Small Business Owner Tools
As a small business owner, having the right tools and resources can make managing your operations more efficient, helping you stay organized and compliant. Here are some essentials across different categories that can support you in everything from managing finances to streamlining workflows:
Time Tracking and Productivity
- Toggl Track or Clockify: Both offer simple time tracking with reporting, ideal for billing and productivity tracking.
- RescueTime: Great for tracking where time is spent on digital tasks and websites to optimize productivity.
Invoicing and Payments
- FreshBooks: Provides invoicing, expense tracking, and time tracking all in one, plus it’s user-friendly for small business owners.
- Wave: A free accounting tool that includes invoicing, receipt scanning, and more. It’s a great choice for budget-conscious businesses.
- QuickBooks: Offers comprehensive accounting software with invoicing, payroll, and more, making it ideal for more complex financial needs.
Contracts and Legal
- HelloSign or DocuSign: Both are electronic signature solutions for signing contracts, making client onboarding easier.
- PandaDoc: A document management solution that simplifies contract creation and tracking, plus it includes templates and e-signature functionality.
- LegalZoom or Rocket Lawyer: These platforms provide affordable legal services, document templates, and consultations.
Project Management
- Trello: Simple and visual project management that works well for small teams.
- Asana or ClickUp: These are more robust project management platforms with tasks, subtasks, timelines, and collaboration features.
- Notion: A flexible workspace that can handle note-taking, task management, databases, and more.
Benefits and Insurance
- Gusto: Handles payroll, benefits, and HR services in one place and is designed for small businesses.
- Zenefits: Offers benefits administration, payroll, and HR management with a straightforward interface and affordability.
- Next Insurance: Small-business-focused insurance provider offering customized policies for general liability, workers’ comp, and more.
Marketing and CRM
- HubSpot CRM: A free CRM that grows with your business, offering contact management, marketing automation, and sales tracking.
- Mailchimp or ConvertKit: Both are email marketing platforms that support list management, segmentation, and automations.
- Canva: An essential design tool for creating marketing materials, social media graphics, and more.
Document Storage and Collaboration
- Google Workspace: Provides cloud storage, email, calendar, and collaborative tools like Docs and Sheets.
- Dropbox: Good for storing and sharing files with a team securely.
- Microsoft 365: An alternative to Google Workspace that includes Word, Excel, and Teams for collaboration.
Tax and Compliance
- TurboTax for Business or H&R Block: These tools can help with business tax filing and offer professional support.
- QuickBooks Online Accountant: Helps manage tax preparation and bookkeeping with built-in tax tools.
Social Media Management
- Hootsuite or Buffer: Both help schedule and manage social media posts across platforms.
- Later: Specializes in visual content planning, particularly good for Instagram and Pinterest.