Running a small business is not as easy as it seems. Like medium-sized and large-scale companies, small business management also involves complex processes. Daily operations can be particularly challenging since small business owners like you typically have a limited team. Some even manage their companies on their own.
The complex operations can be overwhelming whether you have a small-scale staff or manage your company alone. Fortunately, digital management apps for small businesses can ease your and your team’s tasks and responsibilities.
The market offers various small business management apps. But which ones are worth investing in to manage your daily operations?
Defining Small Business Apps
Small business apps are management solutions that facilitate your daily operations. These platforms offer specific small business management services or combine some into one package or plan.
Since small business management involves coordinating all aspects of your business, you often overlook every process—from managing staff and suppliers to bookkeeping finances and implementing marketing campaigns. This is why apps for small companies aim to enhance efficiency and productivity in performing these tasks.
The Importance of Using Apps for Small Businesses
Apps for small businesses can bring benefits beyond efficiency and productivity. Here are the reasons to use management platforms to manage your small-scale processes:
Simplify and streamline daily operations
Small business employees typically work at capacity by handling various tasks. For instance, someone who manages your accounting and finances may also work in marketing management if they’re knowledgeable about it. Thus, they handle different responsibilities simultaneously.
No small business owner wants to keep their staff idle. But you don’t want to overwork them, either. Overworking may lead to burnout and a loss of interest, affecting employee engagement and productivity. This is why small business management apps simplify and streamline operations to avoid overloading employees.
The proper management software can optimize repetitive tasks and processes, so you and your staff can focus on more significant business growth projects.
Boost conversions faster and more efficiently
Small businesses thrive on active conversions. Driving more conversions involves lead generation that nurtures potential leads’ interests to convert them into clients or customers.
However, it’s not that simple. Just because a potential lead visited your website or social media profile doesn’t mean you’ll instantly convert them into customers.
For large businesses, lead generation can be complex and time-consuming. If this is the case for well-established companies, it can even be more challenging for small business owners like you.
A small business app for lead generation can help ease the process and boost conversions faster and more efficiently. This platform integrates marketing tactics—website optimization, social media management, or email marketing—that enable you to reach more prospects and foster their interest.
Better customer relationship management
Customer relationships are paramount to customer retention. When you have a strong relationship with your customers, they’re more likely to engage with your brand and recommend you to their loved ones. Therefore, you must deliver optimal customer engagement and after-sales support to ensure retention and loyalty.
A customer relationship management (CRM) app for small businesses can provide these services. This solution enables you to track customer preferences and monitor performance.
It also features an after-sales support service that maintains real-time records of contacts and addresses to resolve potential issues as fast as possible.
Suppose a customer encounters issues with one of your products and wishes to contact you on social media. A CRM solution will provide integrations that enable you to respond and address their concerns immediately.
More straightforward payment processing
Payment processing is important to your business. You want to ensure customers can receive invoices and send payments on time. Concurrently, financial bookkeeping of these payments and your expenses is also necessary. These processes can be time-consuming if you do them manually.
Many apps for small businesses concentrate on providing more straightforward point-of-sale (POS system) and payment processing. Their integrations enable you to send invoices, receive payments, and track financial expenses seamlessly. This way, you maintain a comprehensive record of transaction histories and allocate your business funds to various projects wisely.
The Best Apps for Small Businesses Based on Their Specialized Service
With many small business management apps available, finding the right one can be confusing. To help you out, we’ve compiled a list of the best solutions based on their specialized services below.
1. Project Management: Trello
Trello is a project management app for small businesses that uses a Kanban-style approach. Kanban—a Japanese term—means “sign” or “visual board.” It is a workflow management method that visualizes tasks to maximize efficiency.
This app has a straightforward drag-and-drop interface that can quickly facilitate your operations. You can create new boards from scratch or choose a template for a specific purpose.
In Trello, each Kanban board has standard formats: backlogs, in-progress, and completed tasks. Moreover, you can customize these boards with collaboration tools to be creative. Some customizable designs include checklists, custom fields, comments, attachments, images, and due dates.
Trello is accessible on browsers, Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS devices and offers free and paid plans.
2. Collaboration and Communication: Slack
Slack is a user-friendly communication and collaboration app ideal for small businesses. Rather than sending multiple emails, this platform lets you send direct messages to each staff member and different group channels. Consequently, your staff can quickly reply because it is accessible on mobile devices.
This platform has a “Threads” integration in each conversation, so you and your team can be in tune with the relevant discussions. Its search feature makes it easier for you to find information on whichever channel it is on.
Furthermore, Slack provides drag-and-drop file sharing, video calls, and “Huddles” that enable real-time audio-based co-working. However, these features come at a price. A free version is available if you’re on a budget.
3. Accounting and Finance: Zoho Books
Zoho Books is among the most comprehensive accounting apps on the market. It provides basic financial bookkeeping, including sending invoices, expense tracking, and generating financial reports. It also delivers a dashboard with real-time updates regarding your finances.
The free plan allows you to import bank and credit reports, manage clients, create invoices, and track expenses. The Standard, Professional, Premium, Elite, and Ultimate plans offer advanced features like time tracking and project accounting. These services also include forecasting and data analytics.
4. Billings and Payments: Square Payments
Square Payments is a straightforward payment management app for small businesses. This billing and payment solution’s free version has no monthly fees—just pay the required processing fee with additional cents for every transaction. It is simple and doesn’t require training to get started.
This software is excellent for small businesses expanding their sales beyond physical locations. It integrates with Facebook and Instagram, allowing you to manage your business from one database.
Square Payments also has Plus, Premium, and Custom plans. The Custom allows you to mix and match services tailored to your operations.
5. Customer Relationship Management: Salesforce
Salesforce is an app for small businesses with comprehensive CRM integrations. This solution enables you to manage your contacts, customers, leads, and opportunities. It also provides an interactive dashboard with real-time updates.
Take advantage of Salesforce’s 14-day free trial to test its features. It has four plans: Essentials, Professional, Enterprise, and Unlimited. Moreover, it offers add-ons to extend your functionality, making it an ideal option for businesses who wish to stick with one CRM platform for business growth.
Grow Your Small Business With the Right Management Solutions
Small business management apps are not identical. Before choosing one, you should determine your goals and assess different options. This way, you can expand your small business with a management solution that guarantees efficiency and long-term success.
