of year, but policy outlook for 2026 looks less certainView the full article

Contractors bid for jobs. They have to outline what they’ll do, how long it’ll take and at what cost. Those estimates must be accurate or it can lead to a failed project or cut into the contractor’s profit margin. Using bid proposal templates is one way to ensure the bids are thorough and complete, covering all bases. ProjectManager has over 100 free project management templates for Excel and Word that can be downloaded now. There are over a dozen templates that can help during the construction bidding process. They are listed and linked below to help land work that serves the contractor and their client. However, templates are static documents. Project management software is better at forecasting the details of the project correctly and then executing that project to ensure it’s delivered on time and within budget. ProjectManager is award-winning project and portfolio management software that has robust Gantt charts that can help estimate schedules, costs and more. Once the bid is won, our Gantt charts go the extra mile, linking all four types of task deliverables to avoid cost overruns due to delays, identify essential tasks by filtering for the critical path and set a baseline to capture the plan and compare it against actual progress and costs. Get started with ProjectManager today for free. /wp-content/uploads/2024/04/critical-path-light-mode-gantt-construction-CTA.pngLearn more Why Use a Bid Proposal Template? While a bid proposal template has its limitations, it provides consistency in format and style to reinforce brand identity. Their pre-structured framework is time-efficient and ensures comprehensive coverage. The consistent format also streamlines the review process while improving the overall quality of the proposal. Its structure also provides a clear and organized way to present services, qualifications and pricing. This makes it easier for clients to evaluate the offer. A well-crafted bid proposal template will give contractors a competitive edge by showcasing the strengths and the value proposition of the bid. This provides the contractor with an opportunity to persuade the potential client by making a compelling case for why they’re the best choice, highlighting past successes, relevant experience and client testimonials. The bid proposal template, if approved by the client, can serve as a reference later to clarify terms and conditions when a formal contract is written up. /wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Bid-proposal-template-featured-image.jpg Get your free Bid Proposal Template Use this free Bid Proposal Template for Word to manage your projects better. Download Word File Best Free Bid Proposal Templates The following are a variety of bid proposal templates that address different types of projects and industries. There are more generic ones and others specific to a certain type of work. Also included are free templates that can help prepare the big proposal, such as budget, scope of work and executive summary, which are all part of the larger proposal. Download these free bid proposal templates for a better chance of getting that job. 1. Bid Proposal Template This free bid proposal template for Word can be used for any job. Once downloaded, users can add or subtract from this customizable template to better reflect the work they’re bidding for. This formal response to an opportunity for a working relationship with a potential client will showcase the contractor’s qualifications and outline their approach. /wp-content/uploads/2024/10/bid-proposal-template-screenshot-600x520.png This bid proposal template can be used by construction companies, consulting firms, freelancers, suppliers and vendors, nonprofits and government agencies. It covers the whole gamut, from the executive summary, scope of work and company information to exclusions, terms and conditions and acceptance of proposal. 2. Project Proposal Template Another versatile document is this free project proposal template for Word. It can be customized as a proposal for a construction, IT, marketing, engineering or business project. The template delivers the rationale for the project by formally communicating to sponsors or a boss the good reasons to initiate the project to solve a specific problem or exploit a business opportunity. /wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Project-Proposal-Screenshot.jpg Like any proposal, it begins with an executive summary to introduce the proposal and then goes into the process, solution, deliverables, duration and more to flesh out the project. It’s used to kick off a new project, which is why it’s so in-depth. It’s a vehicle that clearly defines the project to get approval from the sponsor and convince them of its value. 3. Budget Proposal Template One of the most important parts of a bid proposal template is the budget forecast. Some clients, sponsors and bosses will only look at the bottom line and if that is too much, no amount of convincing will get them to approve the value of the proposition. This free budget proposal template for Excel is a great tool for forecasts to show the work is within means. /wp-content/uploads/2022/11/budget-proposal-screenshot-template.jpg This budget proposal template lists all the tasks that lead to the completion of the project or service, including subtasks. Then the costs related to the resources needed to deliver those tasks are estimated, from labor and materials to other costs, such as travel, equipment, etc. The budgeted costs are added up and there’s a column to capture the actual costs to track the cost variance when executing the project to help stay on budget. 