This section helps you streamline your daily GRASSROOTS idea business tasks, making things like hiring, managing money, and handling customer questions much easier. You’ll discover simple, affordable digital tools to boost your efficiency and free up time to focus on growing your GRASSROOTS project. By using these tools, you can tackle challenges, save time, and build a stronger foundation for your business to thrive!
Explore the tools, videos, questions, and resources provided to streamline and optimise your GRASSROOTS business operations:
1
THINK with Questions. Download the questions to think about ways you can optimise your daily business operations to save time and boost efficiency.
2WATCH the Videos. Watch expert videos to help you understand how to optimally start, run and manage your business.
3 TRY these Solutions. Try these digital tool solutions designed to address and optimise small business operational challenges.
4USE the Toolbox. Use these digital tools to boost efficiency, stay organised, optimise communication, and save time.
Think about how you can optimise your business operations. Download these questions to help you think about different ways you can optimise daily tasks, manage resources, and boost efficiency. Each question includes exercises and prompts to refine your operations and make them more effective.
Sample question:
Q. How can you nurture talent and strengthen a small team?
Exercise: Think about how you can support and develop your team of two or three members.
Plan for Success: Find simple ways to acknowledge and motivate each other, such as celebrating milestones or sharing positive feedback regularly.
Watch expert videos to help you understand how to optimally start, run and manage your business and daily operations.
This video highlights 17 essential tips for successfully running a small business and avoiding common pitfalls that lead to failure. By applying these tips, you can strengthen your business foundations and ensure steady growth. The video also answers key questions about starting a small business and provides insights on crucial steps like identifying your target audience, managing finances, and effectively projecting growth.
QuickBooks Online makes bookkeeping fast and simple for small businesses. This tutorial covers managing basic bookkeeping tasks, tracking transactions, and generating financial reports like profit and loss statements. Perfect for small business owners, it ensures accurate records for tax preparation while giving you control over your finances.
This video outlines practical advice to help young entrepreneurs succeed in launching their businesses. Whether planning a small business, freelancing, or running a home-based venture, these tips will guide you toward growth and sustainability. You will look at techniques like Self-Reflection, Clarity of Vision, Customer First, Transparency, Trust Your Instincts, Intellectual Property, Business Agreements, and Financial Awareness.
This video discusses the issues of climate change, carbon emissions, food waste, and social justice. These are just a few of the overwhelming topics that demand our attention. Learn about specific, feasible actions that every business (and individual) can take to help advance economic, environmental, and social efforts towards a more sustainable future.
In this video, Dr Tamer Shahin, the Founder & CEO of CEO Entrepreneur, clarifies the difference between a hobbyist, freelancer, entrepreneur, small business owner and CEO and what it means to be all of these things. The secret to scaling a successful business is knowing how to run your small business like a CEO. That’s the difference between businesses that achieve long-term success and those that don’t. But what is a CEO? What does a CEO do? And how do you run your small business like a CEO? Most businesses fail because they go with the grain. If you want to succeed, you need to go against it. The way most people run their businesses today sends them on a downward spiral until they become miserable working in their own company.
In this video, Dr. Tamer Shahin, the Founder & CEO of CEO Entrepreneur, shares the essential functions of a small business. Why? Growing a small business (or any size business, for that matter) requires critical tasks that must be addressed. No matter what industry you’re in or what type of business you own, you must understand the essential functions your business needs to scale. So, what are the vital functions of a business? And how can you create an organisational structure for your business? Watch today’s video to learn more, and don’t forget to subscribe for more videos like this one!
Try these digital tool solutions designed to address small business challenges and optimise business operations. They are affordable and will help streamline communication, enhance customer support, and simplify e-commerce, finance, and budgeting. Learn how to leverage automation to manage small teams and daily tasks efficiently.
Use the toolbox to boost efficiency, stay organised, optimise communication, and save time. These digital tools will help you automate tasks, track progress, keep your team aligned, manage operations efficiently, and drive your GRASSROOTS initiative forward.
Small Improvements is a performance review and feedback platform that encourages team growth and collaboration.
For GRASSROOTS ideas, this tool helps track progress for eco-tourism teams and offers constructive feedback to improve collaboration on cultural and wellness initiatives.
15Five is a performance management tool designed to enhance employee engagement and feedback through weekly check-ins and goal tracking.
For GRASSROOTS ideas, 15Five enables a supportive team environment, encouraging staff to share ideas and align with eco-tourism and cultural project objectives.
Zenefits is an all-in-one HR platform that handles benefits, payroll, and compliance, making HR management seamless.
