There’s never enough time in the day for most small business owners. Whether you’re running payroll, ensuring projects are running on time, sending out invoices, or doing anything else, having the right software for small businesses can save time. The right software for small businesses can make inter-office communication more efficient, streamline your sales process to help you win more customers, and more.
Here’s everything you need to know about small business software along with more information about which types can directly benefit your business.
Why is software important for small businesses?
Most small businesses run on lean budgets with limited personnel, and they can’t always hire specialists for every position. The accounting department might consist of a single person who also heads up marketing, and the CEO might operate as both sales and recruiting. Even if you have an individual or team dedicated to these jobs, maximizing efficiency and effectiveness is one of the key ways to keep your company growing and flourishing.
No matter which hat you and your employees are wearing, small business software can make everyone’s jobs easier. Software specifically built for small businesses simplifies and streamlines areas of your business. Your employees can work more effectively when they use the right tools for their job, and that’s exactly what small business software gives them.
Software your small business should consider
There are several areas software can help small businesses. Here are a few areas you should consider, along with our favorite picks for the best software in each category.
1. Email Software
Email is a necessity for every workplace, and having a dedicated work email address keeps your employees connected both internally with your staff and externally with your customers. Reliability, security, and affordability are all important aspects of your business email needs. And while email itself isn’t anything earth-shattering, different types of software have key features that can streamline workplace communication and facilitate collaboration.
Learn more about each email software and find comparisons.
2. Productivity Software
Your team needs to create documents – brochures, web pages, presentations, and more. Having a suite of products dedicated to producing these documents makes sure all your team members have access to the same software and can collaborate on projects, staying on top of the needs of your business. Some of our favorites are:
Go in-depth at all the productivity software and choose the best one for your business.
3. Accounting Software
Keeping track of your income and expenses, invoicing customers, and paying your employees are essential parts of your business record-keeping. Accounting software for small businesses helps you streamline these tasks, keeping everything organized and easy to access for you or any team members who work with this information. Some types of accounting software even process payments online, allowing you to invoice customers with a link so you can be paid immediately. Follow the link to read about the pros and cons of each software and let us help you determine what software would suit your business.
Here are a few of the most popular types of accounting software.
4. Project Management
Project management is critical for keeping the lines of communication open between your team members and, in some cases, your clients as well. This type of software ensures projects are on track and budget, simplifies communication between employees even if they’re working in different parts of the world, and ensures your team meets deadlines with ease. Here are our favorite project management software picks for small businesses.
Head over to our article on the best project management software and choose the one that suits your business the best.
5. Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
Your CRM system is the go-to for nurturing leads and managing existing customers. A spreadsheet might work if you have only a handful of customers, but CRM software can do so much more. The right software can update contact information, notify you when it’s time to reach out, help your team craft personalized marketing content, and manage customer metrics.
Find the best CRM for your business through our article best CRMs for small businesses.
6. Time Tracking
Time tracking is a valuable tool in any company’s tool belt, especially if they have hourly employees or bill clients on an hourly basis. But even if you don’t use either of those functionalities, time tracking gives insight into what your employees are working on and how long projects take, keeping your staff productive and organized. Time tracking software can not only track hours worked on specific tasks or projects, but some can even integrate directly with payroll or your billing systems. Here are some of the time tracking software you can use:
Using time management techniques for business owners along with time tracking software ensures your business is running effectively and efficiently, learn more about each software in our article on best time tracking software.
7. Recruiting and Human Resources
As a small business, every single employee is an essential part of your team. But sifting through resumes, posting on job boards, and finding the right individuals takes a lot of time and effort – time most small business owners just don’t have enough of. Onboarding new employees take a lot of time, too, and if you don’t have dedicated HR staff, those responsibilities may fall squarely on your shoulders. Recruiting and HR software can help you find the right team members and bring them on board effectively while saving you time and money. Find more about Recruiting and Human Resources software here. Below are some of our favorites:
Final thoughts on small business software
Even though all these types of software could be helpful, they may not be necessary for your business. It’s worth learning about all the types, though, because they may be beneficial to your business as it grows or changes strategies. The size of your business, the work you do, and the technology you already use can all impact the choices you make when selecting the small business software best for your company.
This list of small business software will get you started, but there are even more types of software available. Check out our detailed guides on each software like investment management software to find even more software solutions for your business.