Template · Projects
Free project plan template with milestones and a status chart
Plan a project on one page: the goal and why it matters, what is in and out of scope, milestones with owners and dates, a chart of their status, risks, people and links.
Project plan
Goal
One or two sentences: what will be true when this project is done?
Why it matters
Scope
In scope:
Out of scope:
Milestones
Milestones
| Milestone | Owner | Due | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kickoff | Done | ||
| First version | In progress | ||
| Feedback round | Not started | ||
| Launch | Not started |
- Not started 2
- In progress 1
- Done 1
Risks
People
Owner:
Helpers:
Links
Free. Barside asks before it adds the template, then makes a new note from it. Needs Barside 1.50 or newer.
Nothing opened? Barside may not be installed yet. Download Barside, then choose Open in Barside again.
Most projects that go wrong were unclear at the start. This template asks the questions that make a project clear: what done looks like, what is out of scope, and who owns each step.
Who it is for
It is for anyone starting a project with more than one step or one person: team projects, client work, school projects, house moves and events. Write it in an hour at the start; it saves days later. For the day-to-day work, add the project tracker.
What is in the project plan template
- Goal and Why it matters: one or two sentences each.
- Scope: what is in, and what is out.
- Milestones: a table with owner, due date and status, and a chart of milestones by status.
- Risks, People and Links: everything else the project needs.
An example
Cy plans a new website for a client. The goal: "The new site is live and the client can update it themselves." Out of scope: a new logo. Milestones are kickoff, first version, feedback round and launch, each with an owner and date. In week two, the first version slips, so its status turns to In progress past its date, and the chart shows that the plan needs a talk with the client.
How to use the project plan template
- Choose Open in Barside above. Barside opens and asks before it adds anything.
- Pick the workspace for the note, and leave Keep it in my templates ticked to use the template again.
- Choose Create note. A new note called "Project plan" opens, ready to fill in.
- Next time, start one from New note from a template, or let Barside make it on a schedule as a repeating note.
No Barside yet? It is free for Windows, Linux and Mac: download Barside, then choose Open in Barside again.
How to write a plan people follow
- Write the goal so anyone could tell when it is reached.
- List what is out of scope. It prevents most arguments later.
- Four to six milestones are enough. Each should be something you can show.
- Name one owner per milestone, even if several people help.
Make it yours
- Give the project its own workspace and pin the plan to the top.
- Add the project tracker template for day-to-day tasks.
- Save your filled-in plan as a template for the next project.
FAQ
Questions and answers
What is the difference between a project plan and a project tracker?
The plan says what and why, and changes rarely. The tracker holds the day-to-day tasks and changes daily. Many projects use both.
Is the project plan template free?
Yes. The template and Barside are both free. Barside Plus is optional and adds cloud backup and sync between computers; templates do not need it.
Do I need an account to use it?
No. Barside runs on your computer without an account, and the notes you make from the template stay in your library on your computer.
Can I change the project plan template?
Yes. Edit the note it makes like any other note: rename columns, add rows, delete sections. To keep your version, open the note and choose Save as template in its options.