As an entrepreneur, the right goal-setting tools can turn your big ideas into gigantic wins by keeping you focused and on track. It’s through working toward a goal that you and your business will grow.
Successful goal setting starts with structure. Goals are easier to reach when they’re broken down into steps you can follow. That’s why many small business owners use frameworks like SMART goals (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-bound) to set realistic goals. Whether you’re into sleek apps or sticky notes, the right productivity tools can help you get there faster.
Ahead, find tools for every entrepreneur personality type, and pick the one that will best help you formulate goals, develop good habits, and stay on track.
What is a goal-setting tool?
A goal-setting tool is an app, software, or physical resource to guide you in setting, measuring, tracking, and achieving goals. These tools often offer prompts or a framework that simplifies the goal-setting process.
Digital goal-setting tools include mobile apps or software that can offer a customized experience based on inputs like preferred notification cadence and timeframe to achieve goals.
A manual goal-setting tool could be as simple as a notebook and pen. There are a variety of journals and planners designed for setting goals and providing a more structured framework. Additionally, some entrepreneurs use visual methods of goal setting, like large whiteboards that can be visible to a small team.
What are the benefits of using goal-setting software?
Here are seven ways goal-setting software and productivity apps can support your growth:
- Increase accountability
- Get frequent automated reminders
- Celebrate milestones with built-in reward structures, like badges or tiers
- Stay organized on any device by syncing goals across platforms
- Customize your experience as the software adapts to your habits
- Work within existing frameworks (versus “winging it”)
- Improve team collaboration to reach company goals
For pen and paper devotees, there are still benefits to these tactile goal-setting tools. Crossing out or checking off items on a to-do list is a motivating force. These tools also help reduce screen time, make room for doodling, and become a physical artifact of your success.
How to choose the right goal-setting tool for your business
Before selecting a goal-setting tool for your business, consider these key factors that will help you find the best match for your specific needs:
- Team size and collaboration requirements: Individual entrepreneurs may need simpler productivity tools focused on personal accountability, while teams require features that support shared goals, progress visibility, and collaborative input. Choose tools with permission settings and multi-user capabilities for team environments.
- Goal complexity and framework: Consider whether your business uses specific methodologies like SMART goals or OKRs (objectives and key results). Select tools designed to support these frameworks if they’re central to your approach.
- Integration capabilities: The best goal-setting tools should connect seamlessly with your existing business software ecosystem. Look for tools that integrate with your project management systems, CRM, communication platforms, and other essential business applications.
- Budget constraints: Goal-setting tools range from free options with basic features to comprehensive enterprise solutions. Determine your budget before beginning your search, but remember that investing in the right tool can significantly impact your business success.
21 best goal-setting tools for entrepreneurs
There are endless choices for goal-setting tools—and it’s in an entrepreneur’s nature to be curious. While you may be tempted to download every recommended tool, you might add to the noise rather than hone your focus.
This list includes high-rated mobile apps for goal setting, beloved goal tracking products, and a few tried-and-true basics. Choose one or two tools that work best for your lifestyle or business.
Goal-setting tools compared
For a quick snapshot, here’s how five popular goal-setting and productivity apps compare:
| Tool | Best for | Pricing | Integrations | Platform type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asana | Teams, complex business goals | $10.99/mo (Starter plan) | Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Workspace | Web, desktop, mobile |
| Notion | Startups, collaborative planning | Free with paid tiers | Zapier, Slack, Google Drive, Microsoft Teams | Web, desktop, mobile |
| Todoist | Daily goal tracking, task management | $4–$8/mo (Pro & Business) | Google Calendar, Outlook, Jira | Web, desktop, mobile, wearables |
| Tivazo | AI-powered adaptive goal tracking | $3/mo per active user (Business plan) | Google tools, calendar apps | Web, no mobile app |
| Bullet Journal | Mindful goal setting, offline use | ~$25 one-time purchase | None | Physical + companion app |
Mobile apps for goal setting
1. Tally
What it is: Tally has a clean interface that allows you to track daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly goals on the same screen with a simple one-tap function. Goals reset after each set time frame.
Best for: Tracking personal or defined goals (like the number of books you want to read this year or the number of pages of your manuscript you hope to write).
2. HabitBull
What it is: This habit-tracking app slices your progress data in many ways and visualizes it as graphs, tracking your streaks and overall success. A social component adds relevant discussions to each goal page so you can swap tips with others who have similar goals.
Best for: Data lovers, those looking for community motivation.
3. BeFocused (Pomodoro Timer)
What it is: A time management app you can tailor to habits. Set the length of time of the activity (say, yoga or working on your business plan), the length of breaks, and the number of intervals you want to complete within a set time frame. A customizable alert indicates the start and stop times of each interval.
Best for: Meditation and working from home.
