9 Best Scheduling Software for Small Businesses for December 2021

Your small business might be getting demolished by inefficiency and a severe lack of organization. So everyone, from your employees to your customers, could be suffering because of shoddy scheduling.

You’re desperately trying to cover every shift with messy schedules, pen and paper. We’ve been there too, and decided to go digital because of it. 

Or maybe you already use scheduling software for your small business. But it’s just too expensive.

Not to mention the fact that not all small business scheduling software is built equally. Some solutions simply don’t have the features that meet your company’s scheduling needs.

We are here to turn your problem into a solution. By the time you’ve finished reading the following list of small business scheduling software solutions, you’ll know exactly how to build effective schedules quickly, boosting productivity and reducing business costs in the process.

In a Hurry? The Best Scheduling Software for Small Businesses for December, 2021

Look, we understand how taxing it must be to feel like you might never find the right scheduling software for your small business. From fire departments to hotels, no company wants to waste time and effort building schedules out of pen and paper. 

So after extensive research, we wholeheartedly believe that the best small business scheduling software is Connecteam.

Not only does this all-in-one solution include many essential scheduling features, but it is incredibly easy to use and requires minimal training. Scaling your company and saving time and money will be a walk in the park. 

Here are just a handful of benefits that Connecteam brings to small businesses:

• Employees can easily access schedule information (date/time, location, files) from the comfort of their phone.
• Save time and effort with various kinds of shifts (recurring, ongoing and templates).
• Improve staff communication by exchanging schedule notes and sharing availability.
• Auto alerts and reminders ensure that all shifts are covered, meaning that managers will never miss a thing.

We can’t ignore other scheduling software for small businesses that boast their own range of features. With that said, Connecteam is the one that ticks the most boxes for the widest range of businesses.

If you’re in a hurry, jump  to our comparison table to compare and contrast the recommendations provided.

What Small Business Scheduling Software Should Bring

Sure, scheduling software for small businesses can offer many convenient perks. But when it really boils down to it, there are some key essential features that every small business requires when it comes to scheduling (hair salons and call centers included).

What you need to look out for when selecting scheduling software for your small business:

• It’s easy to schedule shifts in a variety of ways.
• Employees can easily access schedule information while on the go.
• Alert and notifications to update teams quickly, no matter where they work.
• Time tracking tools in the scheduling feature to increase productivity and reduce business costs. 
• Users can swap and trade shifts, saving time and maximizing the workforce.

Our research has resulted in a detailed list of some of the best scheduling software solutions for small businesses. Saving time, money and maximizing manpower will become more achievable than ever.

And if you want to get a deeper insight into small business scheduling, check out our guide on how to create the perfect work schedule for your employees.

Top 8 Scheduling Software for Small Businesses for December 2021

Connecteam is the award-winning, all-in-one scheduling software that helps small business owners save time, effort and money, while increasing productivity and efficiency in the workplace. 

Managers and employees both benefit from Connecteam’s scheduling features, for many reasons:

• You can quickly and easily plan, allocate and monitor schedules, while sending reminders and alerts to employees on the go: from your mobile phone, at the touch of a button. Keep up to date with any and every change, even at the last minute, because why should your schedule suffer?
• Absolutely nothing will fall through the cracks: thanks to auto reminders and notifications letting you know that every shift is covered.
• Your employees always have easy access to their schedule information, including their shift dates, times, locations and all other useful files, as well as any important (or sudden) updates.  
• All it takes is a couple of clicks to prepare whatever kind of shifts needed (templates, recurring and ongoing shifts), as well as deploy them to your employees. 
• Your employees are able to accept shifts, reject them and even claim them as they go, sharing their availability and unavailability…also saving you time and effort! 
• Both you and your employees will also benefit from various other features such as its online time clock, which means employees can clock in and out of from the app’s schedule. 

With Connecteam, small business managers no longer need to bother creating cluttered schedules with pen and paper. And, what’s even better is, your employees can access all of the shift information they need, wherever they are, and at any time. 

For Whom?

Connecteam is the very best online job scheduling software, especially for deskless workers and remote teams. And yes, also for part time and full time employees. SMBs and large enterprises alike benefit from this all-in-one app’s wide range of features. More than 90 industries use Connecteam, including cleaning, retail, security and construction, amongst others.

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mHelpDesk is a small business scheduling software that helps managers automate various workflows, especially from a scheduling point of view. Plan, dispatch workers and oversee schedules, while also making billing and inventory easier processes for part-time and full-time workers. MHelpDesk integrates with apps such as QuickBooks and Google Calendar, increasing productivity.  

Sounds good? There’s one catch: mHelpDesk is an extremely expensive solution.

For Whom?

mHelpDesk is a useful, if not one of the best scheduling software for small businesses and medium-sized ones too. It’s particularly great for companies who are looking for more efficient billing processes, better organization and mobile access. HVAC businesses benefit from mHelpDesk’s features.

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Wrike is a good starting point for small business managers who want to give employees quick access to scheduling information and want to customize schedules with ease. This scheduling software integrates well with multiple apps such as MediaValet and Gmail, to name a few. Also, Wrike makes it easy for employees to request PTO, sick leave and vacation, and also shows workers when and where they should clock in and out. There’s also a limited free plan, making this a good option for free scheduling software for small business.

