Running a small business is never easy. It requires a great deal of commitment and funds to finance your big dreams. Not many entrepreneurs have a safety net that they can turn to. Since most small business owners have a tight budget, they cannot afford to hire specialists to help with tasks. If you are a small business owner, this post is just for you. It shares the top 12 tools that will allow you to reach new heights.
1. SurveyGizmo
The secret to small business success is knowledge of what your customer base wants. To learn more about your customer base, SurveyGizmo is an online survey tool that you can utilize for boosting your customer knowledge.
There are free plans which do not have any limit on the number of responses, questions, and surveys you manage. For information about more Free Survey Maker tools, this article provides a lot of good options.
2. Wix
Small businesses need to utilize the power of the internet by creating a website. If your business does not have a website, you are missing out on potential sales. To create a basic website for free, you should use Wix. It is an amazing website builder that offers a free account.
Use Wix to create a mobile-friendly and full-featured website in record time without hitting the bank. Once you have used the free plan, it is up to use their web hosting services.
3. Cyber Ghost
One of the biggest mistakes that small businesses make is not paying attention to data security. To secure all your data, it is crucial to use a VPN (Virtual Private Network). This is where Cyber Ghost comes into place. It is the ultimate VPN that will provide your small business with much-needed protection for free. It does not get better than this.
4. Avast
Keeping in view of the above point, you need more than just a VPN to protect your system. To ensure endpoint protection, you should use Avast. It is a must-have free tool for small businesses. Use the tool to keep your system safe from viruses and hackers. You can either opt for their free endpoint protection service or the premium version for increased protection.
5. Wrike
Become a project management pro with Write. It is another must-have free tool for small businesses. You can use the free version (for up to 5 users) or opt for the premium solution to benefit from unlimited collaboration between users. Use this amazing tool to share files, manage tasks, and monitor the activities of your team.
6. Zoho Recruit
Take your small business to the next level with Zoho Recruit. It is a tool that can be used for applicant tracking. Use Zoho Recruit to access one recruiter and post up to five positions. It provides you with control over inputs, publishing, and tracking of jobs. Remember, to grow your small business, you need the right talent. With Zoho Recruit, it is possible to hire experienced and passionate employees who will help the business succeed. Pro tip: A good Zoho consulting partner can ease the tedious setup and help you integrate Zoho into your business workflow.
7. Deputy
Finding the right candidate is just not enough. You also need to track their progress. Hence, you have to give Deputy a try. It is the perfect HR management tool that every small business needs to use. Although one has to pay a dollar for each employee every month, it is well worth the cost.
Deputy allows businesses to make company announcements, manage tasks, and schedule employee shifts. Take advantage of this easy-to-use tool to manage your team with just a tap on the screen.
8. Wave
If you do not have the funds to hire a professional accountant, you can make use of Wave to get all your accounting work done. Use the tool to ensure that your books are balanced at all times. The free version of Wave still offers accounting and reports functionality. You can use it to not only create invoices but also scan them and more.
9. Equity Net
Poor business planning is the number cause of small businesses failing. To focus on business planning, you need to use Equity Net. It is the perfect tool to lure investors. Utilize this free crowdfunding platform for planning, analyzing, and sharing your business plan with potential investors.
Share your pitch with others for a chance to get noticed and receive funds with Equity Net. It might seem more like a funding tool than a proper planning tool. However, it assists with the initial ideation stages.
10. Hoot Suite
Make the most of social media with Hoot Suite. It is an amazing social media listening tool that small businesses need to use if they want to compete with bigger brands and make a name of their own. We live in a highly competitive world where it is crucial to know exactly what the latest trends are and what customers want.
Hoot Suite provides a free easy-to-use dashboard that allows you to stay in the know about what your customers are saying about your business and more. This free tool lets you interact with followers, schedule posts, and manage multiple social networks.
11. Mail Chimp
Email marketing is extremely important. To get it right, you should use Mail Chimp. It is easily one of the best email marketing platforms out there. Use the Forever Free Plan if you intend to send less than 12,000 email messages a month to under 2,000 subscribers.
Mail Chimp lets you utilize the built-in signup forms for gathering all your subscribers across all platforms. Then, you can use the drag and drop designer for crafting the perfect email.
12. Tableau Public
Finally, you should download Tableau Public to take care of all your data visualization needs. This tool provides you with access to responsive visuals that help boost engagement. Create the ultimate visuals and share them on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn with Tableau Public.
Keeping in mind the recent unprecedented events, we have only added the best free tools for small businesses in this post. All these tools offer great value to small businesses. When you use these tools, the chances for your business succeeding will rise significantly.
Have you used any of these tools for your business? Do share your experiences with us.
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