Last Updated on March 15, 2024 by Treana Wunsch
Which small business software tools work the best?
In this digital age, there are a million and one small business software programs and applications to help make your life easier. But with so many options, which ones are worth your time and money? If you run a small business, you are constantly juggling the multitude of tasks you need to complete. This is why it’s important that you only use the best small business software programs.
This can be difficult because there are so many options out there. However, I have compiled a list of my tried and true small business software and apps that save me time. I have tried many over the years and these are the ones that work the best for me and my small business.
I am sure you will find something on this list that can be used to save you time running your small business. Here is a list of my must-have small business software programs that save me time and money, so grab a coffee, sit back and enjoy.
The first small business software tool I would recommend you get when starting a small business is Google Workspace. Google Workspace is a platform that allows for team and client collaboration. It integrates with Google Drive, Gmail, and Calendar so team members or clients can easily communicate and work together.
There are a number of features that make Workspace a powerful tool for collaboration, such as chat, video conferencing, and task management. Additionally, all files and communications are stored in the cloud, making them accessible from any device.
Google Workspace is a great way to keep your team organized and on track. With Google Workspace, you can create and share documents, calendars, and email addresses with your team. You can also use Google Hangouts to hold video conferences with your team. You can even invite other people to join your team so they can get involved in the project.
The entry-level plan for Google Workspace is more expensive than, its closest competitor, Microsoft 365, however, the simplicity that Workspace offers compensates for this. In the long run, Google Workspace is less expensive than Microsoft 365, and it has more features.
As your business grows, the pricing of the plans gets much more competitive so it makes sense to start out with Google Workspace so you’re not learning a new tool right when your business is getting busier.
Google Workspace is more user-friendly than Microsoft 365, especially from your mobile device. Work together with anyone in the world, no matter where they are. Share documents & spreadsheets with others in real-time. If you are looking for simplicity and don’t need complicated features Google Workspace is the way to go. Google Workspace is available in all versions of Chrome and Firefox.
Gmail is included with Workspace and is a great way for small businesses to keep in touch with their customers. With its easy-to-use interface and powerful search capabilities, Gmail can help you stay organized and efficient. You can create groups to keep track of different customers or clients and use labels to organize your messages by topic. Plus, with Gmail’s spam filtering features, you can rest assured that your inbox will be free of unwanted messages.
Google Chat is another great feature that comes with this solution and is perfect for small businesses to communicate with customers and employees. You can use Chat to provide customer support, collaborate with employees, and more. Chat is easy to set up. You can start using Chat within minutes by following a few simple steps.
There is also cloud storage included in all plans. It’s easy to use, can sync with your desktop folders and it’s easy to share files with team members and customers. Google Drive is a secure way to store and backup your important documents.
Workspace also includes an amazing calendar. Google Calendar is a great way to keep track of your schedule and appointments. You can create events and reminders, and even share your calendar with others. It’s visually pleasing and fun to use.
Last but not least, all Workspace plans include collaborative content creation products.
Docs is the word processing solution and probably the most widely used of the following features. It’s simple and easy to learn, making it a great option for businesses that are just starting out. Google Docs also allows you to easily share documents with others, so you can collaborate on projects with coworkers or clients.
Google Sheets is a great way to keep track of your small business finances. You can create spreadsheets to track your expenses, income, and budget. Google Sheets is also a great way to keep track of customer information and contact details. You can create custom spreadsheet templates for your business, or use one of the many available templates. I use Google Forms to gather information from team members and clients and then set it up so the information is automatically uploaded into a Sheet for easy access and management.
Google Slides is an easy way for small businesses to create and share presentations with employees, customers, or partners. With a user-friendly interface and a wide range of features, Google Slides makes creating and presenting presentations easy. Plus, with the ability to easily share presentations online, Google Slides makes collaborating with others simple.
Google Meet is a communication platform that provides small business with the ability to have online meetings with up to 10 participants. The platform is easy to use and can be accessed from any device with internet access. In addition to video conferencing, Google Meet also provides users with the ability to share screens, files, and notes. This makes it an ideal tool for businesses that need to collaborate with team members located in different locations.
