Popular business software can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars, especially if you need multiple licenses to install it on more than one computer. For many small businesses with tight budgets, that kind of spending is just out of the question. The good news is, paid software isn’t the only game in town. There are tons of awesome tools available online that small businesses can use for FREE. Here are our favorites:
Google Apps – With Google Docs, you can create, edit and share documents, spreadsheets, forms and presentations to anybody with a link, which makes real-time collaboration easy. Google Drive gives you 15 GB of free cloud storage and unlimited space for all photos and videos taken with your mobile device. The best part is that all the files you or your team create on Google Docs won’t count against your free storage. These features come free with a Gmail account or when you purchase Gmail for Work.
Evernote – Take notes, make lists, take notes with pictures, write down ideas and share it with your whole team. Evernote has a free option that makes staying organized easy. It automatically syncs across all your devices, so you’ll never miss a thing. Don’t like Evernote? You can also try Wunderlist or Google Keep, which have similar features.
Canva – If you don’t have a web designer on the payroll, you can become one with this free online design tool. Even if you don’t know much about design principles, the many templates on Canva will help you create anything, from brochures to CD covers to social media images.
Sendgrid- Email is one of the most popular ways that companies stay in touch with their prospects and customers, but email marketing programs can get pricey. Just because you’re a small business, doesn’t mean you need to sacrifice this popular form of communication. Sendgrid allows you to send 12,000 emails a month for free, with affordable options if you need to increase the number.
Manager.io – Every small business needs some sort of accounting software to keep track of where the money is going. Manager.io is packed with features such as cash management, general ledger, accounts payable and a whole lot more.
Buffer – Does your business rely heavily on social media? Managing several social media accounts can be a daunting task, and Buffer is here to help you do just that. The free option gives you 10 scheduled posts per profile, which is enough if you’re just starting out, plus access to Pablo, their free online image editing tool specifically made for social media. Buffer is one of many free social media management tools, you can also try Hootsuite or SocialOomph.
Trello – If task assignments are giving you a headache, try Trello and organize anything with anyone. Trello organizes all your tasks and projects into one board using cards, so you and your team can have a visual of what needs to be done asap and what can wait. If Trello isn’t right for you, give Asana a try.
FreeLogoServices – A logo is an essential part of any business, big or small. It’s a way for customers to recognize you and to show that you are a professional, legitimate business. Creating a custom logo can be time consuming and expensive, but the tools at FreeLogoServices.com allow you to create and customize a logo in minutes. There are also tools that allow you to easily design business cards and promotional products with that logo and order through the site.
When it comes to software that can help your business, you don’t need to shell out thousands of dollars because some of the best ones are totally free. These free tools are all cloud based (except for Manager.io), so there’s nothing to install and there’s nothing that will take up space on your computer.
