Work planning without subtasks

The Without subtasks work planning option offers a top-down approach to work planning in Scoro. It’s best for teams that prefer simpler, single-level planning, ideal for repeatable work where planning speed matters more than granularity. In this mode:

• The hours you sold to the client are automatically used as the task's planned hours.
• Your tasks have a single-level structure; subtasks are not available.
• You can split the planned hours between the task assignees evenly or with a custom split by using the custom split of planned time feature. However, using this feature is optional. 

You can enable the Without subtasks work planning option under Settings > Work and projects > Calendar and tasks.

1. Plan availability

The Without subtasks work planning option is available in all Scoro plans. However, the custom split of planned time, an optional feature available in this work planning mode, is included only in certain Scoro plans.

2. Quote-to-task flow without subtasks

Let’s look at how the quote-to-task flow in Scoro looks without subtasks: 

1. Create the quote and project:
   Start by building out the proposal for your client by creating a quote. Add your products or services and set the expected hours for each. Once your client confirms the quote, create a project from it.
2. Create a project:
   Use the Create project button on your quote to quickly create a project with key details prefilled from the quote, laying a solid foundation for the Quoted vs Actual table to track project progress and financial performance.
   
3. Create tasks from the quote:
   Open the project task list and click the Create tasks from quote button on the quote to convert the quoted deliverables into tasks. The hours you quoted automatically carry over as the planned hours for each task.
   
4. Distribute the work:
   Assign the necessary doers to your tasks. If multiple team members are needed for a single task, you can split the planned time equally among the assignees or use a custom split.
   
   Because it’s single-level, subtasks are not available in this mode.
   

3. Distributing work with a custom split of planned time

Even though you are working with a single-level task list, you can still collaborate on complex deliverables. If a task requires multiple specialists, you can assign several team members to it.

With the Custom split of planned time feature, you can also define exactly how many of the quoted hours belong to each person. For example, if you sold a "50-hour Audit," you can assign 30 hours to a Senior Consultant and 20 hours to a Junior Analyst—all within the same task.

When enabling the custom split of planned time on your site, you also need to choose between equal or custom split as the default time split. 

Learn more about custom split of planned time.

4. Why choose this work planning option?

The Without subtasks work planning mode is best for businesses where work is predictable, repeatable, or requires a high-speed turnaround. It brings the following benefits:

• Skipping the planning phase: Without subtasks, you skip the “planning phase”, and your team can start logging time immediately after the quote is confirmed and tasks are created.
• Quoted hours = planned hours: Because the quoted hours are the same as the task’s planned hours, there’s less risk of budget mismatches, and your project plan always matches your contract.
• Simple reporting: Your reports remain “flat” and easy to read, as you see exactly how many hours were sold versus how many were used for every deliverable.
• Reduced admin overhead: Ideal for teams where specialists manage their own time and don’t require a manager to break every task into micro-steps.

5. Frequently asked questions

What if my site has the 'Without subtasks' work planning option enabled, but I need to break a task into smaller steps?

In the Without subtasks work planning mode, only single-level tasks are available. If any of your tasks require further breakdown, you can simply create multiple tasks to cover all the work and assign them to the relevant doers. 

If you find that your team frequently needs to track planned time, different assignees, or statuses for those individual steps, consider switching to the With subtasks work planning option.

Can I switch to the subtask mode later?

Yes, you can switch your work planning method at any time under Settings > Work and projects > Calendar and tasks. Switching to subtask mode instantly enables subtasks on your site.

What if I can’t choose between ‘With subtasks’ and ‘Without subtasks’ work planning modes?

If you are torn between the two options, we recommend starting With subtasks. It is the most flexible method and provides the most detailed data for your reports. If you later decide you don’t need subtasks, you can easily convert them to regular tasks or delete them, and then switch to the Without subtasks planning option.