Small and home-based business owners are some of the hardest working people in the country. With tasks ranging from admin to sales, marketing and everything in between, time is a precious commodity. Working fluidly from laptop to tablet to smartphone is crucial, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, there are some great small business apps that you should look at to improve your workflow. These small business apps help with a range of tasks that will maximize productivity and, ultimately, increase your profit and your time.
1. FreshBooks
One of the most well-known and highly-used accounting apps is FreshBooks. Most small business owners are highly tuned into their financial picture as it is literally what puts food on the table. FreshBooks is intuitive, easy to use and has an immense list of features. At the core, this small business app helps you to track invoices, view payments and gives you a detailed look at your financial situation. With apps for both iOS and Android devices, any small business will find significant value in this one app.
freshbooks.com
2. Trello
Both project and time management are crucial to your small business’ success. One of the best tools for both of these is Trello. This small business app offers you the ability to manage projects, set schedules and view status updates from team members in a simple dashboard. You can send notes, leave comments, see the progress someone has made, set schedules or reminders and much more. The app is essentially an office manager that you can set up and start in a matter of minutes. Best of all, the app is entirely free with optional premium features. Once you’ve downloaded the app, immediately scratch off ‘get small business insurance’ from the to-do list and contact us!
trello.com
3. Evernote
Inspiration, ideas and notes-to-self can come at any time. More often than not, we jot those quick notes down on a piece of paper that we either lose, have crumpled up in a pocket or forget about. Those ideas can be the foundation of something that could improve your business. This is where Evernote steps in. This app allows you to create notes, drawings, take photos or save text easily. You can also share the notes with colleagues, access them anywhere and easily search through them. It’s like having a personal assistant there to take notes at all times. We’ll even suggest your first note: Does my insurance policy cover my home-based business?
evernote.com
4. Adobe Sign
Gone are the days where you need to fax contracts to clients or, worse still, sign them in person. With just your smartphone, you’re able to sign contracts digitally that are legally binding. Adobe Sign, previously known as EchoSign, is one of the best small business apps. It enables you to open PDF documents, easily review them, make changes, sign, add dates, initials, and more. The app comes with a unique security feature that confirms who you are so that no one could sign on your behalf. That said, while the app comes with a few free credits after you use them, you will need to pay for additional signings. Similarly, docusign.ca is an alternative signing website.
adobe.com
5. Square
If you’re a small retail business owner and do sales on the fly, then the Square app is for you. It is a small Point of Sale (POS) device that allows you to make Debit or Credit Card sale transactions anywhere, anytime. You can set up a free online store that syncs with your inventory and your social media, and meet customers wherever they shop. You can also accept orders online, over the phone or email, and help new customers find you through Square’s delivery hub. Additionally, if you prefer contactless payment, you can send professional invoices, track them in real time and accept payments online – all from one place. You can save time with auto-billing, stored information and powerful reporting tools.
squareup.com
We hope these apps help you and your small business thrive both during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.
