Every small business requires a set of tools to ensure the smooth running of its various operations. From managing customer relationships to facilitating internal communication between employees, having the right tool for each job can significantly improve everyday productivity and overall business performance in the long term. Such software tools can support the challenges and long-term goals of small businesses across different industries while improving efficiency and meeting the organization’s scalability needs.
1. Xero
All businesses need to track expenses, profits, and other aspects of their finances. Accounting software like Xero can help ease the various processes involved in managing finances. It is a cloud-based accounting software specially designed for small businesses. Xero has capabilities that help an organization monitor cash flow and financial performance in real-time. Moreover, it includes features for accountants to ensure the company’s balance sheets are well-maintained.
Along with this, the software has customizable financial reports that can be used to track financial KPIs specific to the particular business that uses it. Also, Xero enables the business to compare financial performance and management for selected periods in the year. Creating and sending invoices and automated payment reminders also becomes easier with this must-have business software. With a free trial period available for over 30 days, businesses can try out the suitability of the software with their financial processes before purchasing the paid versions.
2. Trello
For efficient project management, Trello is one of the best software for small businesses. It facilitates task management and collaboration by supporting projects like content development, marketing campaigns, sales tracking, HR tracking, data entry, etc. But, it does not provide full-fledged support for budgeting and invoicing. But, business owners can attach the documents related to these processes to the software. For small businesses, Trello offers easy and convenient features to track projects across various parameters, including users and due dates. It also enables the attachment of various documents, files, and images for each pipeline of project management. There is a free 14-day trial period that businesses can use to test the software’s capabilities before upgrading to premium plans.
3. Slack
Even though small businesses may lack a massive workforce when compared to larger organizations, they might still need the employees to communicate internally to ensure all aspects of the business run smoothly. For this, small business tools like Slack are useful. Over the years, Slack has been used by many small businesses to transform the way various teams in the organization keep in touch. The software offers real-time messaging capabilities through desktop clients, mobile apps, and web browsers. With this, various team members can communicate and chat in groups, one-to-one, and even in channels based on different topics like marketing, sales, products, finances, etc. The popularity of this software can be credited to its intuitive interface, along with several useful integrations, shortcuts, and plug-ins. All of these help to keep the conversations across teams flowing smoothly with no disruptions. From video calling to file transfer, all of these features are included in this essential software for small businesses.
4. Toggl
Some small businesses require tools to track the time. In such cases, software like Toggl can offer several features that are easy to use. It is suitable for small businesses that do not want to invest in too many high-end features like mileage tracking, expense management, and employee monitoring. With Toggl, employees can simply keep track of their time across several devices, computers, and third-party applications. All one needs to do is hit the button to start the timer. Toggl is a free software with paid versions, including additional features like invoicing. There is also a 30-day trial period for businesses who want to check out how the various features can work in tandem with their various processes and systems.
5. Act
Small businesses that operate on a direct-to-customer basis must have good customer relationship management (CRM) tools. Among the various popular tools, Act is one of the top choices for many. It has been specifically designed to meet the needs of small- and medium-sized businesses. Without any hidden costs, this software offers several features at affordable price points. There are tiered plans to meet the needs of most types of small establishments. One of its noteworthy features is the seamless CRM and marketing automation solution that allows a business to benefit from email marketing and task and relationship management.
6. Gusto
Payroll and human resource management are two of the most essential processes of every business, irrespective of its size or type. For smaller businesses, software tools like gusto are useful for these purposes. It is capable of handling the payroll of full-time as well as contract or seasonal employees, whether they are W-2 or 1099 workers. It can manage payroll processing and payroll tax responsibilities for all categories of employees. Besides, it is quite easy to use, streamlining the process of adding new employees and designating what type of worker they are, whether full-time or contractual. Additionally, there are HR services for businesses that require extra support. The software provides a 30-day trial, allowing small businesses to determine how it fits into their workflow before opting for a subscription.
7. Google Drive
For affordable file management software, small businesses can opt for freely available tools, such as Google Drive. It supports collaboration by ensuring critical documents are accessible to all employees across various teams. The free version has over 15GB of storage and supports over 100 types of files, including PDFs, audio, images, video, and CAD files. Besides this, it is integrated with Google Sheets, Docs, and Slides, making it easy to create various documents.