For GRASSROOTS ideas, Zenefits helps entrepreneurs ensure compliance and support team well-being while focusing on eco-tourism and cultural heritage projects.
Gusto offers payroll, benefits, and HR tools in one easy-to-use platform. It’s perfect for small teams looking for comprehensive HR solutions.
For GRASSROOTS ideas, Gusto simplifies payroll for eco-tourism employees and helps provide benefits to staff working on cultural and wellness initiatives.
BambooHR is an intuitive HR software for small and medium businesses, providing tools for payroll, employee records, and performance tracking.
For GRASSROOTS ideas, BambooHR can manage teams working on eco-tourism projects, tracking workforce goals and ensuring smooth collaboration for cultural and adventure-based activities.
Zoho People is a cloud-based HR management tool that simplifies employee onboarding, time tracking, and performance management.
For GRASSROOTS ideas, Zoho People ensures efficient team management for eco-tourism and cultural event staff, streamlining HR operations to focus on impactful initiatives.
Todoist is a task management app that helps users organise and prioritise work by setting deadlines, assigning subtasks, and tracking progress.
For GRASSROOTS ideas, Todoist ensures smooth project management for eco-tourism events, cultural initiatives, or wellness retreats, keeping tasks on track.
Sortly is a user-friendly inventory management tool for visually tracking products, tools, and resources.
For GRASSROOTS ideas, Sortly can manage materials and supplies for eco-tourism projects or cultural events, ensuring smooth logistics and resource optimisation.
Boomerang for Gmail: Boomerang adds advanced features to Gmail, like email scheduling, follow-up reminders, and inbox management.
For GRASSROOTS ideas, Boomerang can handle timely communication with eco-tourism partners, ensuring professional and effective outreach.
Calendly is an appointment scheduling tool that integrates with calendars to simplify bookings and avoid conflicts.
For GRASSROOTS ideas, Calendly can manage tour bookings, consultation schedules, or event planning for eco-tourism and cultural activities.
IFTTT (If This Then That) lets users connect apps and devices to automate actions and simplify workflows.
For GRASSROOTS ideas, IFTTT can manage notifications, track social media mentions, or automate booking updates for eco-tourism initiatives.
Automate.io is a tool for creating integrations between business apps, enabling seamless data flow and task automation.
For GRASSROOTS ideas, Automate.io can streamline communication and data management for eco-tourism projects or partner collaborations.
Zapier connects apps and automates workflows, saving time on repetitive tasks.
For GRASSROOTS ideas, It’s ideal for small businesses seeking efficiency. Zapier can automate processes like event registration for eco-tourism or reminders for cultural workshops, ensuring smooth operations.
GreenBiz is a hub for sustainability professionals, providing insights, tools, and best practices for creating eco-conscious business solutions.
For GRASSROOTS ideas, GreenBiz is a resource to optimise eco-tourism and cultural heritage projects, offering strategies to reduce environmental impact, improve resource efficiency, and align with global sustainability trends. Entrepreneurs can leverage its tools and case studies to integrate green practices into their operations, driving eco-friendly innovation in sport, adventure, and cultural tourism.
JouleBug is an app that gamifies sustainable habits, encouraging users to make eco-friendly lifestyle choices.
For GRASSROOTS ideas, JouleBug can inspire eco-tourism participants to adopt sustainable practices, enhancing the overall impact of cultural and wellness activities.
Square POS is a versatile payment processing system that supports in-person, online, and mobile transactions.
For GRASSROOTS ideas, Square POS makes it easy to handle payments for eco-tourism activities, cultural tours, or wellness product sales, ensuring seamless transactions.
Good Budget: is a digital envelope budgeting system for managing personal and business expenses.
For GRASSROOTS ideas, It’s straightforward and promotes financial discipline. Good Budget can help allocate funds for eco-tourism projects, ensuring resources are used wisely for cultural or wellness goals.
Budgeto is a simple budgeting tool designed for startups and small businesses that offers templates and forecasting tools.
For GRASSROOTS ideas, Budgeto enables eco-tourism entrepreneurs to map out financial plans for projects like cultural events or adventure sports initiatives.
Float is a cash flow forecasting tool that integrates with accounting software to provide insights into financial trends.
For GRASSROOTS ideas, It’s excellent for proactive budgeting. Float can forecast revenue from eco-tourism ventures, helping entrepreneurs plan ahead and allocate resources to impactful projects.
Wave offers free financial tools for small businesses, including invoicing, accounting, and payment processing.
