The Top 6 Software Tools Every Small Business Needs

The Top 6 Software Tools Every Small Business Needs

It used to be computers were only for huge companies and government organizations with lots of money to spend on mainframes that filled entire rooms.

Nowadays even small companies have some form of computer helping them run the business, whether it be a laptop, tablet, or even a smartphone.

Similarly, it used to be that software for automating business processes and saving time and money was only available to giant organizations that could pay hundreds of thousands, or millions of dollars for custom-built code and installations.

That, too, has changed.

Cloud-based software, cheap digital downloads, and a booming software market aimed at small and medium businesses mean your start-up, or tiny lawn-care company, or oneperson freelancing firm now has access to all the tools that used to only be available to the big enterprises.

This guide will walk you through the six software systems that every small business, no matter the industry, should have to save you time, money, and headaches.

The Top 6 Business Tools Every Small Business Needs

01

Accounting Software

Odds are, if you already have some form of software, an accounting program like Quickbooks or Freshbooks is it.

If you're not yet using an accounting system to manage your books, this is the absolute first, and most important software investment you should make.

And you should make it now.

Any small business bigger than a lemonade stand will benefit from using an accounting system. It will:

Keep a ledger of accounts paid, payable, receipts, and more Print invoices for clients Manage inventory or supplies Pay employees Manage one or more business bank accounts Pay or file taxes Track client contact information, profiles, and purchase histories Streamline complex financial processes Correct and prevent bookkeeping errors Reduce the amount of time spent on recording, bookkeeping, and accounting

You shouldn't be spending hours reconciling accounts in Excel for tax time, or tracking down paper records to bill clients. The right accounting tool will make all those manual tasks painless and fast, letting you focus on the building the business.

The Top 6 Business Tools Every Small Business Needs

02

If you're looking for some products to start, here are a few that are aimed at smallmedium business and that are free (at least to start):

Wave Accounting

Express Accounts

Manager

You shouldn't be spending hours reconciling accounts in Excel for tax time, or tracking down paper records to bill clients. The right accounting tool will make all those manual tasks painless and fast, letting you focus on the building the business.

How to find the perfect accounting tool for your business:

There are hundreds of accounting software products out there, but tools exist to narrow that range down for you:

Interactive accounting software directory and filtering tool The top 20 most popular accounting software products Helpful articles and tips for buying and using accounting software

The Top 6 Business Tools Every Small Business Needs

03

Customer Relationship Management Software

Your email contacts folder just isn't going to cut it.

If you're serious about providing great customer service and growing your business, you need customer relationship management (CRM) software.

Your customers are your business's lifeblood, the reason it exists in the first place, and keeping up with them should be your top priority.

A CRM system will enable you to:

Quickly call up client contact information and histories Automate aspects of your customer service and sales processes Prioritize which clients and prospects to call today Run targeted marketing campaigns Send and track email and snail mail newsletters Schedule tasks and follow-ups for individual clients so you never miss a deadline Track leads, handle prospecting, and manage cold calls Train sales reps and track them with benchmarks Easily access business performance insights and analytics

It's much easier to keep a current customer, than to get a new one. CRM software will help you do both, and track all your customer and lead outreach to boot. If you're serious about growing your company, you can't just rely on a contact book, you need a customer relationship management system.

The Top 6 Business Tools Every Small Business Needs

04

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download