You’re looking to start a small business, huh? Well, you’ve definitely got a lot on your plate. What are some tools and software suites that can help lighten that load and make things easier? We’ve got a list of the top ten things that every small business needs to succeed. From invoicing software to analytics, we’ve tried to think of everything you may have missed. With these tools and some business know-how, you’re bound to do great!
Project Management Software
OmniFocus, Jira and a few other platforms are great examples of project management software. Tools to help keep projects organized and on-time are a must for any small business. If you’re concerned with meeting deadlines and efficiently finishing projects, having access to oversight tools is important. Those working on the project can log their progress through the project software, allowing you to keep up-to-date on its status. That way, if issues arise, you’ll be kept up to speed with the project. Checking back through logs to see what worked, and what didn’t, will help ensure future projects go even better.
Invoicing Software
While your project management is important for internal operations, in order for things to keep operating, you have to get paid. As such, picking an invoicing software to familiarize yourself with is important. Many businesses prefer the easy-to-use Microsoft Excel, pictured above. You’ve probably used it before and making invoices in it is a breeze. In fact, Microsoft’s Office Suite of programs is so universally useful, you’d be hard-pressed to find a reason to not have it. Other programs do exist for those who prefer them, though. FreshBooks and QuickBooks are two popular examples, both of which are perfectly serviceable. The important thing, of course, is being comfortable and famliar with your chosen invoicing software.
Point of Sale System
In the same vein as invoicing, your money has to come in somehow. If you’re operating a storefront, you’ll need a point of sale system. A favorite of small business owners is the excellent and business-friendly Square platform. You can use an iPad with a stand and card reader, if you’d like, allowing a rather inexpensive and elegant way to handle transactions. Those looking for more traditional software have a wealth of options available to them, as well, though they are often much more expensive. Solutions like EPOS Now and Merchant Account Solutions are quite popular, though they are a bit more difficult to set-up than Square.
Communication Apps
Staying in touch with your employees and clients is important. The best ways to keep in touch? Apps like Skype and Slack. Using Skype for Business is a great way to integrate your Skype contacts into your everyday business. Video conferences with clients and business partners are easy with Skype. Rather than having to hop on a plane across country, you can simply video chat in! On the other end of the spectrum, the Slack app is great for keeping in touch with employees. Slack is designed for business and is great for workplace productivity and communication.
Ride-Sharing Platforms
It’s quite likely your small business doesn’t have a driver on-site. For all the times you need to jet across town for a meeting but won’t have time to find parking, consider a ride-sharing service like Uber or Lyft. These apps offer relatively inexpensive rides and help you get where you’re going on time and without having to worry about the drive time. Until you can afford your own driver, a ride-sharing app is a pretty close approximation!
E-Signing Apps
Echo Sign, DocuSign and other services are great to consider for your business. Offering digital uploading and signing of documents, digital singing apps are great for streamlining your business. If you have distant clients that need to sign documents but no fax machine, these are a life-saver! They’re also great for employees who are off-site to sign tax documents and releases. Strongly consider use of these applications when you need documents signed!
Drop Box
It’s hard to overstate how important the cloud will be to your business if you implement it well. Drop Box is an app built around cloud storage. If you have files you want to share, Drop Box is how you do it. Connecting all of your devices is easy, and you can access your Drop Box from anywhere. Instead of having to remember to bring thumb drives or laptops with you, just upload relevant files to the cloud and pull them up on any device with your login information. Streamlining all your files in one place is a great way to appear organized and professional!
Social Media Presence
You probably guessed this would be on the list. Having a strong social media presence is very important, even if it doesn’t seem that way. Being on Facebook and Twitter is a must, as many potential customers will encounter your business through there first. For businesses aimed at younger people, Instagram is another social media platform worth being on. Managing your social media platforms isn’t terribly hard or time-consuming, but it makes a huge difference. Younger demographics are much more likely to recognize and engage with your brand if you have a strong social media presence. That said, social media is no substitute for a true web presence via your own website.
A Great Website
Not every startup can afford to pay a professional web designer to help set up their website. If you’re looking for a resource to create a website, there are some great options out there. Go Daddy is a popular tool, offering great beginner resources for creating an aesthetically pleasing, informative site. The site offers a great deal of support via live troubleshooting and advice from professionals. Go Daddy even incorporates WordPress support for blogging. Another popular choice is Wix, a “no-programming” website builder. Wix uses a drag-and-drop interface so you can make a site that you like the look of on the fly. Whichever one you choose, make sure to create a site that matches your brand and vision. Most customers’ first experience with your business will be through your site, so make sure to make that first impression count!
The Most Critical Small Business Tool: Google Analytics
Analytics are what your business will live or die by. Your web presence is everything in the modern era, and every startup needs to ensure their image is right. Using Google’s analytics software will help you see traffic to your site broken down into readable, informative graphs. The information gleaned is concise and you can act on it confidently, knowing you understand the meaning behind the raw data. Without use of analytics, you’re shooting in the dark. With analytics, you know your target and how to hit. Breakdowns by demographic, country and traffic types are all available, helping you hone your web marketing. With these tools and the right execution, you’ll be setting yourself up for success.
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