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As a small business, every investment needs careful thought. Luckily, many software developers are now making programs specifically for small businesses that will provide a valuable tool for a very reasonable cost, or even for free.
Here are some of the most useful pieces of software currently on the market for small businesses
Slack
If you’re currently communicating with your team over email and find that most of your day is spent cleaning your inbox, Slack could be the tool. Initially built for use by a game development company to replace email with quick and simple instant messaging, millions of users are now using it. Users added to your company account can message each other directly or in groups, and channels can be created for specific projects or clients to help categorize your chats. Slack also has a robust search function to find messages or files, and a video call function that can be used for one-on-one calls or a group of people. In the current workplace environment where people need to work from home, Slack is a great tool to maintain quick and easy communication.
Freshteam
If hiring new staff members is becoming an admin nightmare, Freshteam could be an instrumental piece of software. Freshteam allows you to post jobs, check CVs, and create workflows for applicants, so that you can track the stats of the people applying for each position, from interview to deciding to hire. You can also use Freshteam to send all the necessary paperwork to the new hire and ensure that information like contracts, company guidelines, and welcome letters are sent out. Employee vacation time can also be managed through the system, and the free version is available to companies with fewer than 50 employees.
Google Workplace
Google Workplace, formerly Google Suite, includes many of Google’s best online tools such as Gmail, Google Drive, Meet, and Google Docs. These tools combined give you an online platform where you can save all documents, have video meetings, organize your calendar, and be more efficient and collaborative. Google Sheets, Slides, and Docs allow you to create spreadsheets, presentations, and word documents that can be worked collaboratively in the cloud, rather than saving to your laptop or PC. Google Workplace integrates seamlessly with other apps commonly used by small businesses like Slack, Trello, and Zoom. You can access all these tools with a free Gmail account, but paid business plans are also available.
QuickBooks
For anyone asking, what’s the best tax software? QuickBooks could be a good contender. QuickBooks offers several different packages depending on your business’ size and type, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, making it ideal for small businesses. QuickBooks handles everything, from filling in self-assessments, tracking how much tax you need to pay, and VAT returns. For small businesses, the ‘Simple Start’ package will be ideal, and there’s also a self-employed option for people that run businesses by themselves. There are also discounts throughout the year, so look out for deals to further lower your payments.