4. Way of Life
What it is: This app tracks daily completion of goals, helps develop habits, and displays your progress in graphs. Add tags and leave notes on each goal journal to help organize, find, and reflect on your goals.
Best for: Those with many overlapping goals and tasks.
5. Strides
What it is: A comprehensive goal tracking platform with a Premium plan costing $4.99 per user per month. Strides combines habit tracking, SMART goal setting, and project management in one interface, offering four different tracker types to fit various goals.
Best for: Visual goal-setters who want to see progress charts and success rates. The app works well for both personal and business goals, providing a clear picture of progress across multiple areas of focus.
Artificial intelligence (AI)-powered goal tracking tools
6. Tivazo
What it is: This app features AI task prioritization with planning features for daily, weekly, and monthly check-ins. It uses machine learning to adjust goals based on user progress and recommends changes in real time. It costs $3 per active user a month for all premium features.
Best for: Entrepreneurs seeking a smart, adaptive system that grows with their habits.
7. Remente
What it is: Remente combines goal tracking with mental wellness, offering an AI-powered planning system that adapts to your behavior over time. This AI productivity tool uses personalized insights and smart prompts to help you build better habits and stay focused on personal and professional growth.
Best for: Entrepreneurs who want a holistic view of their goals—blending productivity with well-being.
Project management tools with goal-setting features
8. Structured Daily Planner
What it is: A web app that syncs across all devices via iCloud. Import data and sync with other essential apps and tools like Google Cal and Apple Reminders to keep everything in one place with this goal-tracking software. Fully customize your planner with colors and icons that complement your brand or personal taste.
Best for: Those who need to reduce clutter.
9. Asana
What it is: Project management software with rich functionality designed for larger teams or more complex projects. Asana features a Goals product to help align members of a team around a set of goals and keep everyone on track. New entrepreneurs on a budget can try a free version of this goal-setting software. The Starter plan costs $10.99 per user per month when billed annually or $13.49 per user per month when billed monthly.
Best for: Teams of any size, importing current processes into a new tool, setting broad organizational goals with many moving parts. Ideal for tracking business milestones like product launches or marketing campaigns, with integration capabilities for tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Google Workspace.
10. Notion
What it is: A project management tool designed for setting and tracking goals as a team. Notion is a beginner-friendly alternative to Asana with drag-and-drop functionality, integrations with hundreds of apps, and free templates for everything from people directories to goal setting and tracking.
In 2025, Notion has significantly expanded its goal-tracking capabilities with a dedicated Goals database template and automated progress tracking.
Best for: Small teams, setting up a project management process from scratch, consolidating multiple to-do lists.
11. Todoist
What it is: A productivity tool with desktop, web, and mobile apps. With more functionality than a to-do list, the tool allows you to move tasks into projects, add priority ratings, and delegate. Start with the Goal Tracker Template to use Todoist for goal setting. The Pro plan costs $4 per month billed annually or $5 per monthly. Upgrade to the Business plan for $6 per month billed annually or $8 monthly.
Best for: Tracking short-term goals like a daily or weekly to-do list.
Paper goal trackers, planners, and journals
12. Baronfig Clear Habit Journal
What it is: This journal was created in partnership with author James Clear, based on his book Atomic Habits. It contains four toolkits, perforated trackers, and a start guide, in case you haven’t read the book.
Best for: James Clear fans, those who want a guided approach to reaching habit-based goals.
13. Inkwell Press Productivity Co. planner inserts
What it is: Inserts and covers sold separately so you can refill your planner each year and reduce waste. This approach also lets you customize your planner with the pages and layouts that work best for your goal-setting style. Try the insert pack specific to goal setting.
Best for: DIY enthusiasts, eco warriors.
14. BestSelf Action Pads
What it is: A super-sized tactile project planner with 52 vertical templated pages to map out tasks and goals for each week. Try the Weekly Action Pad for a landscape format version.
Best for: Specific project goals.
15. Clementine Creative Essential Planning Kit
What it is: A do-it-yourself planner with pages you purchase as digital products and print yourself. There are 11 page templates, including a monthly planner, goal-setting page, habit tracker, and to-do list. Just print, hole-punch, and pop into any binder (they’re already formatted to print on 8.5- by 11-inch paper).
Best for: Side hustlers who want a low cost goal tracking system.
16. Bullet Journal The Notebook
What it is: A companion notebook to complement The Bullet Journal Method, a book by Ryder Carroll. Start with the book and use the notebook and companion app to implement your learnings. 🎯 Bonus: check out our interview with Ryder on the Shopify Masters podcast.
Best for: Entrepreneurs who value mindfulness or creative brainstorming.
Visual and tactile goal-setting tools
17. Plan the Things giant wall calendar
What it is: A large-format wall calendar that provides a snapshot of your milestones for the year. Get an at-a-glance view of your big deadlines and the critical dates leading up to them.
