Running a business can feel like trying to juggle a million things at once, which is why leaders and managers need to find the right strategies and support to meet their goals. An essential piece is finding online tools for small business owners that help optimize efficiency, productivity, and communication.
And, today, there’s no shortage of options.
In fact, there are so many different types of online tools for small businesses, that it can be hard to find the right one.
We’ve compiled a list of 21 options, categorized based on functions and features. Take a look and see what fits may empower your team and support your goals.
The Best Online Tools for Small Business Owners
From managing financial records to communicating with team members and managing projects, there are many reasons to leverage online tools for small businesses. It’s even more important to utilize the right option when managing a remote or hybrid team.
But, more is not always better. The key lies in selecting the right tools that align with your specific business requirements.
Here are 21 of the best online tools for small business owners to review and see what aligns with your team’s goals.
Project Management
Software and online tools that support project management are designed to streamline processes and improve results. They help ensure nothing is forgotten and every team member knows what they’re responsible for.
Here are some popular options to check out:
1. Trello
Manage projects as a team with this Kanban-board-style software program. Trello allows you to set up project boards, assign tasks, and automate tedious tasks.
Pricing: Free option plus multiple tiers between $5.00-$17.50/month.
2. ClickUp
An all-in-one project management tool, ClickUp allows teams to manage tasks, produce content, and streamline communications all in one app.
Pricing: Free option plus multiple tiers between $7.00-$12.00/month.
3. Asana
Track and manage tasks and projects with Asana. You can organize workflows in a variety of ways including calendars, Gantt charts, lists, and boards so it can meet your team’s unique needs.
Pricing: Free option plus multiple tiers from $10.99-$24.99/month.
Communication
No matter how small or large your team is, communication is essential. There are a number of communication-focused online tools for small businesses that help you optimize communication and create more efficiencies.
Here are some platforms to consider:
1. Slack
Designed for small and large teams to communicate more effectively. This cloud-based instant messaging platform helps elevate daily communications and makes it more effective, secure, and organized than email. Desktop, browser, and mobile app versions are available.
Pricing: Free option plus multiple tiers between $7.25-$12.50/month.
2. Zoom
Level up remote communications with the video conferencing software Zoom. Mobile and desktop options are available, and Zoom has the capabilities to record meetings, make annotations, engage attendees with polls, and more features.
Pricing: Free option plus multiple tiers between $149.90-$250.00 per user on an annual basis.
3. Microsoft Teams
Part of the Microsoft 365 family of products, Teams is designed to offer efficient communication services for professional teams. This includes chat and video conferencing, file storage, and application integration.
Pricing: Free option plus multiple tiers between $4.00/user per month to $12.50/user per month.
Design and Content Creation
In our digital world, content creation is a key component of any company’s marketing or communications strategy. Utilizing an online tool or platform can help improve quality and create better content.
Here are a few options to try:
1. Canva
Created to make graphic design accessible to the average person, Canva has thousands of templates to create social media posts, presentations, posters, logos, and more.
Pricing: Free option or Canva Pro at $14.99/month.
2. Grammarly
Let your written content shine with Grammarly, an AI-powered writing assistant. Available as a web browser plug-in, Grammarly will check all of your written content for accuracy, clarity, and quality.
Pricing: Free option or paid versions available starting at $12.50/user per month.
3. Lumen5
Video creation made easy by the help of this AI-powered tool. It can automatically turn blog posts into videos or zoom recordings into clips with a few simple clicks.
Pricing: Multiple tiers between $29.00-$199.00/month.
Marketing and Social Media
In a competitive business landscape, marketing is key for success. Luckily, there are online tools for small business owners that make the process easier.
Here are a few popular choices:
1. HubSpot
Elevate marketing efforts with HubSpot’s comprehensive tools. They offer a CRM (customer relationship manager), email marketing platform, and automation features to nurture leads and manage customer interactions.
Pricing: Multiple tiers between $45.00-$4,000/month.
2. Hootsuite
This social media management platform is ideal for users working across multiple platforms or with different clients. It allows you to plan, create, and schedule posts and offers analytics about performance.
Pricing: Multiple tiers between $99.00-$249.00/month.
3. Sendible
Sendible is another social media platform that offers scheduling, analytics, and reporting tools to attract new customers and grow your audience to reach goals.
Pricing: Multiple tiers between $29.00-$750.00/month.
Accounting and Invoicing
Getting your finances in order is key to success. So, small business owners should invest in the right online tools to help make that a reality.
Here are reliable options to review:
1. FreshBooks
Simplify accounting processes with Freshbooks’ user-friendly interface. It caters to the invoicing and financial needs of small businesses with expense tracking, invoicing, payment reconciliation and more. It is a web-based software that can be accessed on desktops or mobile devices.
Pricing: Multiple tiers between $22.00-$60.00/month.
2. Square
Aimed at small and mid-size businesses, Square is a Point-of-Sale (POS) app that allows you to accept payments from a mobile device or tablet. It also has appointment-booking features and other financial tracking services.
Pricing: Free option and other pricing options starting at $35.00/month
3. Xero
As an all-in-one accounting software, Xero allows you to record payments, reconcile bank transactions, and gain smart data and insights to make business decisions.
Pricing: Multiple tiers between $15.00-$78.00/month
Customer Support
What’s a business without its clients? Leveraging customer-related online tools for small businesses is especially important if you have a small team or aren’t able to hire customer support staff.
Here are a few platforms to explore:
1. Zendesk
With Zendesk’s suite of versatile tools, you can upgrade your customer service operations. They offer ticketing systems, live chats, texting services, email and phone support, and more.
Pricing: Service- or sales-based subscriptions start at $19.00/month.
2. Freshdesk
Offer personalized customer service with Freshdesk’s suite of services. The platform allows you to manage, prioritize, and resolve support tickets with agents that focus on the right issues and move quickly.
Pricing: Free option or multiple tiers between $15.00-$79.00/month.
3. Zoho Desk
Zoho Desk integrates applications like CRM, email, financial records, help desk, and more to streamline operations. Their all-in-one services are designed to break down silos between departments and increase efficiency.
Pricing: Multiple tiers between $20.00-$50.00/month.
Productivity and Organization
Organization is much easier when you employ the help of an online tool or system. They are designed to be your “second brain” and ensure you’re not losing track of anything.
Here are some options to visit:
1. Calendly
Make scheduling easy with Calendly, an automated platform that eliminates back-and-forth emails and simplifies the process of managing your calendar.
Pricing: Free option or multiple tiers between $10.00-$16.00/month.
2. Shift
Shift streamlines your applications, websites, and software so you don’t have to constantly log out and switch between accounts. Instead, everything is connected and located in one place to manage workflow with focus and intention.
Pricing: Free option or an advanced version for $149.00/year.
3. Evernote
Keep everything organized and on-track with this powerful notes app. Evernote allows you to keep your notes, tasks, and schedule in one place and stores important memos, images, documents, and more.
Pricing: Free option and personal or professional plans starting at $12.00/month.
There you have it—21 amazing online tools for small business owners to take their operations to the next level. Finding the right tools ensures you’re optimizing the efficiency and effectiveness of your daily business to reach company goals.
If you’re looking for a workplace that also optimizes your efficiency and effectiveness as a small business owner, book a tour of your local Launch Workplace today.
