It’s not easy to run and operate a business especially if you don’t have the right set of tools to help you out. Every small business owner should understand the value of small business tools. If you use the best software for small business owners, you can boost your business’s success.
There are tons of software and all of them can help in different aspects of a business. From employee time tracking to payroll management, businesses can maximize efficiency. Although, it isn’t easy to identify which small businesses work well and would add value to your business operations.
To help small business owners, we’ve created this guide of the best software for small business owners.
Top Software for Small Business Owners 2022
1. ADP Workforce Now - HR Management Software
ADP Workforce Now is HR management software with payroll processing, employee record-keeping, employee onboarding, tax filing, benefits management, and analytics functionalities. The software works on a single central database that syncs data from all HR responsibilities.
It offers a scalable payroll tool that improves your workforce, and it also provides real-time employee data for the HR team to make better and more accurate payroll decisions. ADP Workforce Now offers phone, live chat, and email support. The best part is that you can get apps for both Android and iOS.
- Benefits administration outsourcing
- Employee scheduling
- Time tracking
- COBRA administration
- Self-service portal
- Reporting and analytics
2. Forecast - Project Management Software
Forecast is a project management software that comes equipped with resource planning, project budgeting, team collaboration, and other features. The software uses AI to automate business operations and figure out the most profitable projects. In a manner, it is one of the best software for small business owners.
You can use the software to plan project timelines and allocate the number of a resource based on the profitability of a project. Its auto-schedule feature reschedules a project plan when a change request is received from the clients or upper-level management.
It also offers a complete view of the financial performance of projects to analyze overall costs and revenue. Plus, you can identify some of the best-performing projects for small businesses. Plus you get access to email, call, and chat support.
You can use it as a web-based tool or use the mobile app for iOS and Android operating systems.
- Complete project tracking
- Percent complete tracking
- Time tracking
- Cost tracking
- Team collaboration
- Reporting and analytics
3. FreshBooks - Accounting Software
Every business needs an accounting system. If you can’t hire an accounting team, then FreshBooks is one of the best software for small business owners. It automates daily accounting tasks such as invoicing, expense tracking, billable time tracking, and financial reporting. It uses double-entry accounting to distinguish revenue and expenses, thus offering a complete picture of profit and losses.
With FreshBooks, you can send proposals and invoices, manage client retainers, track project timelines, and receive payments. Users get a complete dashboard that includes a summary of recent activities, profit and loss statements, and sales tax reports to simplify financial reporting and analysis for your business.
- Billing and invoices
- Time and expense tracking
- Project management
- Proposal generation
- Profit and loss statement
4. Google Workspace - Best Software for Business Owners
Google Workspace is a team collaboration tool and it’s one of the best software for business owners. Both small businesses and large enterprises can use this tool to their advantage. It’s easy to record meetings, customize business emails, and share files.
You can use the software to make team collaboration in real-time by co-editing Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides. You can also use Google Workspace, you can manage team meetings by making and organizing events on a shared calendar, sending reminders via Gmail, joining video meetings, and more collaborative functionalities.
With Google Workspace, you can chat, call, and email support. It’s a web-based tool and it also has a mobile app for iOS and Android.
- Collaborative technology
- Calendar management
- Data syncing
- Drag and drop functionalities
- Data storage management
- Commenting and notes
5. Microsoft 365
Microsoft 365 offers a whole range of collaboration and productivity tools for individuals, teams, and businesses. Microsoft 365 includes Microsoft Teams, MS Office, OneDrive, SharePoint, and Power BI.
The tool allows teammates to collaborate on projects, share data, and co-edit documents remotely. Plus the instant messaging functionality allows you to stay in touch with your teammates whenever you want.
Microsoft 365 is one of the best software for small business owners, as you can create project-specific mailboxes and keep the discussions and data in one place. Microsoft 365 offers chat, live rep, call, and email support. You get a web-based tool, iOS, and Android app.
- Document management
- Audit trail
- Version control
- Collaboration tools
- Archiving and retention
- Document generation
6. Rippling
Rippling is another HR tool that offers a lot of services to users. You get payroll management, time and attendance tracking, talent management, and professional employer organization. You can use Rippling to combine data from all types of employee systems to update paid time off. It also covers a whole range of employee benefits, including health insurance, referrals, and travel.
Rippling also allows businesses to publish new job positions on several job portals. HR can customize the interview stages based on position, department, and business type. Rippling offers email, chat, and phone support. You get a mobile app for iOS and Android devices.
- Employee management
- Employee profits
- HR Metrics library
- Workflow management
- Timesheet management
7. Salesforce Sales Cloud
Salesforce Sales Cloud is a cloud-based tool that offers tons of services. The services include lead management, marketing automation, and contact management. The sales automation feature allows you to set sales quotas, forecast sales, manage territories, and plan or upgrade sales strategies.
You can use Salesforce cloud to make educated data-driven predictions about the future. It is easy for business owners to track the entire sales pipeline using a central dashboard. Plus, the super easy drag and drop functionality can help you add elements such as filters, fields, groups, charts, and more.
- Campaign management
- Content management
- Automation functionalities
- Sales forecasting
- Lead management
- Pipeline management
8. Trello
Trello is another collaboration tool and it's a great software for business owners. Trello lists include to-do lists, in-progress, and completed tasks. The data is displayed on a centralized dashboard to support real-time productivity analysis.
One of the best things about Trello is its no-code automation feature that automates repetitive tasks, including scheduling tasks, and updates about upcoming deadlines. Plus, you get Trello cards that allow team members to collaborate on a project, add comments, provide suggestions, use automation, and add documents.
- Project tracking
- Project management
- Campaign management
- Marketing automation
- Collaboration tools
- Client management
9. QuickBooks Online
QuickBooks Online is a cloud accounting solution that allows businesses with bookkeeping, payroll management, invoicing, expense tracking, financial reporting, and tax management. You get access to a cash flow dashboard where you can view financial data in depth.
QuickBooks is an amazing software for small business owners. With the tool, your accounting team can generate trading, profit/loss statements, and even more. It is easy to generate custom balance sheet reports to analyze accounts receivable and payables.
You can create custom invoices with QuickBooks Online, plus you can automate recurring payments to maximize efficiency.
- Accounting functionality
- Expense management
- Time tracking
- Automation functionalities
10. Pipedrive
Pipedrive is a lesser-known cloud-based CRM tool that helps you monitor the sales pipeline and the progress of every deal. You can even customize pipelines as per your sales cycle, and you can rely on advanced filters to view progress.
The software provides sales reporting for tracking individual and team goals. Its automation feature allows you to automate any type of sales process. You can auto-nurture leads at possibly every stage of the customer’s buying journey by sending follow-up emails and relevant resources.
- CRM
- Predictive analysis
- Email marketing
- Workflow management
- Campaign management