For GRASSROOTS ideas, It’s user-friendly and accessible. It can help entrepreneurs manage finances for eco-tourism events or small cultural initiatives, enabling smooth cash flow and growth.
Google Sheets is a free, cloud-based spreadsheet tool ideal for collaboration and data management.
For GRASSROOTS ideas, It supports real-time editing and sharing. It can be used to plan eco-tourism budgets, track event attendance, or manage logistics for cultural and wellness initiatives.
QuickBooks is an intuitive accounting tool for managing finances, including billing, payroll, and taxes.
For GRASSROOTS ideas, QuickBooks is widely trusted and easy to use. It can help entrepreneurs track income and expenses for eco-tourism activities, ensuring financial clarity and sustainability for projects.
Xero is a cloud-based accounting software that simplifies financial management with invoicing, payroll, and expense tracking features.
For GRASSROOTS ideas, it’s perfect for small and growing businesses. Xero can streamline the finances of eco-tourism ventures, ensuring budgets for cultural or wellness projects are tracked and managed effectively.
Zoho Invoice is an online invoicing tool for creating and managing invoices, tracking expenses, and automating payment reminders.
For GRASSROOTS ideas, it’s easy to use, customisable, and perfect for small businesses that want to maintain a professional approach to billing. Zoho Invoice ensures smooth financial operations by streamlining invoicing for workshops, tours, or events. It helps manage cash flow, track client payments, and maintain financial transparency—which is essential for sustainable business growth in eco-health tourism and related ventures.
GoFundMe is a crowdfunding platform that helps individuals and companies raise money for projects or causes.
For GRASSROOTS ideas, it is user-friendly and widely trusted for community-driven eco-health campaigns. GoFundMe can fund cultural heritage preservation projects, eco-tourism development, or local wellness initiatives, engaging the community to support impactful eco-health ventures.
Shopify is an all-in-one e-commerce platform for creating and managing online stores.
For GRASSROOTS ideas, Shopify offers tools for inventory management, payments, and marketing, perfect for businesses of any size. It can help eco-tourism businesses sell event tickets, promote local crafts, and create digital storefronts for cultural or wellness products, boosting visibility and revenue.
Etsy is an online marketplace for handmade, vintage, and unique products.
It is a valuable tool for GRASSROOTS ideas as it connects artisans with customers worldwide, making it a go-to platform for selling creative and eco-friendly goods. Etsy also provides a global stage for eco-tourism entrepreneurs to sell sustainably crafted souvenirs, cultural art, and eco-friendly wellness products, supporting local economies and promoting heritage.
ChatGPT for Customer Support offers AI-powered customer support, handling queries and providing information 24/7.
ChatGPT is ideal for automating tasks and improving response times for GRASSROOTS ideas. It can manage FAQs for eco-tourism events, provide cultural information, or guide participants through booking processes, saving time and enhancing customer satisfaction.
ProProfs Chat is a user-friendly live chat solution designed to help businesses engage with website visitors.
For GRASSROOTS ideas, it includes features like proactive chat invitations and analytics. ProProfs Chat can be used to guide visitors through booking eco-tourism activities, providing instant support and enhancing the online experience for participants.
Crisp is a communication tool for small businesses that combines live chat, email, and social media messaging in one platform.
For GRASSROOTS ideas, Crisp is simple, effective, and helps build strong customer relationships. It can centralise communication for eco-tourism events, enabling quick responses to inquiries and improving overall customer experience for cultural and wellness activities.
LiveChat is a real-time customer support tool that allows businesses to engage with their audience directly through their website or app.
For GRASSROOTS ideas, LiveChat improves engagement and builds trust. It can facilitate instant support for eco-tourism event attendees, answer questions about cultural tours, or provide information on local eco-health initiatives.
Tidio Chatbots: Tidio is a chatbot and live chat solution that enhances website interaction and customer engagement.
For GRASSROOTS ideas, it provides instant support, boosting customer satisfaction. Tidio can help entrepreneurs manage inquiries for eco-tourism bookings or promote local products, enabling efficient communication with participants and customers around the clock.
Freshdesk is a cloud-based help desk solution for managing customer inquiries across various channels.
For GRASSROOTS ideas, its intuitive interface ensures effective and timely communication. Freshdesk can improve support for eco-tourism activities, such as assisting travellers with event bookings or answering questions about cultural heritage tours, ensuring a positive participant experience.
HubSpot CRM is a free customer relationship management tool that helps track customer interactions, manage contacts, and automate tasks.