4. Service Proposal Template Another kind of bid proposal template is this free service proposal template for Word. It’s part of the sales process where the service provider and customer define the outline for the service being offered. They can figure out the details here before settling on a legally binding contract. This communication channel brings both parties to an agreement, whether delivering the service provider’s value proposition or establishing the expectations of the potential client. /wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Service-proposal-template-screenshot.png The bid proposal template is broken down into sections. It begins with an executive summary to provide an overview of the main points and moves into the service provider’s pitch, scope of work, cost forecast, timeline and more. All the details of the agreement are worked out beforehand so if the two parties contract together, there will be no misunderstandings about the work to be done, when it should be completed and how much it will cost. 5. Construction Proposal Template General contractors will want to download this construction proposal template for Word. It’s part of the bidding process and includes detailed project information, including quotes from suppliers, which provide an estimate of the overall cost for the proposed project. Construction firms can streamline the process of getting work by using this bid proposal template, which acts as a sales call to a motivated target. /wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Construction-Proposal-Screenshot.jpg As with any bid proposal template, this one includes sections that define the scope of work, financial information and the project schedule, to name only a few. By outlining all of the project details accurately, both parties can come to an agreement and avoid any misunderstandings after the job has been contracted. 6. Event Proposal Template Not all bid proposal templates are the same, of course. Some proposals target specific projects or, in this case, events. The free event proposal template for Word is perfect for an event planner, who are project managers, even if they aren’t often thought of as one. This document covers the details of a coming event, whether a conference, trade show, exposition, wedding, fundraiser, etc. /wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Event_Proposal_Template_Screenshot-1.png This bid proposal is similar to the other free templates on this list. It’s broken down into sections. Some of those sections will be familiar, such as the event schedule and cost estimation. Others are unique to event planning, such as being able to define the target audience and coming up with event marketing and promotions. But the goal is the same, landing that job because one’s firm is the best to achieve the goals and objectives for a reasonable price and on the client’s deadline. 7. Request for Proposal Template A request for proposal (RFP) is the document that contractors respond to from project owners. It is sent to solicit offers that meet the project requirements so project owners can select the right contractor for the job. Therefore, this free RFP template Word isn’t a bid proposal template, but a document that will generate bids from contractors who are interested in being selected for the job. /wp-content/uploads/2024/03/RFP-Template-screenshot.png Project owners send out the RFP when they aren’t sure of who they want to hire for the job and are looking to shop around for the right contractor or vendor. This business document basically announces a project and is used across a number of different industries from construction to government projects. The RFP will inform the bid proposal template as it outlines what the project owner is looking for. 8. Request for Information Template A request for information (RFI) is used to formulate information on products, goods and services from existing or prospective suppliers. It’s sent from the customer to the supplier. It can range from general questions before a product is purchased to more specifically geared toward products already bought. This is like a bid proposal template for customers looking to work with suppliers. /wp-content/uploads/2021/01/RFI-Screenshot.jpg This template solicits information in a formal and structured way, primarily in the construction industry. It identifies the requirements of the customer and can also get answers to specific questions from the supplier. To inform the customer about suppliers serving the market, which helps them make a decision as to which supplier is best suited to contract with the customer and deliver what they need when they need it. 9. Service Quote Template Another bid proposal template is the service quote template for Excel. Use this template to streamline the process of giving customers clear, professional pricing for services. It provides a structured format where you can list the scope of work, rates, timelines, terms and total estimated costs. /wp-content/uploads/2025/02/service-quote-template.png This makes quoting faster, reduces errors, and ensures every quote includes the same essential information. For customers, it creates transparency and builds trust. For businesses, it helps with consistency, easier approvals, and a smoother handoff into contracts or project work. 10. Scope of Work Template Though not a bid proposal template, the scope of work is a key element to any bid proposal. Use this free scope of work template for Word to identify everything the project will and won’t cover. This includes project deliverables, a project timeline, project milestones and more. This means when bidding for the project, contractors won’t neglect any vital part that will impact the budget or schedule forecast. /wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Scope-of-work-template-screenshot.png The scope of work sets clear expectations and, if the bid is approved, will guide the project team through the execution of the project. It is used by project managers, contractors, project owners and project management offices (PMOs) to deliver the project and meet its requirements. It’s also an important document to prevent scope creep, which is when more tasks are added to the project during execution, and that can lead to cost overruns and schedule delays. 11. Business Case A business case is often a key component of a bid proposal template. It provides the rationale and justification for why a company should be awarded a contract. It outlines the benefits, costs and risks associated with the proposed project. This powerful tool can convince a client or project owner that the bidding contractor is the best fit for the job. /wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Business-case-template-word-projectmanager.jpg This free business case template for Word is laid out to make it easier to deliver the information to prove that one’s contracting firm is the right choice to be awarded the job. It begins with an executive summary, offers a mission statement and then explains why the contractor is the best for the job. It also shows that the project aligns with the overall strategy of the organization seeking a contractor. 