Favorite Small Business Tools
Taking that entrepreneur leap is scary! There are so many unknowns with the business side of things, and I kept asking myself if I could make this work back in 2019. So many questions ran through my head.
As a small business owner, there are lots of tasks that aren't sexy, and you might find that you dread some of them (one of mine being accounting)! So, after almost three years in business, I wanted to share my favorite small business tools that are helpful, informative, and won't do too much harm to your expenses.
All-in-One Management System
One factor that wasn't in place yet was a system for proposals, contracts, and invoicing. But I knew I had to put something into place that was seamless for myself and my clients, so I decided on Bonsai. Bonsai is my BFF. It makes it simple and easy to view a client project and see it has accounted for all that contracts, invoices, and any forms for that client. My favorite feature is the instant notifications you receive once a file has been viewed, signed, or paid.
Other fun features include task and time management, accounting and taxes, and white-labeling services (for an upgraded plan - which I highly suggest). The white-labeling capabilities allow you to use your brand colors and logos when anything is sent directly from Bonsai to the client. It just makes everything more professional and personalized to your brand.
Try Bonsai today!
Project Management System
Project management and juggling timelines have never been simpler once I started using Asana. As a brand and web designer, it helps me create templates of project timelines that save me time when signing a new client on board. Creating tasks and subtasks when managing a project has never been easier, and my clients love the ease of it as well. It keeps all messages on the platform and out of email (praise be)! Plus, it has a mobile app that makes answering messages on the go easy.
Asana is the ultimate planning, organizing, and managing tool to have in your back pocket as a small business owner, especially when the free version gets the job done.
Instagram + Pinterest Planning
Planning and creating fresh content each week can be daunting as a small business owner. One way to keep everything organized (and aesthetically pleasing) is by using the app, Planoly. Planoly is a game-changing platform that makes scheduling your content effortless. I can quickly move content around, create hashtag groups, find the ideal times to post, and other features that are great for small businesses. And it’s free - which has some limitations. Plus, it’s an Instagram + Pinterest partner - so happy planning!
Try Planoly for free today.
Schedule Meetings + Appointments
After receiving an inquiry, the last thing you want to do is go back and forth in an email chain. Hello Calendly! Having an app that coordinates with your Google calendar provides your potential client with dates and times for them to schedule a call. Calendly sends you and the prospective client an invitation to accept, along with a Google Meet or Zoom Link (depending on what you use) for your business. Ready to try it out? Calendly has a free version, but if you plan to have a range of event types, I suggest upgrading to Premium. Try it today!
As a small business owner, there are always ways I’m looking to save and be smart about the systems I’m using daily. Let’s work smarter, not harder with administrative work. 😉
