5 Budget-Friendly Software Options To Improve Your Business Efficiency
Small business owners often need some extra help with the administrative end of running a business, but financing can be a challenge for a fledgling company. Thanks to the use of computers and other technology, it is possible to enlist the help of software to handle things like payroll, marking and accounting. While you may still need to do several different jobs to keep your business afloat, investing in the right business tools and software can make those jobs easier. Here are software investments to consider.
1. QuickBooks Online Advanced
As an accounting solution, QuickBooks has always been seen a favorite among small business owners. In this advanced version released by Intuit, small and mid-sized businesses get an all-in-one business hub and accounting assistant. The program is highly customizable, and it is capable of tracking real-time revenue and cash flow through management dashboards. It can be seamlessly integrated with apps like HubSpot, Salesforce, Docusign and Bill.com. It is user-friendly with its performance reporting and automated workflows. Be sure that your API gateway can handle the demands of several backend services before investing in the software.
2. Wave Accounting
A simplified accounting software, this program was created to give small businesses a way to track income and expenses, track sales tax, scan receipts, send invoices and more. Wave makes it possible for a business to create multiple profiles with accounts and credit cards to track income and expenses. It keeps the accounts organized and generates detailed reports to keep you aware of cash flow trends. The mobile app version makes it easier to keep up with business expenses, between scan and sync with receipts or emailed invoices. The best part is the majority of Wave services are free.
3. Wix
Every company needs a digital presence to stay relevant with the modern consumer, but few business owners have the talent, time and resources to create a robust website. Wix solves the problem by offering a website building service at an affordable price and without the need for prior coding experience. There are hundreds of templates to choose from, and users are able to customize the site in just minutes with a drag-and-drop editor. The sites are already designed to work well with mobile device access and can have ecommerce features added, expanding your market to whoever has your website address. Users can use Wix to set up an online store and accept payments through several different channels. The site can also be integrated with Facebook and Instagram profiles.
4. MailChimp
Digital marketing is the future, and MailChimp delivers on an affordable email marketing service. What started as just an email service has grown to include more sophisticated digital marketing options like postcards, websites, landing pages and more. There is a free email marketing plan, though more advanced options and services come on a paid plan. There are pre-designed templates, signup forms, opt-in popups and more to make it easier on the beginner in email marketing, but the entire software is user-friendly and requires only a few minutes to send an email. You don’t need any design or tracking skills, as MailChimp uses drag-and-drop templates and built-in analytics to make your job easier.
5. Trello
Project management isn’t just for large manufacturing or construction companies. Trello gives you a way to assign and track tasks or projects across the employees in your business. Being a free service, it one of the most affordable project management software options you will find for small businesses. It has an intuitive, easy-to-use interface that gives users the ability to create custom project boards and assign checklists, due dates, links, files and more. There are hundreds of templates already cataloged to choose from, but blank boards can be created in a matter of minutes. Trello will integrate with Dropbox, Google Drive, Slack and other third-party platforms.
Ready to get your business organized and on the way to more efficiency? Consider one of these budget-friendly software options.
