Often short on time, sleep, and money, new business owners need all the help they can get. Thankfully, there's no shortage of free online tools designed to help streamline and simplify day-to-day tasks. By taking advantage of these resources and improving your workflow, you'll get more done, and spend less. Here is a list of our favorite free tools for new business owners.
Google Docs, Sheets and Slides
Your business has gone mobile, so why shouldn’t your office?
With Google’s suite of cloud-based office software, you can create and edit professional-looking documents, spreadsheets and presentations from your computer, phone, or tablet.
Why new business owners need it:
· Create and store documents, reports and presentations in the cloud for easy access
· Files saved for offline use can be edited with Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint
· Collaborate in real time with simple, yet powerful sharing and editing capabilities
Zoho Customer Relationship Management
Though the age of the Rolodex has long passed, the need for a comprehensive, annotated database of customers and leads remains. In 2015, many businesses use Customer Relationship Management tools — CRM for short — to do just that.
Why new business owners need it:
- · Store and manage customer data, contact info, sales progress and social interactions
- · Capture customer info on your site and automatically add them to your list of leads
- · Automatically sorts high-priority activities and leads to help organize your day
Evernote
For daily reminders and shopping lists, physical sticky notes are more than up to the task. But when it comes to your business, cloud-based software is a must.
Evernote calls itself “the workspace for your life’s work,” and for new business owners, it really can be.
The service allows users to keep track of notes, links, lists and photos, and acts as a shareable, cross-device hub of thoughts and ideas. If you’ve been struggling with organization, Evernote can help.
Why new business owners need it:
- · Photograph and categorize inspiring or thought-provoking marketing ideas
- · Clip and save interesting articles at home or on the go and organize your reading list
- · Keep your ideas synced between mobile and desktop and refer to them anywhere
