Managing a small business is usually rewarding and exhausting in equal parts. The days that are filled with joy and fulfillment are almost always balanced out by inconvenience and tedious tasks. It’s a tough gig, but it’s worth it.
Much of the frustration that comes with running a small business is in the specifics – trying to get in contact with employees, sending and receiving invoices, staying on top of our social media channels. It’s exhausting and time consuming and boring. But technology has really stepped up to the plate for small businesses in recent years.
We now have troves of apps and software out there that promise to help us with all of this and more, what’s difficult is sorting out what works and what doesn’t. For us, we just want apps that are going to boost productivity and save time so we’ve got a few extra minutes in the day to head out for a paddle in the surf.
Here’s our list of must have apps that’ll save you a lot of time and effort and help you get back to doing the things you love:
FINANCE
QuickBooks – For All of Your Accounting Needs
How many of us small business owners actually enjoy taking care of admin/accounting tasks? Not many right. The creators of QuickBooks acknowledged our pain and created a software that sought to simplify this whole process for us.
QuickBooks is a great software to use, not just for managing all of your accounting needs – but also for providing a comprehensive report of your financial state.
You can use this software to:
- Send, receive and track invoices quickly
- View financial statements and reports to see where you are spending money, where you are saving money and where you need to improve.
- Save time by automating general process and decrease your workload
- Manage your expenses by uploading images of your receipts
It’s pumping popularity (29 million businesses in the U.S alone!) speaks volumes about how useful this software is, and it’s affordability is an added bonus when you consider all it does for you.
QuickBooks online ranges from $10 – $24 for the first six months and then $13 – $40 thereafter, depending on the kind of features you’re looking for. Find out more here: https://www.intuit.com.au/pricing/
COMMUNICATION
Slack – For Instant Messaging
There’s a real decrease in the usefulness of email these days. Small businesses want timely responses, they don’t want to waste time waiting for responses and so instant messaging is really leading the way in workplace communication. Slack has become a solution to this issue for over 5 million people, and it’s easy to see why.
Slack allows you to:
- Direct message employees, sending desktop alerts directly to their computers/phones/tablets no matter where they are
- Organize your instant messages into different teams and conversations, giving you the added ability to make messages public or private
- Share images, PDF’s and other files between employees (and integrates with Dropbox)
- Make group calls between employees via your desktop/phone/tablet
Not only does Slack virtually eliminate the need for internal emails, it also reduces the need for individual and group meetings as conversations flow freely in an organized fashion. Both of these reductions in processes ultimately make way for more productivity.
Slack can be used for free or on a paid plan which simply gives you more features and controls, but for only $8 per user – we think the upgrade is certainly worth it. Find out more here: https://slack.com/pricing
Skype for Business – For Face-to-Face Communication
Skype is not by any means a new technology that no one’s heard of. It’s well known and for a good reason. Skype was one of the first software companies to offer free online video calls. Now, it has Skype business and it’s got some real benefits for small businesses looking to improve their communication methods.
- Connect employees all working from home or constantly shifting between different locations with HD video
- Instant messaging features
- Meeting recording
- Remote control of other’s desktops
Pricing plans for Skype Business are extremely affordable, and I suppose it’s their thriving popularity that’s to thank for that. It’s just $2 per month per user, or $5.50 if you want the upgraded version. Find out more here: https://www.skype.com/en/business/skype-for-business/
FILE SHARING
Dropbox – For Simple File Sharing
Dropbox is an absolute powerhouse for file sharing and cloud storage. It’s easily the most popular software of its kind with a jaw dropping user base of over 500 million users. It comes with a range of advantages that far surpass its competitors such as:
- Sync your team’s files for easy collaboration
- Monitor, audit and control team folders, tasks and files with password protection and expiration dates for temporary access
- Create groups to help with the management of different projects
- Connect to over other 300,000 apps
- Access your Dropbox from any devices or operating system
It’s free to use on a basic plan, and upgrading to a pro plan is only going to set you back $8.25 per user, per month. Otherwise you could use a business play for $12.50 per user per month. Find out more here: www.dropbox.com/pricing
MARKETING
Canva – For Professional Graphic Design
Not everyone running a small business is, or has the time to learn how to be a superstar graphic designer. What’s undeniable is that now, more than ever, consumers are compelled by visuals. This means that if you want your marketing to stand out, or even just appeal to a large audience – you’re going to want to have great looking content to share. This is where Canva steps in to save the day.
Canva is an extremely intuitive software that allows you to easily create beautifully designed graphics with a few clicks of a button. Canva comes with:
- A simple interface
- Clear instructions and comprehensive training guides
- Thousands of pre-loaded, tasteful layouts, photos and illustrations
Canva will take your marketing to the next level, and with so many features and so much training it’s very difficult to create something ugly. And best of all, it’s free! Find out more here: https://about.canva.com/pricing/
SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGEMENT
Meet Edgar – For Social Media Management
Social media is the single most important tool for you to be using if you are a small business looking to generate brand awareness and connect with prospects. Meet Edgar not exactly the most popular social media management software in the game, but we think it’s a real underdog.
As a small business, you can use this software to:
- Coordinate multiple social media accounts – eg. Instagram, Facebook, Twitter etc.
- Schedule posts and optimize post success and visibility
- Constantly repost your content for better visibility
Meet Edgar is only $49 per month with the option to bill annually. Find out more here: https://meetedgar.com/pricing/
TASK MANAGEMENT
Basecamp – For Maintaining Your Workflow
Basecamp is an ideal software for anyone in need of a little help with their work schedule. It’s all about checklists, organization and prioritization. We love using Basecamp at The Boarding Office because it gives you everything you need to organize and delegate tasks on a simple, easy-to-use interface. With Basecamp you can:
- Create Projects or Tasks which can be broken up into subtasks and assigned to different groups or individuals
- View your progress through the dashboard
- Assign due dates and attach files
Basecamp is $99 per month, free for teachers and students and if you’re a non-profit or a charity you’ll save yourself 50%. Find out more here: https://basecamp.com/pricing
We’re very lucky to live in an age where all of this new technology is making our lives so much easier, both at home and in the office. If you’ve been struggling with something business related and are wondering if there’s anything you can do to lessen the strain, chances are there’s an app out there for you!
What are your favourite business apps? How has it helped you in your business? Feel free to leave your comments below!
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