12. Executive Summary Template We’ve talked about executive summaries a lot. That’s because they’re an essential part of a bid proposal template. The executive summary is like the elevator pitch, short and sweet. It’s when you want to grab someone’s attention and win them over so they spend the time to look over the more detailed part of the proposal. But not everyone is familiar with how to put together a persuasive executive summary. /wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Executive-Summary-Screenshot-1.jpg This free executive summary template for Word lays out the basic structure to help. It lists topics that should be covered, from the company’s role and strength to the problem being addressed and the unique solution being offered. Use this template to get an executive summary into shape so that when it’s added to the bid proposal template, it’ll have maximum impact and help sell the company to the client. 13. Construction Quote Template In construction, a quote template outlines the estimated costs, materials, labor, timelines and scope of work for a construction project. It helps contractors present pricing clearly and professionally while ensuring all critical project details are included—from materials and equipment to hourly rates, subcontractor fees and payment terms. /wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Construction-quote-template-image-good.png It brings consistency and accuracy to the bidding process. A template reduces mistakes, speeds up quote creation, and makes it easier to compare bids across projects. It also helps set clear expectations with clients, reducing misunderstandings and protecting both parties with a well-defined scope and pricing before work begins. 14. Construction Estimate Template A construction estimate ensures consistency, accuracy and professionalism. Contractors can quickly produce detailed, easy-to-read estimates that clients can understand and compare. This template reduces the risk of missing costs, speeds up proposal creation and strengthens the contractor’s credibility, increasing the chances of winning the project. /wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Construction-Estimate-Template.jpg It’s used to calculate and present the expected costs for a construction project, including materials, labor, equipment, permits and other expenses. It provides a clear breakdown of all components needed to complete the project. 15. Estimate Template The importance of accurate estimates can’t be overstated when filling out a bid proposal template. If the cost forecast is off, that difference will come out of the contractor’s profit margin. Using this free estimate template for Excel ensures that all tasks and associated costs are captured to avoid surprises when executing the work. /wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Project-Estimate-Screenshot.jpg The template is broken down into project phases. All the tasks are listed in one column. There’s a column to capture labor and material costs. Each row with a task and its associated costs are added up. Then the total column is added at the end to forecast how much the project will cost. 16. Project Timeline Template Another essential estimate for any bid proposal template is the schedule. If the schedule is not forecasted accurately, the client will be upset and the contractor will end up spending more than they expected. Everyone loses. But with this free project timeline template, all the tasks and their duration are accounted for, making the schedule more accurate. /wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Project-Timeline-Screenshot.jpg This free template is divided into two sections. The left side is a spreadsheet. It’s where all the project tasks are listed, including their start and end dates. On the right side is a timeline that is automatically populated as the spreadsheet is filled out. It shows the entire project in one place; each task bar is the length of its estimated duration and they can be color-coded to make it easier to read the template. 17. Job Estimate Template A job estimate is a detailed calculation of the expected costs, time, and resources required to complete a specific job or project. Our job estimate template streamlines this process by providing a consistent, organized format to create estimates quickly and accurately. /wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Job-Estimate-Template-ProjectManager.jpg For bid proposals, the template ensures all necessary cost components are included, reduces errors and presents the estimate professionally. 18. Request for Quote Template Another asset that can help with bid proposals is a request for quote template. Organizations use this standardized document to ask suppliers or vendors for pricing and details on specific products or services. It typically includes information about the required goods or services, quantities, delivery timelines, specifications and any terms and conditions. /wp-content/uploads/2021/01/RFQ-Screenshot-600x508.jpg It helps organizations compare offers accurately, reduces misunderstandings, speeds up the procurement process and provides a documented record of requests and responses. Using a template also saves time and ensures all necessary details are captured upfront, improving decision-making and vendor communication. 19. Budget Template Another way to forecast project costs for a bid proposal template is by creating a budget for the project. This free budget template for Excel contains the financial details to create an accurate budget, including all resources, both human and nonhuman. If the bid is awarded to the contractor, they can also use this template to track the budget against actual spending to help them stay on budget. /wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Project-Budget-Screenshot.jpg When estimating a budget, the first step is to list all the tasks and subtasks needed to deliver that project. That is the first column in this template. It’s followed by labor, which is broken into three columns: planned, actual hours and the rate per hour. Next is materials, divided into units and cost per unit. There are also columns for travel, equipment and other miscellaneous expenses. 