Being a small business owner means taking on the responsibility for all areas of the business. Setting up different departments with entire teams does not exempt you from this. From marketing and sales to accounting and customer service, the ultimate burden is on your shoulders to ensure smooth daily operations.
The good news is that there are several software solutions available today to help you automate mundane tasks. They will also free up valuable time and resources. Automation, in particular, is one of the most influential tools at your disposal. For instance, accounting software automates invoicing and statements, while CRM software (customer relationship management) automates email marketing, time tracking, and lead generation.
These days, there is a software program for every department within a small business. These include project management, ecommerce, communication, and mobile app integration. And the benefits far outweigh the initial cost of investment.
What are the Benefits of Small Business Tools and Software?
After implementing computer software programs, you’ll immediately start noticing several benefits. The benefit you will likely enjoy first is increased productivity. Software programs can automate recurring work processes, accelerating employee performance.
For instance, a good communication software solution in the workplace will encourage departmental engagement and streamline workflows. It will also prevent data silos, which can hinder productivity. And, even more importantly, you can use software collaboration tools in every part of your business. These nifty programs are fantastic for companies with remote teams. They enable smooth, easy collaboration regardless of location.
Furthermore, corporate software solutions allow you to set up a professional website. This process also includes ecommerce pages and automated marketing campaigns. The best accounting software, and even free accounting software programs, help track expenses and cash flow. Solutions like cloud accounting software can also handle payroll and end-of-year financial tasks.
You can also invest in operations management software. This will take care of recruitment requirements and help build a strong workforce. Other software providers like PayPal make online payments easier to manage.
So, which software should you choose for your small business? Let’s run through the best software for small businesses in 2024.
15 Best Programs for Small Businesses
The following software programs each have their pros and cons. Before deciding on a handful of software solutions for your business, weigh these pros and cons against your business goals.
1. Scalefusion
Scalefusion is a must-have for small digital businesses. This intuitive UEM (unified endpoint management) solution will allow your IT team to manage different operating systems. ScaleFusion supports Android, Windows, iOS, Linux, and macOS. It offers shared device management and integrations between operating systems and third-party apps like Windows.
Other functionalities include mobile device management and enterprise mobility management. You can give the software a go with a 14-day free trial. If you like how it works, you can sign up for a plan that costs between $2 to $6 per device per month billed annually.
2. ClickUp
ClickUp is a project management software solution. It is designed to help small businesses and teams plan and keep track of various tasks. The program provides a central platform for business teams (including remote employees and freelancers) to collaborate on a designated project.
With ClickUp, you can list tasks, store documents, initiate conversations, and track goals. Using its free plan, you will gain access to collaborative documents, Kanban boards, and whiteboards.
Its three paid plans come with added features to customize the software to fit your business requirements. However, it should be noted that non-technically minded employees may find ClickUp challenging to work with. Therefore, several training sessions may be in order.
3. Automate.io
Automate.io is an affordable software solution for small businesses that want to integrate cloud-based apps and services. Doing this in your business means creating automated processes related to sales, marketing, and other business-related activities.
Automate.io is committed to saving small businesses around 40 hours a week. If you choose this program for your business, you can integrate other apps using the software’s drag-and-drop functionality. This advanced but easy-to-use software offers a forever free plan and two paid plans of $49 and $99 per month.
If you run a small travel agency, salon, or fitness center, you will know how essential it is to not miss out on appointments. You will also know firsthand that it is almost impossible to find meeting times that work for you and your clients. Enter Calendly. This software solution aims to streamline this process in real-time. Instead of endless phone calls and rescheduling an appointment five times, you can send your customers a link to your Calendly calendar, and they can choose a meeting time that suits them. The software is easy to use and sends confirmation and reminders to both parties after setting up a meeting.
However, the free version of this software does not have the reminder feature and will only allow you to set up one type of meeting. It is also not the best calendar software for recurring bookings. But you do get an option to create surveys and will receive branding options with higher tiers.
HubSpot offers CRM software to align your marketing, customer service, and sales goals. It gives you the digital tools to generate leads, automate tasks, and pull analytics reports. With HubSpot, you can create an end-to-end inbound marketing campaign and receive insights on leads, potential sales, and organic traffic.
Like some other CRM software solutions, HubSpot offers a forever free plan with the option to upgrade as and when necessary.
6. SocialBee
If your business is highly active on social media, you should invest in a social media management tool like SocialBee. This powerful software program will help you build a content calendar, use AI to create posts, and automatically publish them across all your social media accounts. You can use SocialBee’s analytics feature to analyze your content performance. You can also use the Engage Module to manage direct messages, comments, and complaints.
