Half the battle of owning your own business is figuring out the project management piece of the puzzle. From keeping track of vendor relationships to keeping your clients informed about their project, there are a million and one things to add to your to-do list.

But finding the right project management software will make it all easier. Instead of signing up for a bunch of free trials or suffering through software that only does part of what you need, Basecamp is the answer to all of your problems.

The flexible tool lets you set it up in whatever way makes sense for your biz, and you can customize permissions so vendors and clients can see only the things they need to. Learn more about how to best use it for your design business to save time, cut costs, and eliminate annoying administrative headaches.

Streamlined Vendor Communications

Instead of an endless email chain, you can create a Message Board for every project to streamline vendor communications. By putting every message in a single thread, you never have to dig through your inbox or filter through overflowing paperwork. Instead, pricing, quotes, and any other vital information can be shared directly in Basecamp to keep things centralized for you and your team.

Customize Client Comms

Basecamp makes client management easier by allowing you to invite them to different Projects. But the best part? You have total oversight over what the client can and cannot see, so it’s all under your control. Create different threads for different rooms to segment your different discussions or tag your clients so they get a notification when you need something from them and respond on their own time. Plus, their response lives right in Basecamp, so you’re not waiting around for your next meeting or scheduled call to get the vital information to keep the project moving.

Manage Your To-Do Lists

Basecamp allows you to create master to-do lists in your HQ that are tailored for your business. That way, you and your team members can see what important steps are coming up internally. You can also create to-do lists for each individual project as well (that you can also share with clients) to help keep everything organized and orderly. Whether that’s ordering samples or making budget decisions, everything on your list is all in one place. Then, add notes and check things off as they’re complete so everyone involved is always on the same page.

Consolidate Docs & Files

For both your own business and each project, you can create a centralized drive for every document and file you need. From budgets to site photos to spec sheets, add every document for projects to Basecamp. You can also customize which of these things clients can see and what is limited to your internal team, so you don’t have to worry about sharing any information you may not want to.

Create Specially Tailored Schedules

Basecamp lets you create timelines and schedules for every project. That way, you can keep your clients in the loop for major milestones, so they always feel like they know what comes next. Plus, keeping this schedule updated will help them know exactly what to expect at your next design meeting and come prepared with relevant questions.

If you’re looking for more ways to streamline your biz, check out our VIDA Shop for customizable templates, resources, and guides to kick-start your success.