20. Risk Register Template Another common part of a bid proposal template is a risk register. It’s a list of risks and opportunities that might occur throughout the project’s life cycle. It’s part of a bid proposal as it identifies areas of uncertainty, helps to allocate resources and informs the negotiating strategy. /wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Risk-Tracking-Screenshot.webp Download this free risk register template for Excel to list those uncertainties that might crop up in the project and the potential impact they’ll have if they do. Then a response can be defined to mitigate the risk and the people on the project team who are responsible for dealing with it. There’s also a column to note the risk level from high to low, which allows the project team to prioritize which risk is dealt with and when. 21. Vision Statement Template A vision statement is a concise description of an organization’s long-term goals and aspirations. While not a standalone section in a bid proposal template, it still can be incorporated into the company information to provide an overview of the contractor’s business objectives. It can show how the job being bid on will contribute to the contractor’s long-term aspirations, which makes it a better fit than other companies vying for the same work. /wp-content/uploads/2024/01/vision-statement-template-screenshot.png Use this free vision statement template for Word to help define the purpose of a business and what it hopes to achieve in the future. The template is divided into three parts. The first are the steps to developing a vision statement. The next are questions that come out of each of those steps. The final column is where users put their answers to these questions, which ends in writing a vision statement. ProjectManager Helps With Bid Proposals and Beyond A bid proposal template is okay, but project management software is better. Templates are static documents that have to be manually updated. They’re not collaborative. If the job is awarded to the contractor, templates aren’t the most efficient way to execute and manage that project. Why go to the trouble of filling out templates only to have to move on to another tool to more efficiently deliver the project when project management software can both help with the bidding process and manage the project? ProjectManager is award-winning project and portfolio management software that has the tools general contractors need to create and manage one or more bid proposals and then seamlessly move into managing those projects that they win. Plan Proposals and Execute Projects Most contractors are sending out multiple bid proposals at one time. Our multiple project views allow them to manage the bid proposal process on kanban boards. The customizable columns of the kanban board can reflect the bid process and each kanban card can be a unique bid. Our software has unlimited file storage, which means all the related documentation can be attached to those bids. Schedules and costs can be estimated on the Gantt chart, resources forecast with the workload chart and when the bid is won, the team can be assigned to the task board while clients are kept informed with the calendar view to track progress. /wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Construction-kanban-150-lightmode.jpg Track Costs, Progress and More in Real Time When the bid proposal is accepted and the job is executed, contractors must monitor the work to ensure it aligns with the plan that was approved by their client. Once a baseline is set on the Gantt chart there are multiple ways to track the project. Real-time dashboards provide a high-level overview of time, cost, workload and more displayed on easy-to-read graphs and charts. Customizable reports get deeper into the details for field crews and can be filtered to show more general metrics to keep clients updated on progress. Secure timesheets allow the teams to log hours from the job site with mobile devices but also give managers a window into labor costs to help them stay on budget. /wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Dashboard-light-mode.jpg 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 or stay updated with email and in-app notifications. Get started with ProjectManager today for free. The post 21 Bid Proposal Templates for Word and Excel appeared first on ProjectManager. View the full article

Software development lives in a digital world. Why would anyone want to use software development templates? But some software developers and their teams might not be ready to upgrade to project management software. 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. /wp-content/uploads/2024/04/critical-path-light-mode-gantt-construction-CTA.pngLearn more 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. /wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Excel-Gantt-chart-template-for-software-development-1.png 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. /wp-content/uploads/2023/10/test-case-template-screenshot-excel.png 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. /wp-content/uploads/2021/08/agile-sprint-plan-lightmode-kanban.jpg 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. /wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Project-Plan-Screenshot.jpg 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. /wp-content/uploads/2023/10/bug-report-template-image-excel.png 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. /wp-content/uploads/2024/08/portfolio-roadmap-light-mode-webp-e1723229198497.webp 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. /wp-content/uploads/2024/10/test-plan-template-screenshot.png 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. /wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Requirements-Gathering-Screenshot.jpg 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. /wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Risk-Tracking-Screenshot.webp 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. /wp-content/uploads/2023/10/bug-report-template-image-excel.png 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. /wp-content/uploads/2016/06/issue-tracking-template-zoomed-in.jpg 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. /wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Product-backlog-template-new.png 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. /wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Change-Log-Screenshot.jpg 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. /wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Change-Request-Screenshot.jpg 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.” /wp-content/uploads/2023/03/thumbnail.png 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. /wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Root-Cause-Anaysis-Screenshot.jpg 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. /wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Timesheet-Screenshot.jpg 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. /wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Progress-Report-Screenshot.jpg 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. /wp-content/uploads/2023/10/IT-list-issues-175-lightmode.png 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. /wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Dashboard-light-mode.jpg 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. View the full article