The basic plan starts with a 14-day free trial and then $29 per month. The Pro plan costs $99 a month.
7. QuickBooks
QuickBooks is one of the best and most trusted cloud accounting software programs. This is one of the must-haves for small businesses as it covers most, if not all, accounting requirements. This subscription-based, user-friendly accounting solution works in several industries and will benefit businesses with an on-site (or remote) bookkeeper or accountant. It is one of the easiest ways to keep track of your company’s finances and is a breeze to install.
You can test the software’s capabilities with a 30-day free trial. This will allow you to check how the accounting, invoicing, and expense tracking features work. With the paid plans, you also get a payroll feature that allows you to run salary payments and access accumulated benefits on one platform. You also get tax computing functions and other add-ons, along with bookkeeping and accounting features.
It is worth noting that some subscribers have had issues with duplicate entries and limited customer support. If you choose QuickBooks as your accounting software of choice, get some clarity on these challenges before signing up. This will help you avoid double-entry mistakes and improve the system’s ease of use.
8. Wave Accounting
Wave is another award-winning accounting software solution. What makes this option so intriguing is that most of its tools and features are free to use. This includes payroll, payments, invoicing, and receipts. If your business collects credit card payments, you must invest in a paid plan. Business owners especially love the option to brand and customize their invoices and enjoy advanced features like automatic payments and recurring billing.
Other accounting software options include RunPayRoll and Xero, each offering valuable features. These include sales tax calculations and assistance with task management.
9. Zendesk
If your business has been slowly declining in the customer service and support department, Zendesk will get you back on track fast. This CRM software is built to support and engage with customers while boosting sales.
With Zendesk, you get a holistic solution that also provides you with the data you need on customer satisfaction. It gives your salesforce a high-level view of each customer journey by saving conversations, tickets, orders, and other essential data. It also integrates with review management tools to give you a more accurate picture of what your customers think about your brand.
The platform includes options such as 24/7 chatbots and customer portals and uses AI technology to find ways for businesses and customers to benefit from using its software.
10. Shopify
If you want to expand your business offering to ecommerce, Shopify can help you build an online store fast. This ecommerce software solution includes a built-in editor that allows you to create product pages for each product line. You can use the local language support to engage a global audience.
You can also use the platform’s wide range of marketing tools to boost your promotional efforts on social media. These tools include meta titles, product descriptions, uniquely crafted URLs, and more. Much like WordPress, Shopify offers several plugins to help your business cope with routine tasks such as inventory management.
Shopify provides a 14-day free trial option and offers 24/7 technical support via its help desk.
11. Slack
Slack is an excellent team collaboration tool for businesses that need their staff members to stay in constant communication. You can use Slack on mobile or desktop applications, and it comes with audio and video calling features. You can integrate Slack with marketing and storage software tools like Google Drive and MailChimp. The Slack platform also allows document uploads and sharing.
If email communication doesn’t work in your business, you will find Slack a worthy alternative. Slack also offers a free plan and free trials of its Standard and Plus plans to provide you with everything you need to make an informed decision.
12. Asana
Asana is another collaboration software tool that allows you to manage multiple projects simultaneously. Asana integrates with over 100 other third-party solutions, including Dropbox and Gmail. Asana’s interface allows you to structure your projects step-by-step and assign different duties to different team members or departments. The dashboard offers an overview of upcoming projects and tasks and lists those that are overdue and completed.
Asana offers most of its features free for teams of 15 members or less. The paid plans start from $10.99 per user per month, billed annually for unlimited users.
13. WriterAccess
WriterAccess is an all-in-one content creation software solution for businesses that do not have a dedicated content writer or copywriter. Using this program, you can engage with skilled writers to help you meet your business needs and have access to AI content.
This software maintains your brand voice across all written content and business platforms. This will allow you to increase your brand presence and build a professional brand image. WriterAccess offers a free trial and a Starter plan at $39 per month.
14. Adobe Creative Cloud
If you have an on-site graphic designer, you would do well to invest in Adobe Creative Cloud. This software program comes with different applications your business can subscribe to, including Photoshop and Adobe Acrobat. The pricing is structured per feature, so you can choose the software platforms most appropriate for your business.
15. Gusto
Gusto is a human resources and payroll software program designed to assist companies that employ full-time and contract employees. This payroll feature manages W-2 and 1099 workers and handles payroll processing and tax filing requirements. The costs of running payroll and other functions stay the same for permanent and part-time employees. Gusto also offers additional human resources services for companies that need more HR support and an online help center for business owners and employees. Try this software using Gusto’s 30-day free trial before signing up for a paid plan.
