The Best Small Business Tools in 2023

13 July 2023

In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, small businesses are carving out their place and making a significant impact on the economy.

These smaller companies, agile and innovative, play a vital role in driving growth and creating business opportunities. However, the path to success for small businesses can be filled with challenges and obstacles that more prominent companies face more easily.

Track time accurately and bill more hours to maximize your revenue

Timeular’s easy and smart experience, paired with its powerful reporting functionality, makes billing time a delight

In this article, we’ll compile a list of the best small business tools that can empower and amplify these smaller companies’ chances of thriving in a competitive marketplace.

The right tools can transform small businesses’ operations, helping them overcome obstacles and unlock their true potential.

Whether you’re a budding entrepreneur or an established small business owner, this list will give you the knowledge and insights to make your business grow.

The Best small business tools

1. Timeular – Track 100% of your billable hours

Timeular is the best time tracker on the market that stands out with its intuitive and modern UI, as well as the physical time Tracker. It helps teams and small businesses track and analyze their time spent on different tasks and projects.

Why a small business like yours should track time:

Understand where your time goes: Time tracking apps enable small business owners and employees to gain insights into their time allocation, identify time-wasting activities, and make more informed decisions about resource allocation and productivity improvement.
More revenue: For small businesses that bill clients based on time worked or projects completed, a time tracking tool like Timeular provides accurate data for invoicing. It helps to capture and bill more time, stop giving your time away for free, and avoid undercharging.

Why Timeular is a stunning small business tool?

Timeular brings multiple super simple time tracking methods together in one tool, making time tracking fun rather than boring.
The tool has an intuitive and modern UI, reminders, and a physical Tracker, that helps you and your team to build a time tracking habit. Therefore employees are more likely to track time right away and even if they don’t, they get insights to complete their timesheets later on.
Timeular integrates with 3,000 tools like project management and invoicing software that allows for automatic time tracking.

“I would highly recommend Timeular for tracking time on small teams like ours. Timeular has been a game-changer for us, and we couldn’t be happier with our choice.”
Keith Reynolds, CEO of spokemedia.io

Track all your billable hours and charge more

Track every billable minute with the most effortless and accurate time tracking solution that your team will enjoy

2. Asana

Asana is a top-rated project management software to organize and manage tasks, projects, and teams more effectively.

Asana is a reliable tool for small businesses to:

streamline workflows
improve productivity
enhance overall project management.

Asana provides a collaborative platform that enables teams to coordinate their work and track project progress.

A big project can be divided into more manageable tasks, contributing to easier communication between teams.

Asana can be integrated with a variety of other tools, such as project management tools, communication apps, file-sharing platforms, and more.

Setting up and configuring advanced features in Asana, such as dependencies or custom automation rules, may require some technical expertise or guidance.

When it comes to pricing, there’s the option of the Basic plan. After that, the Premium plan starts at 10.99$ per user per month and the Business plan at 24.99$ with the same conditions.

Integrate Asana with Timeular to track time automatically

3. Zoho Invoice

One of the small business tools, Zoho Invoice is a feature-rich invoicing software designed specifically for small businesses.

With its intuitive interface, extensive functionality, and affordability, Zoho Invoice offers a comprehensive solution for managing invoicing and billing processes.

This platform offers customizable templates, automated recurring invoicing, and online payment integration, making it convenient for clients to pay invoices and for businesses to track payments.

Another great feature offered by Zoho Invoice is the possibility of customizing invoice templates with a business’s logo and colors.

While Zoho Invoice offers a user-friendly interface, mastering all its features and settings may require some learning, particularly for users who are new to accounting software.

Another challenge that Zoho presents has to do with its customer support and the delays in getting assistance. Zoho Invoice is available for free.

4. Wave

Wave is an all-in-one financial management small business tool created with small businesses in mind. It offers a large and quite comprehensive suite of tools, including accounting, invoicing, receipt scanning, and more.

Wave presents good opportunities for small businesses with limited budgets since the software is free. It provides essential features for managing income and expenses, generating financial reports, and tracking cash flow.

It also allows to scan and upload receipts, automatically extracting relevant data for expense tracking, while integrating with a wide range of banks.

While it’s incredibly helpful for small businesses for being free of cost, it may not be as scalable or feature-rich as some other accounting software options.

As businesses grow and their financial needs become more complex, they may need to consider alternative solutions. Using Wave still requires the purchase of add-ons. Invoicing and accounting services are free, add-ons for mobile receipts, or payroll, among others, start at 8$ per month.

5. QuickBooks

QuickBooks is a renowned accounting software that offers a comprehensive range of features tailored specifically for small businesses. With this approach to the market, it has established itself as a trusted and reliable solution.

Offering a very user-friendly interface, one of the key advantages of QuickBooks for small businesses is its ability to streamline accounting processes.