Planning an event can range from a meeting at work to a convention and everything in between. It’s another project where you have to manage time, cost and scope (and don’t forget quality) to deliver on a deadline. Using planning templates can help you stay organized and keep to your budget and they allow you to schedule and create the kind of event that serves its purpose, whether that’s networking at a trade show or launching a team-building workshop. 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 15 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. /wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Event_Proposal_Template_Screenshot-1.pngThis 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. /wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Event-plan-gantt-chart-in-projectmanager-2024.pngLearn more 3. Event Schedule Template Events run smoothly when everyone knows where to be and what’s happening next, and an event schedule 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. /wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Event-schedule-template-for-Excel-1600x559.png 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. /wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Event-budget-template-screenshot-600x481.jpg 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. /wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Event-budget-template-for-Google-Sheets-600x586.png 6. Event Budget Dashboard Template Event budgets can shift quickly as plans evolve, and a 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. /wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Budget-Dashboard-Template.png 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 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 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. /wp-content/uploads/2025/05/event-report-template-1600x862.png 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. /wp-content/uploads/2022/09/marketing-calendar-template.jpg 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. /wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Task-Tracking-Screenshot.jpg 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 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. /wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Task-Tracker-Dashboard-Template.png 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. /wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Excel-Gantt-Chart-Template-for-Event-Planning-1600x626.png 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. /wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Cost-Benefit-Analysis-Screenshot.jpg 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. /wp-content/uploads/2020/05/RACI-Matrix-Screenshot.jpg 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. /wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Stakeholder-Map-Screenshot.jpg 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. /wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Timesheet-Screenshot.jpg The timesheet template helps you track your employees. Start with 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. /wp-content/uploads/2022/11/budget-proposal-screenshot-template-600x545.jpg 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 it 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. /wp-content/uploads/2022/10/creative-brief-template-screenshot-600x731.jpg 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 venet 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. /wp-content/uploads/2022/11/gantt-chart-marketing.webp 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. /wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Marketing_Dashboard.png 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. Join teams at Avis, Nestle and Siemens who use our tool to deliver success. Get started with ProjectManager today for free. The post 17 Free Event Planning Templates for Excel and Word appeared first on ProjectManager. View the full article

Semify acquired Dragon Metrics, a Hong Kong–based SEO, AI, and PPC reporting platform known for its international reach. The move boosts Semify’s reporting strength and AI optimization tools as the search landscape shifts more toward AI. Why we care. Dragon Metrics customers can expect business as usual, plus faster product updates. Co-founder Simon Lesser said on LinkedIn that the platform will stay a standalone brand with the same contacts and product experience. Customers also gain access to Semify’s growing AI optimization methodology and future software integrations. About the acquisition. Semify announced on Dec. 8 that it is acquiring Dragon Metrics: Founded in 2008, Semify is a U.S.-based white-label digital marketing platform. Founded in 2011, Dragon Metrics serves multinational brands and agencies in 50+ countries, including regions where Google is not the dominant search engine (China, Korea, Japan). The deal gives Semify an enterprise-grade reporting system and global data coverage as it doubles down on AI-driven measurement. The details. Lesser will join Semify as chief product officer and lead its AI optimization product strategy. Dragon Metrics’ engineering team will merge with Semify’s team under CTO Brian Sappey. Semify resellers will gain upgraded reporting right away through Dragon Metrics accounts, with deeper integrations to follow. Dragon Metrics customers will stay on the standalone platform with expanded engineering support. White-label fulfillment will remain limited to approved agencies to fit Semify’s reseller model. View the full article