Google Workspace integrates with many add-ons such as Yet Another Mail Merge, Mailometer, Zoom and my favourite Another Trello for Gmail. I can add tasks to Trello straight from my Gmail account. More on that in another post. If you’re looking for a simple way to manage projects in one platform, Google Workspace is for you.
Adobe.com is a website that provides users with access to a wide range of Adobe products and services. These products and services include software for creating and editing digital content, tools for managing websites and online marketing campaigns, and subscription-based access to learning resources. Adobe also offers a variety of cloud-based services, which allow users to store files and collaborate with other people online.
Adobe software is known for its design and photo-editing capabilities. If you are in a creative industry like photography or design you probably already know the powerful tools Adobe offers in this area. If not, it is worth your while to check them out. They also have incredible discounts for students and teachers.
But the company’s products offer a lot more than that. I use it almost daily to edit PDFs and request digital signatures. I also use Adobe Scan to scan any hardcopy document I need to send via email or shared folder. Unless you need to scan hundreds of documents a day, this is all you need. If you run a virtual agency or you are travelling a lot it’s a must.
If you are an enterprise-level business, there are incredible products for your marketing and commerce teams as well. Design, collaborate and approve content in one place. I’ll be trying them out as my business grows. Let me know in the comments if you’ve used any of these products and what you think of them.
Trello is a web-based project management application originally created by Fog Creek Software in 2011. It is now a part of the Atlassian family. It operates as a board system, where users can create boards to organize tasks and projects. Cards can be added to the board and can be assigned due dates, labels, and other information. Users can also add comments to cards, and attach files. Trello is free for personal use, with paid plans available for businesses.
Trello is a project management tool that can be used for a variety of purposes, from creating a to-do list to planning a wedding. I have boards with meal plans, health goals, financial goals, gardening plans, training notes, client projects and more. I use it to organize my entire life…personal and business.
The basic plan is free and there is so much you can do with it. The boards are incredibly customizable. I have automation such as moving a card to the ‘Done’ list when the due date is checked. I also automatically assign myself to each card as I am essentially a one-person operation. However, I add other members, such as clients, to project boards for collaboration.
It’s also very easy to learn how to use, so you can start using it right away. I have used it for six years now and I can’t imagine going back to any other tool. I’ve tried other small business software for managing projects but keep coming back to Trello. I love that it is visually pleasing and extremely customizable. You can update the boards with background images that match the theme of the board and customize them with colour.
I use Trello as a way of managing what I’m doing with my business, which is basically everything. Trello is great for managing projects and tasks. You can create boards and lists to track everything that needs to be done and add cards with task details to each list.
Trello is also great for collaborating with others. You can invite team members to collaborate on boards and leave comments on cards to provide feedback. Trello is available on desktop and mobile devices, so you can access it from anywhere. And it syncs automatically, so you always have the most up-to-date information.
Each of these tools has its own benefits that make them essential for managing my business and client relationships. I can easily create and manage projects, collaborate with colleagues, and track deadlines through Trello. I also integrate it with Gmail and Google Drive so everything I need for a particular project is available in one place. If you want me to write an article specifically about how I do this, comment below.
Trello allows for easy collaboration between team members and has a variety of features that make it better than other project management tools. It is simple to use and can be customized to fit your team’s needs. I can easily create, edit, and manage all my projects in one place.
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Conclusion
These are the three small business software tools that I can’t live without as a virtual service provider. Google Workspace is great for online meetings and collaboration, Adobe allows me to edit documents and request digital signatures and is great for creative business owners, students and teachers and Trello helps me stay organized and on track with my personal and business projects.
These tools have helped me grow my business and improve my productivity. I would highly recommend them to anyone looking to start or grow any type of small business. If you have any questions regarding any of these products, comment below or email me at treana@treanawunsch.com. If you want the full list of software that I use for my business go to my Resources page.
Thanks for reading! Have you used any of the tools? If so, what do you think of them and why?
