When you are running a business on your own it can feel overwhelming at times. There is SO much to do & SO much to keep up with. If you are fortunate enough to have a team of people helping you then rock on!

 

For those of us that are a one-man-show we need all the tools and resources we can get to help us out. SO, I have complied a list of 15 small business tools that can help streamline your business. Most of these are FREE or LOW COST. There are few that have heftier fees but are worth the investment.

 

Find the tools that work best for you and start working smarter, not harder!

 

This is one of my favorite free resources. I use Google Drive folders as a way of keeping all my important documents in one place, and I can access them from anywhere. It is also a great tool for collaborating with other business owners with real time editing. Just create a Google Doc, share it an watch as edits are made by collaborators in real time.  Sharing folders and content is also easy with Google Drive. For example: when I was working with a Social Media Manager I created  a shared folder with images and links for her to add to my social media feed. It was a lot easier that emailing items back and forth.

COST: FREE for 15GB – More storage starts at $1.99/month

 

Dropbox is similar to Google Drive because it allows you to store files and access them from any location online. You also have the option to share folders with collaborators or clients. While Google allows for real time collaboration, Dropbox is purely a cloud storage program.

COST: FREEto start – Upgrade storage starting at $9.99/month

 

If you are looking for a project management tool then 17Hats could be a great fit. This program is an all-in-one business system for entrepreneurs. From booking clients, to managing projects, to controlling your finances, with 17hats you have everything you need to manage your business and clients anytime, anywhere. I personally use 17Hats and love it. Before I started using it I was combining several programs, a paper calendar and client file folders to keep track of contracts and payments. With 17Hats I have all that in one place. I can send invoices, keep track of events and projects, track leads and send contracts and forms.

COST: $25/mo when billed annually

 

Honeybook is similar to 17Hats in that it is a project management tool. It allows you to keep track of your  clients, contracts invoices and finances. The thing that sets Honeybook apart from 17 hats is that is comes with a built in community of other entrepreneurs – The Rising Tide Society. Having the community aspect gives you access to a wide variety of collaborators to work with in addition to keeping you organized.

COST: $34/mo when billed annually

 

If you are like me, you probably have a t0-do lists floating around somewhere on your phone, written on sticky notes on your desk or pinned on your bulletin board. To-do lists are a great way to keep up with what you need to be working on, but sometimes you need something more. Enter Asana! This is a free resource (or paid if you want extra features) that allows you to easily keep track of your to-do list items, create projects with separate check lists and collaborate with team members. There is both a desktop version and a mobile app available.

COST: FREE (paid options available starting at $9.99/mo)

 

While programs like 17Hats & Honeybook will keep track of your finances for you, I have yet to find a program that does as good a job as Quickbooks. It will sync with your bank accounts or PayPal account and allows you to categorize your income and spending based on IRS tax categories. My accountant was very happy when I started using Quickbooks 🙂

COST: $10/mo

 

Social media is a huge part of a strong marketing plan. However, it was be overwhelming to stay on top of posting consistent and meaningful content. Planning out your content can free you from being tied to your phone or laptop constantly. Later.com is a great planning tool that has a FREE option allowing you to make up to 30 posts a month. Plan out your content and have it post for you with ease.

COST: FREE (paid upgrades available)

With so many different social media planning tools available it can be difficult to know which one is right for you. If you manage social media groups or want more versatility in your social media posting than Later – Buffer might be for you. I personally use this app as a way to post to my Facebook Groups and Pinterest. It is easy to use and has no content limit.

COST: $10/mo

 

Now that you have a way to plan your social media calendar, it’s time to work on the content. I used to spend hours working in Photoshop creating graphics and images for my social media feel. THEN, I discovered Canva and my world was rocked! It’s a free program that allows you to quickly and easily create not only social media graphics but blog titles, digital magazines and so much more! Use your own photos, free stock photos or purchase images from their collection. It’s simply, easy and a major time saver.

COST: FREE

We all know that email marketing is a great way to build your client base and gain more business. But if you are still doing it the old way with a spreadsheet and Gmail account then it’s time for an upgrade. Enter MailChimp! This is the perfect entry point into email marketing. It’s easy to set up, easy to use and easy on the wallet. Free plans are available up to 1,000 members, with paid accounts for larger lists.

COST: FREE (with paid account options)

 

If you have been using MailChimp for awhile and are ready for something more, then consider giving ConvertKit a try. Convertkit is a great tool for growing your list with tons of opt-in form options. It also allows you to organize your clients based on their actions, what they like and what they purchase. Because it is more robust than MailChimp it requires a bit of a learning curve but in my opinion it’s worth it!

COST: $29/mo and UP

 

Keeping up to date with your SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is key to staying on top of your business marketing. If you want to make sure you are ranking at the top for you keywords then the SEO Edge mobile app is a great tool for you. It’s free up to 5 keywords and allows you to daily check your ranking, see your competitors and tracks your upward or downward movement.

COST: FREE

 

Another way to keep track of your website traffic and SEO is through Google Analytics. This is a free tool that comes with a Google account. It’s a little confusing to use so I recommend setting up a call with a Google expert to get started, or doing some online research. But once you get it set up it’s a great source for keeping up with your online stats.

COST: FREE

 

Have you ever wondered what type of content gets the most traction, interaction and exposure? Buzsumo is a super cool website that allows you to view top posts and content for any keyword you like. Type in the keyword or phrase you are interested in and a list of the top posts using that keyword will appear. You can see how often they were shared and on which platforms. It’s a great way to get some new content ideas or keep on eye on your competition.

COST: FREE for a limited number of searches per day – paid subscriptions available for more options

Do you wish you could be a fly on the wall when your competitors are planning their marketing plan? Now all you need is SimilarWeb. This site allows you to enter the information of your competitors and see where they are getting the majority of their traffic. It’s a little addicting 🙂

COST: FREE for limited access

 

Let me know if you use any of these tools and what you think of them. Also, if you have any other tools you feel should be added to this list please let me know!