For GRASSROOTS ideas, HubSpot CRM is user-friendly and great for growing businesses. It can enhance relationship-building with partners and participants in eco-tourism projects, making it easier to manage leads and build meaningful connections.
Zendesk is a customer service platform that streamlines customer interactions through email, chat, and social media.
For GRASSROOTS ideas, Zendesk tools can help improve response times and overall support quality. This can optimise customer engagement for cultural tours, eco-tourism retreats, or sport-based events, ensuring smooth communication with participants and resolving queries efficiently.
Coursera is an online platform offering courses from top universities and organisations worldwide.
GRASSROOTS ideas allow learners to gain skills in various fields, often with certification options.
Coursera can help eco-tourism entrepreneurs acquire expertise in sustainable tourism, cultural heritage management, or digital marketing to enhance their ventures and promote eco-health initiatives.
Evernote is a note-taking tool designed to organise ideas and information. It supports text, images, and file attachments for seamless information management.
For GRASSROOTS ideas, Evernote can be used to document meeting notes, research eco-tourism trends, or store key details about cultural and adventure tour projects in an accessible way.
Notion is an all-in-one workspace for notetaking, task management, and collaboration.
For GRASSROOTS ideas, its customisable templates help organise everything from projects to knowledge bases. It can streamline documentation for eco-tourism or cultural events, track project details, and centralise resources, ensuring efficient management of your initiatives.
Mural is a digital whiteboard that enhances brainstorming and collaboration.
For GRASSROOTS ideas, Mural has templates, sticky notes, and real-time interaction, perfect for creative projects. It can be used to design and plan eco-tourism activities, such as cultural storytelling workshops or sustainable art events, bringing innovation and teamwork among stakeholders.
Trello is a visually intuitive project management tool that organises tasks and ideas using boards, lists, and cards.
It’s great for brainstorming and tracking progress clearly and collaboratively for GRASSROOTS ideas. Trello can assist in planning events like eco-health workshops or tracking milestones for sustainable tourism initiatives, making complex projects manageable and team-friendly.
Asana is a task management platform that helps teams organise and track projects.
Asana simplifies team workflows for GRASSROOTS ideas with features like task assignments, deadlines, and progress tracking. Asana can be used to manage multi-faceted projects like sports tourism activities or eco-cultural events, ensuring every detail is tracked and completed efficiently.
WhatsApp Business is a communication app tailored for businesses. It allows you to connect with customers through direct messaging, broadcast updates, and share information efficiently.
For GRASSROOTS ideas, WhatsApp Business can be used to engage with local communities, promote eco-tourism activities, or coordinate with small business partners involved in events like cultural tours or eco-retreats.
Google Calendar is a simple, user-friendly tool for scheduling and managing tasks. It allows you to organise events, set reminders, and share calendars with your team for improved planning.
For GRASSROOTS ideas, Google Calendar can help organise eco-tourism itineraries, schedule cultural events, or plan team meetings for the seamless execution of projects. It keeps everyone aligned and on time.
Zoom is a video conferencing tool that supports virtual meetings, webinars, and collaboration. It’s known for its reliable, high-quality video and interactive features like screen sharing and breakout rooms.
For GRASSROOTS ideas, Zoom provides an accessible way to connect with international collaborators, host virtual eco-tourism workshops, or train community members in sustainability practices. Use it to engage with diverse stakeholders effectively.
Microsoft Teams is a comprehensive platform for communication and collaboration. It offers chat, video calls, document sharing, and integration with Microsoft 365 apps.
For GRASSROOTS ideas, Microsoft Teams enables seamless collaboration on eco-health projects and ideas. It’s ideal for coordinating tasks and hosting virtual meetings. It’s shared workspaces and meeting tools make tracking progress and coordinating events like sustainable adventure tours or community workshops easy.
Slack is a messaging platform designed for seamless team communication and collaboration.
For GRASSROOTS ideas, Slack can centralise communication among eco-tourism entrepreneurs and project partners, enabling real-time updates and collaboration on activities like heritage tours, cultural events, or eco-health retreats. It offers organised channels, direct messaging, file sharing, and integrations with other tools, making teamwork faster and more efficient. Its intuitive interface helps teams stay connected and productive. By using Slack, teams can streamline planning and ensure smooth coordination across their initiatives.
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. The author is solely responsible for this publication (communication) and the Commission accepts no responsibility for any use may be made of the information contained therein. In compliance of the new GDPR framework, please note that the Partnership will only process your personal data in the sole interest and purpose of the project and without any prejudice to your rights therein 2021-2-BE04-KA220-YOU-000050778
