Any skilled worker needs the right tools. And any successful businessman needs the right software and apps to manage their daily activities. Even if your business is simple, or just at the beginning, you still need to look for ways to automate repetitive tasks, set up reminders for important events and keep track of your work in progress.
Yes, even home-based business owners should use management tools, because as your business grows you need to be familiar with them. At a point, you may acutely need such tools. Wouldn’t it be great if you already know how to use and take advantage of their features, instead of spending valuable time learning your way around them?
Today we will present you the most comprehensive and useful business tools for small and home-based businesses. These tools will teach you how to manage your time and work in an effective manner, preparing yourself for the moment when you have to manage a much larger and busier company.
Without further ado, we believe you should try at least one of these business management software suites:
1. Apptivo
Apptivo is an affordable all-in-one business suite which is adapted to small, medium and large companies alike. What do you get when you join Apptivo? First of all, an integrated virtual workplace where you can keep track of customer orders, supplies purchases and invoices you issue your clients. At the same time, you can look over your expenses and cash flow and get an accurate picture of the financial situation of your business.
Once your home-based business grows and you hire contractors and employees, you will continue to manage projects through Apptivo, using its project management and collaborative tools. To make the deal even sweeter, Apptivo can be fully integrated with PayPal, Dropbox, G Suite and Authorize.Net.
2. OfficeBooks
OfficeBooks is the software tool you need to keep all your finances under control and manage your quotations and offers in a professional manner. OfficeBooks includes:
⦁ Inventory control
⦁ Professional quotation generator
⦁ Professionally organized business contact list
⦁ Credit card payment acceptance
⦁ Various financial reports
With the help of all these features, you will never lose track of a single offer sent to a potential customer or invoice issued for selling your products and services. At the same time, the professional report generator will help you prepare your taxes and prepare financial reports for banks and other potential investors.
3. 1CRM
Client relationship management is something you need to learn from the first days as a business owner. Customers need to be kept happy and loyal and this is done by meaningful communication and effective marketing strategies. With the help of 1CRM, you will be able to conduct your customer care and marketing activities like a pro.
Its key features are:
⦁ Customer order management
⦁ Marketing automation
⦁ Sales tracking
⦁ Customer care (recurring services, bug reporting, knowledge base)
⦁ Calendar and daily agenda management
By taking full advantage of 1CRM and its features, your marketing and customer support work will be at the highest level, enabling you to offer your customer the professionalism they expect from you.
4. Zoho
Zoho is your best friend if you want to become a pro at managing your online store. Its latest feature is Zia, an artificial intelligence-based sales assistant, which will welcome and guide your customers through the purchase process.
Apart for this innovative CRM feature, Zoho offers you a complete virtual office including: office suite (texts, spreadsheets, and presentations), collaborative tools for multiple users and business email accounts.
5. Producteev
Never forget a deadline and prioritize your tasks like an experienced CEO – these are just two of the key features of Producteev, a time management and productivity tool every business owner needs. With Producteev, you can set your daily agenda, create and manage projects, individual tasks and add labels for various activities.
In short, you will put order in your activities, know exactly what you have to do each day and deliver each project or order on the due date, to your customers’ satisfaction.