It's crucial to stay up to date with the latest technology, to ensure your small business becomes more successful.
Whether you're on a smartphone or laptop, having digital tools at your fingertips can help you to communicate with clients and staff, manage multiple projects, quietly crunch data in the background, and much more.
Numerous online tools may promise to increase your productivity. But, you need to make the right choice for your business, helping you work smarter, not harder.
Let us save you the time and hassle.
Here is a list of 5 of our favorite tools to take your small business to the next level.
1. Basecamp
As one of the most popular project management tools on the market, Basecamp excels in everything a small business owner would need. Software that's user-friendly, simple to use with advanced functionality, doesn't come along too often. Unsurprisingly, it's stood the test of time, with a prove track record for over a decade.
The dashboard, allows to see a snapshot to view all your projects. You can highlight the most important ones to track, drawing your attention to a few high priority projects. A calendar tab can display deadlines and other important events like vacation reminders.
Basecamp is ideal if you have a multi-faceted project with tasks shared by a large team. The task management features allow you to easily organize the chaos. A task can be added in a few clicks. You can assign tasks to a team member, and set a deadline. Notes can be added, and files uploaded for the task. Templates can be made for recurring projects, which can be re-used, saving you time. Completed projects can also be archived.
Basecamp supports over 20 apps. Most, add functionality, like generating reports or syncing with Outlook.
Basecamp works on both Android and iPhone devices, and provides a free, no obligation, 30-day trial, with no credit card required. There's a no-fuss pricing plan, $99 per month, for unlimited users and unlimited projects.
2. Evernote
Evernote boasts a wide variety of note-taking functions. This means you you have the ability to organize your projects in a more intuitive way.
Notes can be taken down in a number of formats, including text, photos, videos, web clippings, PDFs and more. Notes, notebooks and to-do lists can write, analyze and store all of your business ideas.
You'll never have to worry about losing your precious notes again. Why? This app can sync across multiple devices. So, even if you lose your mobile device, your important notes will still be on your laptop. You could even use it as a scaled-down project management software.
Platforms supported include Android and iOS.
Evernote is Free to use. For more advanced features, the Premium is $5 per user per month.
3. Xero
If you need accounting software, look no further. Xero is one of the leading financial collaboration apps. This web-based software is designed to meet the requirements of most small and medium sized businesses.
Xero is friendly and usable. With an accounting system that works in line with your business's rules and priorities. Budget management is done in a way to match your goals and long-term missions.
It's robust accounting features, mean you can view their transactions from any location. You can see real time cash flow, design invoices, invoice clients, manage multi-currencies, control stock and they have third party add-ons, etc.
After a 30-day free trial, the paid plans begin at $9 per month.
4. GoodHire
Employing only the most qualified candidates for your small business is vital.
GoodHire's platform transforms labor intensive background checks into an efficient, automated process. This award-winning, employment screening software simplifies background checks. It caters to all businesses who would simply like to hire quality staff. Modern technology delivers blazingly fast background checks, without the need to compromise accuracy.
Other features include: credit checks, international checks, healthcare sanctions, peer-to-peer screening, personal background checks, drug screening.
Although the software is lightweight, it's built to be fully optimal on both mobile and web-based devices and also on browsers. As such, it can easily integrate into your current systems.
Basic background checks are priced at $29.99.
5. HubSpot CRM
HubSpot CRM is one of the top CRMs out there.
This free platform allows your sales team to get started, without changing any existing workflows. It allows you to organize, manage and nurture your relationships with customers.
The user interface has super easy navigation and is intuitive. You're able to track customer interactions through multiple channels (email, phone and meetings).
HubSpot's main features, integrations and support are all offered for free. So, you can start capturing and tracking customers from your website, for free. This includes: lead analytics, lead flows, contact management/activity and company insights and a large number of product integrations.
HubSpot has different pricing plans for advanced features. For example, the $42 per month Starter plan includes: meetings, content creation, messages, and email marketing.
