Weekly business priorities planner

What the weekly business priorities planner does

A short list of real priorities beats a long list of intentions. Enter this week's priorities with an owner and a due date and track them to done, with the days left worked out from today's date, and the count of what is done and still open, so the week has a clear focus.

Who it is for

Owners, managers and freelancers who want to stay on top of what matters, and small teams that meet weekly.

How to use the workbook

1. Type today's date at the top.
2. List the priorities for the week, with an owner and a due date.
3. Update the status as work progresses.
4. Review the done and open counts at the end of the week.
5. Save a copy under a new name for each month or year, so earlier records stay as they were.

What is inside

• Priority, owner and due date for each item
• Status choice of not started, in progress, done or blocked
• Days left worked out from today
• Count of done and open items
• Simple layout you can print

The workbook has these sheets: Instructions, Week. The main table has the columns Priority; Owner; Due date; Status; Days left. Yellow cells are for you to fill in and grey cells calculate by themselves, so leave the grey cells alone. The example rows show how it works; type over them with your own entries.

Tips for getting it right

• Limit yourself to five priorities, so each gets attention.
• Put the hardest task first, not last.
• Move unfinished items to next week deliberately.
• Review the list with your team at the start of each week.

Why keep this record

Running a business on memory works until it grows. Writing the numbers down turns opinions into facts you can compare month to month, and shows early which products, customers or costs deserve attention. Even a simple workbook, used every week, usually beats a sophisticated one that is opened once a year.

Questions people ask

Do I need to know Excel formulas? No. Type into the yellow cells and the rest is worked out for you. The formulas are visible if you want to see how a figure is reached.

Can I add rows or change the layout? You can add your own columns to the right and your own notes. If you insert rows inside a table, copy the grey formula cells down so the new rows calculate too.

Will it work on my phone or in Google Sheets? Yes for viewing and typing, but dropdown lists and the charts look best in desktop Excel or LibreOffice.

Keeping it safe and up to date

A plan is only as good as the numbers you put in. Start with honest estimates, update the workbook as real figures arrive, and compare the two so your next estimate is better. Save a dated copy each month so you can see how your thinking changed.

Read how to build a cash flow forecast for the wider picture. See more business templates or ask us for a custom one.

The workbook works in Microsoft Excel, LibreOffice and Google Sheets. It is a tool to help you work out and record figures, not tax, legal or accounting advice, and it is not affiliated with the Kenya Revenue Authority. If something does not work as described, contact us and we will put it right.

Related guides, calculators and templates

• Guide: How to build a 12-month cash flow forecast for a small business
• Guide: How to price your products and services: markup, margin and break-even
• Guide: Turnover tax for small businesses in Kenya: rate, limits and when to use it
• Another template: 12-month cash flow forecast
• Another template: Break-even and pricing calculator
• Another template: Budget versus actual tracker

Need something different? Request a custom template, browse all guides or see every Excel template.