For Whom?

Wrike is a great scheduling software for small businesses, large enterprises and remote teams alike. It is especially useful for teams with 20 employees or more. 

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7shifts is much more than a scheduling software for small businesses. Managers can make the most of this app’s scheduling capabilities, as well as time tracking, communication and task management. Workers can easily access schedules from mobile devices and managers can quickly monitor schedules on the go. 

For Whom?

7shifts was originally designed specifically for managers who needed scheduling software to run restaurants successfully. But the app is useful for many small businesses that revolve around shift-based work. 

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When I Work is a scheduling software that allows small business owners to schedule, track attendance and communicate efficiently with employees. Compatible on both iOS and Android, users can manage employee availability, trade shifts and manage PTO (paid time off) with just a couple of clicks. 

For Whom?

When I Work is a great solution for small businesses, and large ones too. Managers from a variety of industries (including retail staff) can benefit from this app’s shift scheduling and communication features.

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Deputy is a useful small business scheduling software that makes your scheduling duties digital and efficient. Syncing timesheets, tracking time and attendance, and managing leave are easy with this app. Deputy integrates with a variety of payroll apps and is compatible with both iOS and Android.

For Whom?

Deputy is an ideal scheduling software for small businesses. It benefits healthcare staff and the following other industries: retail, hospitality, education, construction, and security, to name a few.

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Jobber is an effective small business scheduling software that makes scheduling more efficient for managers and employees. Workers have easy access to their flexible schedule and shift details, and managers receive notifications when shifts/jobs are complete. Users will also enjoy viewing schedules in multiple ways. Jobber integrates with many other apps and is compatible on both mobile and desktop.

For Whom?

Jobber benefits small businesses from various industries, such as cleaning businesses, HVAC companies, and plumbing teams, to name a few. It is generally best for businesses that require more efficient scheduling and better organization.

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Skedulo is a small business scheduling software that eliminates manual scheduling. This app makes it easy to match qualified workers with relevant shifts and tasks, like a 4/10 or 9/80 schedule. Managers can allocate shifts, manage various kinds of leave (sick, vacation, PTO) and improve internal communication across all departments.

For Whom?

Workers in various industries benefit from Skedulo’s scheduling software. These include real estate agents, healthcare workers and security guards, to name a few. Deskless workers, nonprofit organizations and enterprises also use Skedulo.

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Quick Comparison Of The Top Scheduling Software For Small Businesses –

Frequently Asked Questions On Scheduling Software Solutions

1. Is scheduling software for small businesses expensive?

The truth is that the prices of scheduling software for small businesses (retail stores, for example) varies. While some may certainly appear to be overpriced when considering the features and benefits they provide, it’s worth playing around with solutions that match your company’s budget. 

Many solutions offer plans that vary in price depending on the number of employees – not Connecteam though. This all-in-one scheduling software has a fixed price for the first 50 users. This means that regardless of whether your company has 10, 20 or 50 employees, the price stays the same. 

2. Is scheduling software customizable to my small business?

Unfortunately, not every small business scheduling software includes features that admins can customize. But there are specific solutions that excel in this department. Apps like Connecteam recognize how important it is for small businesses to put their stamp on scheduling features (such as not allowing overtime requests), so that employees can use technology that speaks their language.

Connecteam is extremely customizable, so admins can tweak the features to meet the needs of their company. This means they can prepare a job schedule that makes sense, choose the relevant features and rename them accordingly. 

3. Do I really need scheduling software for my small business?

As a small business owner, we can understand if you have grown accustomed to building schedules with pen and paper, and might be hesitant to use technology. With that said, we firmly believe that replacing those manual methods with the latest software can make scheduling processes so much easier and efficient in the long run. 

Let’s say you’re a retail manager who has just started using Connecteam. You will basically do all of the same things, like building schedules, allocating shifts and keeping your team up to date with the latest schedule changes. The main difference though is that you can do all of this from the convenience of your phone. What originally took hours of writing, phone calls, spreadsheets and emails will now take a matter of minutes and a couple of clicks. 

The Bottom Line on the Best Scheduling Software for Small Businesses in December 2021

So now you should be a bit more familiar with some of the best scheduling software for small businesses. You are now well on your way to finding a solution that ensures all shifts are covered, you’re making the most of your manpower and you’re saving time and effort on the go.

We’re aware that as a small business owner, you might be looking for new scheduling software for one of two reasons. For example, you’re running a construction business who might be used to creating schedules manually. Now you’re looking to go digital. 

Or, you might already be using scheduling software – but the one you are using is either too expensive or simply not ticking all of the boxes. 

Whatever the case may be, we firmly believe that Connecteam is the ideal scheduling software solution for small business owners that want to easily create schedules, increase productivity, and reduce business costs.

One final note – we recommend trying out some of the scheduling apps mentioned above. If they offer a free trial, then even better. Make the most of the apps that have free capabilities, give them a test run, and see if it meets your business needs. 

Now, you can make a smart, informed decision that is bound to benefit your small business.