It simplifies tasks such as invoicing, expense tracking, and financial reporting. It’s quick and easy to create and send professional invoices, track customer payments, and automate recurring billing, which saves you valuable time and effort.

However, it can be a complex tool for users without a background in accounting or bookkeeping. It may take some time to completely master this platform.

When billed annually, prices start at 183.60$ per year, offering a 30-day free trial. If you’re not sure about the investment, it’s possible to go for a monthly plan.

TIP: Get to know the best QuickBooks time tracking integration.

6. ADP

ADP is a provider of human resources and payroll solutions, with a set of services tailored to the needs of small businesses.

It offers a robust platform and advanced features that aim to help small businesses streamline HR processes, simplify payroll management, and ensure compliance with regulations.

Using ADP’s services allows companies to perform payroll services, including payroll processing, tax management, benefits administration, and time and attendance tracking, among others. It offers scalable solutions that can adapt to the evolving needs of businesses.

A big plus of ADP is that as companies grow and the workforce expands, ADP provides the flexibility to add new employees, adjust benefits, and incorporate additional HR modules.

It’s important to note that ADP’s services may come at a higher cost compared to some other HR and payroll solutions, particularly for businesses with limited budgets and its integration options with other third-party systems may be limited.

ADP offers four plans for payroll services but unfortunately, the pricing is not public. The cost is based on the number of employees and the complexity of needs. You can get a quote by completing the pricing form on ADP’s website.

7. Slack

Slack is a team communication and collaboration platform that offers a wide range of features designed to streamline communication in a company.

The same benefits it brings to bigger organizations it also offers to small businesses. Its real-time messaging feature allows small business teams to communicate and collaborate seamlessly.

Slack allows businesses to create channels based on different teams, projects, or topics, making it easy to organize discussions and keep conversations focused.

This is a free communication small business tool that enhances team cooperation and communication.

It’s a great communication tool for a company because it integrates with a range of third-party applications.

It offers mobile applications for iOS and Android devices, a sense of flexibility that is beneficial for small businesses with remote or distributed teams.

The app offers a wide range of integrations with other tools and services, from Google Calendar to Google Drive, to Hubspot, Jira, and Zoom, among others.

Slack’s robust search functionality ensures that important information and past conversations are easily retrievable.

Slack can be used for free, with limited integrations and message history. Prices for more complete plans start at 8.75$ per user per month.

8. Square

Square is a financial technology company that offers a range of tools and services created for small businesses.

It offers a user-friendly point-of-sale (POS) system, payment processing solutions, and management features, important tools that small businesses need to run their operations and accept payments efficiently.

This tool offers various payment processing solutions, including credit card processing, mobile payments, and online invoicing. It’s also possible to use its inventory management features.

While Square’s basic POS system is free to use, some advanced features and services may come at an additional cost. Customization is also limited with this tool, an aspect that may not work for some businesses.

There’s a Free plan available, followed by the Plus plan (29 dollars per month) and the Premium plan (custom fees).

9. Google Workspace

Google Workspace’s is one of the most powerful business tools for small companies because it has a variety of features for a small price: Docs, Sheets, Slides, Gmail, Chat, Drive, Meet, Calendar, Jamboard, Keep, and Forms.

With its cloud-based approach and seamless integration, Google Workspace provides small businesses with a powerful set of tools to manage tasks and commitments efficiently.

Google Workspace fosters collaboration among team members by providing real-time editing and commenting features. Included in the suite there is Google Drive, which offers secure cloud storage, enabling small businesses to store and access their files from anywhere, on any device.

All its features and tools allow for small businesses to create and edit documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and schedules within a single ecosystem, increasing efficiency and minimizing the need for third-party software.

It’s a suitable choice for small businesses with a few employees as well as those experiencing rapid growth.

It offers flexible pricing plans, allowing businesses to pay only for the number of users they have, making it cost-effective for small teams.

For businesses, prices start at around 6$ per user per month. As we mentioned, from here, prices increase according to the different features available and how many participants are to be included in the same project.

TIP: Increase business efficiency and profitability by adopting the best Google Calendar time-tracking integration.

10. LivePlan

LivePlan is one of the best small business tools that helps to:

create professional business plans
track business plan progress
make informed strategic decisions.

It simplifies the process of creating a business plan by providing step-by-step guidance and customizable templates. LivePlan helps small businesses outline their vision, analyze market opportunities, set financial goals, and develop strategies to achieve them.

This feature is particularly interesting for entrepreneurs or small business owners who may not have extensive experience in business planning, especially when it comes to the financial aspects. Its financial forecasting tools are also quite useful for creating detailed projections.

LivePlan provides features to track actual performance against the projected financials, monitoring small businesses’ progress. However, it’s worth noting that while it offers customizable business plan templates, the range of industry-specific templates may be limited as well as its integration options with other software tools.

LivePlan’s subscriptions start at 20$ per month (Standard), while the Premium plan goes for 40$ per month.