Best for: Family goal-setting, small startup teams, monthly goals.
18. Think Board whiteboards
What it is: A stick-on whiteboard with a powerful but gentle adhesive back that you can apply anywhere. Use it in small home offices or large boardrooms, or resurface an existing whiteboard. Also try Think Board’s reusable sticky notes for a tactile kanban board.
Best for: Goal setting and planning as a team, a temporary brainstorming space for reaching goals together.
19. Toaste acrylic wall tracker
What it is: A clean and customizable wall-mounted panel to keep your goals top of mind. Install it in a prominent place as a daily reminder of your big goals in every category, from financial to family.
Best for: Overarching long-term goals, daily motivation.
20. Cloth & Paper sticky notes
What it is: Upgraded sticky notes in unexpected colors and shapes, including transparent notes. Use these in tandem with a wall calendar or whiteboard to rearrange milestones, group goals, and delegate tasks to a team in a visual and collaborative way.
Best for: Adding notes to vision boards, kanban-style goal tracking.
Wearable tech and smart devices for goal tracking
21. Wearable tech and smart devices
What it is: Wearable trackers are most common for fitness and health goal setting. Think Fitbit and Apple Watch. There’s even a version for your dog. Smart water bottles and their associated apps track your water consumption and send periodic reminders to drink up. Try HidrateSpark or Equa.
Other goals, like optimizing your sleep, keeping your home energy use low, or staying on track while on the go can all be set and tracked using dedicated smart gadgets. These tools for goal-setting often feature automatic progress tracking as they read data based on your use.
Best for: Personal goal setting, mini goals.
Integrating goal-setting tools with your business workflow
Once you’ve selected the right goal-setting tool, successful integration into your business processes is crucial for maximizing its effectiveness. Here’s how to seamlessly incorporate your goal-tracking tools into your daily operations:
- Start with a single focus area: Rather than attempting to track every business objective simultaneously, implement your chosen tool with one critical business goal. This focused approach allows you to learn the system while generating meaningful results.
- Create consistent check-in routines: Establish regular times for reviewing progress—daily quick checks, weekly in-depth reviews, and monthly strategic assessments. These routines transform goal tracking from an occasional activity into a core business practice.
- Develop team adoption strategies: If implementing across a team, provide proper training and establish clear expectations for how to use the tool. Consider appointing “champions” to help troubleshoot issues and model effective use.
- Connect goals to existing processes: Link your goal-setting tool to established business workflows like performance reviews, team meetings, and strategic planning sessions. This integration ensures your goals remain aligned with broader business objectives.
- Measure goal-setting effectiveness: Periodically evaluate whether your chosen tool is delivering results. Are you completing more objectives? Is team alignment improving? Adjust your approach based on these assessments.
Feature illustration by Alice Mollon
Read more
- Starting Your First Venture? Here’s What You Need to Become a Business Owner
- 20 Email Marketing Best Practices to Turn Campaigns Into Sales
- What to Read in 2024 - 23 Books for Entrepreneurs, Written by Women
- Future-Proof Your DTC Fitness Brand- 8 Industry Trends With Staying Power
- 34 Time Management Tips for Busy Entrepreneurs
- Percentage of Businesses That Fail
- Earth Day is Every Day- 18 Sustainable Stores to Inspire Your Business
- How Much Does the Average Person Spend per Year?
- The Founder’s Zodiac- 6 Ways to Cope with Stress—Ideas for Every Sign
- How to Hire An Ecommerce Expert for Your Business
Goal-setting tools FAQ
What are the best free goal-setting tools?
Several effective goal-setting tools offer free versions with robust features suitable for entrepreneurs just starting out:
- Notion’s free plan provides unlimited pages and blocks for goal tracking with templates specifically designed for SMART goals and OKRs.
- Todoist’s free tier allows you to manage up to 80 active projects and five people per project—sufficient for many small businesses.
- Structured Daily Planner offers a free version with core planning features, though premium features require a subscription.
These free options allow you to experience the benefits of structured goal tracking before committing to paid versions with advanced features.
What are the keys to effective goal setting?
Effective goal setting involves establishing realistic goals that are: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and timely. This framework is referred to as SMART goals. Using SMART goals ensures that you have thought through the viability of your goal in the context of your life. This structure also prompts you to determine ways to track progress through measurable targets.
What are some goal-setting techniques?
Some goal-setting techniques include frameworks like: SMART goals (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and timely), WOOP goals (wish, outcome, obstacle, and plan), PACT goals (purposeful, actionable, continuous, and trackable), and OKRs (objectives and key results). These systems can prompt you to set achievable goals and establish goal-tracking methods that help you stay motivated.
