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7 Software Options Applications that Your Small Business Needs

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Top Seven Small Business Management Software Applications That Makes Life Much Easier!

What’s the best way to put out the “fires” of the business world? Well having the right small business management software will cut out problems before they can even start to smolder. Powerful tools like automation and remote access can simplify every project in your to-do list (even generate your to-do list for you). Many software providers are catering to small businesses now. This is leveling the playing field in many ways.

Since many of the options in software are free, small business owners can use these resources to compete with the multinational rivaling companies in their industry. Small business management software also cuts overhead and increases productivity. As we watch what was once science fiction proliferate into the business arena our jobs become easier. Automation, AI, and customer relationship management technology (CRM) make having the business run itself a more literal phrase these days.

The goal of many small business owners, particularly in franchising, is to build their business to a point where it is self-sufficient. One of the first solutions to make this happen is using small business management software.

Here’s our list of the seven must have apps that are useful for every small business.

1. Software Suite with Mobile Device Remote Access: Autotask

This pinch happens to everyone. You’re driving home, thinking you got everything you had planned for the day knocked out, when suddenly you realize you forgot a critical file back at the office. This is when Autotask comes into play. This application allows you to transfer data from your PC or Mac with your mobile phone. Now you can work from a plane at 36,000 feet even without a laptop. This is just one of the streamlining features that come with Autotask.

Features:

  • IT Business Management Platform
  • CRM
  • Cloud Backup & Storage
  • Remote Monitoring & Management
  • Analytics For Improvement

Autotask is a self-described ‘End-to-End’ software suite that will perform back-office tasks for you.

2. Task Management

If you own a small business, chances are you need a personal assistant, or maybe even a team of personal assistants. Organizing your day around meetings, conference calls, and to-do lists can be a hulking task in itself. Getting a proper task management app synthesizes everything you do into one platform.

One of our favorites is Any.do which syncs all your devices and is supported on a Mac, iPhone, Android, and as a Chrome add-on. Any.do is half personal assistant, half life-coach. It’s simple navigation and integration into calendar apps makes it a one-stop-shop for reminders. The small business management software will also prioritize your day making sure the important stuff gets done.

3. EMail Marketing

E-mail marketing is often the backbone of your marketing campaign. Using e-communication techniques helps reach a broad but interested audience quickly. Our favorite of dozens of amazing apps is Benchmark. Benchmark is a versatile software that performs the functionalities of various other software programs needed for successful marketing.

The software has customizable templates that are eye-pleasing and are responsive—high-quality design retains whether emails are opened on a smartphone, desktop, or tablet. The ‘drag & drop’ system also makes it easy to generate emails. It’s as simple as manipulating puzzle pieces.

On top of these features, Benchmark also includes a code editor, photo editing, analytic reporting for higher click-rates, and seamlessly integrates with over 300 separate apps. For 1,500 subscribers, Benchmark will cost small business owners $24.95/ a month. Cheaper options are also available for fewer subscribers.

4. Accounting Software

There are tons of free options in accounting software that can give small business owners the equivalent skills of a CPA right in their pocket. In the free options, our favorite is TurboCash. For any small to mid-sized businesses looking for straightforward bookkeeping solutions, this software choice is great.

TurboCASH is under constant improvement and continuous development for the last 32 years. The software itself teaches small business owners the particulars of accounting and how to work with banks, suppliers, and customers.

Features:

  • Inventory
  • Invoicing
  • Cashbook
  • Financial Reporting
  • Spreadsheet Integration
  • Repeating Entries

5. Customer Service Software

Even brick-and-mortar establishments can benefit from using customer service software. Using digital customer service apps betters your business by providing real-time insights into your customer’s wants and needs. Again many of the options for this platform are completely free. The list of possibilities is endless but one our favorites is Helprace. The free version will supply business owners with all the daily functions they need. The full version is only $30/ a month, unless you buy annually.

Free Features:

  • Ticketing Staff System (which looks like an email on the customer’s end)
  • Feedback Community/Widget—tracks questions, ideas, critiques, and praise
  • Self-Service Portal

Small business owners can use Helprace for simple email management to advance customer service.

6. Social Media Management

Part of the ongoing communication between your customers and your brand is using social media. Using social media to market is one of the cheapest and most effective ways to hang a virtual open sign up on the internet. The best and free option for the small business owners is HootSuite.

You can schedule and automate future posts to three social profiles, review growth and amplification analytics, and can learn how to use social media as a tool more comprehensively with HootSuite’s free courses. The most compelling reason to use HootSuite is that ROI is measured so you can see your efforts working.

7.  Scheduling

Scheduling your employees is the one huge headache. Before you reach for pain relief medicine, reach for Shiftboard. Organizing an employee schedule will take minutes, not seconds with this small business management software.

Shiftboard captures profile data of your employees by qualification and assigns projects with this data. The dashboard provides templates for scheduled based on qualifications and employee availability. Shift switching and approval is expedited and is supported on mobile with instant communication.

Never sit down to make an employee schedule again! Use Shiftboard and have it done for you.

The Bottom Line

Before going into business make sure you take into account what small business management software you will need. Choosing sooner-than-later will help you stick to your budget and make training easier if everyone is using uniform systems.

In franchising, one of the distinguishing advantages entrepreneurs should consider is the access to technology. Franchises that take advantage of company-wide software availability will give you the tools for success. Even better are companies that have their own proprietary software.

Splash and Dash Groomerie & Boutique has terminal software that aims at making franchise owners lives easy as possible so they can focus on the things that matter.

We hope you find this list useful for your needs as a small business owner!

 

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