5 Must-Have Tools Every Small Business Needs

As a small business owner, you know all about bootstrapping and making do with what you’ve got. However, sometimes it’s worth investing in a tool if it will expand your audience, increase revenue, or streamline your operations. If you’re not already using them, these are five tools you need to add to your arsenal as soon as possible.

A Website Builder

Before customers do business with you, they look at your website. If you don’t have one, or your website is poorly-designed or outdated, there’s a good chance they’ll choose a competitor instead. You don’t have to shell out for a professional website designer to create an attractive, mobile-friendly website that converts. Whether you need a simple landing page or a full-fledged e-commerce site, you can create it with website builders like Squarespace, Wix, and Weebly. Read about the most popular website builders for small businesses at OptinMonster.

Some website builders offer a free package, but if you want a branded URL — a must for any business website — expect to pay $10 or more per month

A Cloud Productivity Suite

Your business doesn’t stop running when you leave the office, and neither should your office suite. A cloud productivity suite lets you take your office suite and files with you wherever you go. Productivity suites also offer branded email accounts and collaboration tools for business.

G Suite leads the pack when it comes to cloud productivity suites, and at rates of $5 to $29 monthly for each user, it’s affordable for businesses of all sizes.

All-in-One Payment Processing

It’s simple: If you don’t accept credit card payments, you lose business. Accepting cards lets cashless customers patronize your business and encourages card-paying customers to spend more. You’ll pay a little in merchant services and processing costs when you use a credit card machine, but the business you’ll gain far outweighs the expense.

Not all credit card machines are created equal. If your credit card reader can’t accept all types of cards, including those that are tapped, inserted, or swiped, you’re still missing out on revenue. An all-in-one reader that takes payments and prints receipts from a single device is the best option if you want a streamlined solution you can use wherever you do business.

Accounting Software

Tracking finances is critical for your small business. In fact, according to SCORE, the vast majority of businesses fail because of financial problems.

Quickbooks is the most popular accounting software for small businesses, and with plans ranging from $5 to $50 a month, it’s an affordable solution for managing invoices, payroll, inventory, and other accounting essentials. However, Quickbooks isn’t the only player. Capterra lists 10 great alternatives to Quickbooks, including free options for businesses that can get by with a few stripped-down features.

Social Media Tools

Are you engaging with your customers on social media? If not, you’re missing an opportunity to grow your audience and your income. It’s not enough to merely be present on social media. If you want to increase customer loyalty and convert followers into customers, your business needs a content strategy and tools for measuring results. Read up on the best tools for managing your social media presence. While some offer free plans for small businesses, companies with more than a few employees should expect to pay for a monthly plan.

It’s important to be budget-conscious when you’re running a small business. However, if your frugality is keeping you from the tools that will grow your business, it’s worth rethinking your business plan. With a small investment — and in some cases, for free — you can access valuable tools that will improve your business’ daily operations and its bottom line.

Julie Morris is a life and career coach. She thrives on helping others live their best lives. It’s easy for her to relate to clients who feel run over by life because she’s been there. After years in a successful (but unfulfilling) career in finance, Julie busted out of the corner office that had become her prison. Today, she is fulfilled by helping busy professionals like her past self get the clarity they need in order to live inspired lives that fill more than just their bank accounts. When Julie isn’t working with clients, she enjoys writing and is currently working on her first book. She also loves spending time outdoors and getting lost in a good book. Visit her site at juliemorris.org