11. BambooHR

BambooHR is a top small business tool for human resources management.

This tool is designed to streamline HR processes and improve employee management, offering small businesses a centralized platform to manage essential HR functions, such as:

employee data management
onboarding
time-off tracking
performance management

The centralized database of employee information it provides is the standout feature, being simple and quick to use. It allows for the inclusion of personal details, employment history, time-off balances, etc.

This eliminates the need for manual paperwork and spreadsheets.

BambooHR also helps to simplify the onboarding process by automating tasks like paperwork, document collection, and policy acknowledgments. However, it doesn’t include built-in payroll processing capabilities.

Pricing for BambooHR is not really clear, as the cost may vary based on the number of employees and the desired features. To be informed of the subscription prices it’s necessary to fill out a form on their website.

12. MailChimp

Mailchimp is a well-known email marketing platform widely used for small businesses to build, manage, and automate email campaigns.

It offers a user-friendly interface and powerful tools, that allow for the creation of email campaigns, as well as the follow-up on their results.

Mailchimp empowers small businesses to connect with their audience, drive engagement, and grow their customer base, and its automation features are what really make the difference for a small business.

Personalized email journeys created on the tool help save time and effort by automating repetitive tasks, such as welcome emails, abandoned cart reminders, or post-purchase follow-ups.

Mailchimp allows the segmentation of email subscribers based on various criteria, such as demographics, purchase history, or engagement levels, and provides detailed reporting of these campaigns.

While Mailchimp offers a robust set of features for most small businesses, there may be certain advanced features or integrations that are not available within the platform.

Businesses with specific and complex requirements may need to explore third-party integrations and it’s important to note that deliverability depends on factors such as email list quality, sender reputation, and adherence to anti-spam regulations.

Track time accurately and bill more hours to maximize your revenue

Timeular’s easy and smart experience, paired with its powerful reporting functionality, makes billing time a delight

Why are small business tools so important?

Business apps and software are crucial for small businesses for several reasons, starting with a very important one: they are needed to increase efficiency and productivity, in order to promote growth.

Small businesses often operate with limited resources and manpower, so business tools automate repetitive tasks, streamline workflows, and enhance productivity.

By leveraging these tools, these businesses can really optimize their operations and keep operations balanced and thriving.

Business tools such as the ones listed here are also key to helping small businesses survive. Many offer cost-effective solutions that eliminate the need for manual processes or hiring additional staff.

With the right task automation apps you can automate tasks such as accounting, inventory management, or marketing, businesses can reduce overhead costs and allocate their resources more strategically.

The automation of the various processes helps free up time and resources for small business owners and employees. This enables them to focus on strategic initiatives, business development, and nurturing customer relationships, fostering growth and success.

Aside from better time and management resources, the business tools you use in your small business are also extremely valuable when it comes to gathering information. For example:

time tracking will guarantee all billable hours are accounted for
accounting platforms help guarantee that taxes and other obligations are paid
HR tools keep every information about employees, and so on.

The data and insights gathered enable small businesses to adapt their strategies, identify opportunities, and stay ahead in a competitive market.

Small business tools like the ones listed help companies present themselves as professional, organized, and efficient organizations.

They can enhance customer experience, streamline customer communication, and deliver high-quality products or services. This image of professionalism can help small businesses compete with larger players in the market.

Billable hours: what are and why they are important for your revenue

If you want to become a pro on billable hours, we advise you to read have a read in our post.

How to choose the best small business tool?

Choosing the best small business tool, software or application involves careful consideration of several factors: needs, ROI, budget, integrations, feedback and recommendations, etc.

As always, the first concern must be identifying the business needs. Identify the areas where software can bring the most value and address pain points. For example, you may need accounting software, inventory management, or customer relationship management (CRM) tools.

Prioritize your needs based on urgency and importance. Of course, to do this you need a budget. Be realistic about what you can afford while also considering the potential return on investment the software can provide.

The key to keeping functionality at center stage is to look for software that offers the core features you need while also providing room for growth.

Don’t forget to consider the software’s ability to integrate with other tools or systems you currently use or plan to use in the future. Integration can help streamline workflows.

Ask the right questions, namely if the software you choose offers adequate documentation, training resources, and accessible customer support channels.

Reach out to other small business owners in your industry to gather their feedback and recommendations. Word of mouth is many times the best reference.

By following these steps and taking a systematic approach, you can choose the best and most suitable software for your small business that aligns with your specific needs, budget, and growth plans.

Conclusion

Small businesses need every advantage they can get to succeed and thrive in today’s fast-paced markets.

The right small business tools can make a significant difference, empowering businesses to overcome challenges, streamline processes, and maximize their potential.

While each tool has its pros and cons, small businesses need to evaluate their specific needs, budget, and scalability requirements before making a decision.

Embracing these tools is a step towards unlocking the full potential of small businesses and paving the way for long-term success.

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