When you’re building a startup, every minute counts. And during those first few years, it is often the long hours and late nights that keep you going. But there are many tools along the way which can help your startup succeed. Take this list of must-have apps for startups with you on your next coffee break.
There’s no shortage of must-have apps for startups and small businesses. The trick is figuring out which ones you really need and then installing them on your phone. Though it often seems like there are hundreds of apps to choose from.
Wunderlist
Skip complicated small business management apps. Wunderlist keeps things simple but effective. It’s a to-do list that you can share with your team. It syncs automatically so your employees can see what items are done and which ones are still pending.
The basic version of Wunderlist is free. Wunderlist for Business is $4.99 per user and it lets you delegate tasks to your employees, make subtasks, set deadlines and reminders and add notes.
You probably already use this business networking platform on your computer, but getting the app is really worth it. LinkedIn a powerful marketing tool and with the app, you’re likely to use it more often.
Send updates on the go, add new connections, recruit new hires, follow inspirational companies and people or keep an eye on your competitors.
PicMonkey
This free photo editing app makes it easy for small business owners to have a social media presence. Crop photos for social media platforms like Instagram or edit a picture to put on your website. It’s a great app to help with your small business marketing.
You need absolutely no graphic design experience to edit photos on PicMonkey. It’s an incredibly user-friendly app with features that let you produce professional-looking photos in a flash. Just a heads up: there’s a paid plan for premium features that starts at $4.99 a month.
Evernote
Great for efficiency, this app enables you to organize documents, notes, images, and recordings in one place. It’s especially handy for remote working, as you can jot down notes on the go.
Useful features:
- Share notes with colleagues
- Search for text in handwriting and images
- Drag and drop key documents into a new note
- Make notebooks accessible offline
- Use on Windows, Apple, Android, and iOS
Google Drive
With this free app, you can create and save files online, share them with team members, and access them from any device. That said, it’s best for those who are already using Google Workspace. It is available for iOS, but Android users will find it already integrated.
Useful features:
- Generous free storage
- Invite others to edit or download files
- Offline access available
- Link to other productivity tools
Microsoft OneDrive
This cloud storage app is best for those who already use Microsoft Office. If you have Microsoft 365, you’ll automatically get 1 TB of space per user for free; otherwise, it’s only 5 GB.
Useful features:
- Edit files online without downloading
- Share files with people who don’t have OneDrive
- Integration with Outlook and Windows 10
- Offline access available
- Compatible with Android, iPhone, and iPad
Expensify
Although Expensify serves a more specific purpose than any of the other three small business management apps above, it can play a particularly useful role in organizing your finances.
With Expensify, you can scan receipts and process employee expenses easily and on the go, whether you have an iPhone or Android smartphone. Plus, Expensify can integrate with QuickBooks, Xero, and a variety of other small business apps.
Sortly
The Sortly inventory management app gives you the best of both worlds. Sortly can be used through the web platform, as well as using their mobile small business app on your smartphone or tablet.
With Sortly, you can maintain your catalog with custom notes and tags, look up barcodes, and use the built-in scanner—all as part of the free version of the software. For greater capabilities, you can elect to purchase either of Sortly’s paid plans, which start at $39 per month.
Square
You’ve likely heard of Square, as this POS provider largely changed the world of small business apps—and has improved how businesses process credit card transactions.
This being said, whether you need a full POS system or a simple mobile POS and card swiper, Square is going to be one of your top options. Square offers multiple software and hardware solutions—but for the most basic version, you’ll only pay 2.6% + $0.10 for every in-person payment you accept.
PayPal Here
Another point of sale business app, PayPal Here can process credit cards, checks, and invoices on your phone. Unlike the Square POS app, which offers more expansive features like inventory and order management, PayPal Here provides the simplest and easiest way to accept payments on your phone—and only charges 2.7% per U.S. card swipe.
An important point to note, however, PayPal Here works through your PayPal account, as opposed to your bank account, so you’ll need to make sure you’re synced up properly to use this payments app.
Image source: PayPal
QuickBooks GoPayment
Intuit’s version of Square and PayPal Here, QuickBooks GoPayment lets you swipe a card, scan it with your phone camera, or key-in details to accept payments from customers. With this app, you can also review your analytics data, monitor your best-selling items, and even connect with your Apple Watch.
QuickBooks GoPayment directly integrates with QuickBooks, TurboTax, or Mint—and you only have to pay for payment processing (2.4% + $0.25 for in-person payments and 3.4% + $0.25 for keyed-in payments).
TSheets
For a time tracking app from QuickBooks, you might look into TSheets. TSheets allows you to track time on any device, streamline payroll and invoicing, manage time-off requests, and receive real-time reports.
Plus, TSheets can integrate with other small business apps in addition to QuickBooks—including Sage, Xero, Square, and more. This being said, however, TSheets will require a paid subscription, but plans start at only $20 per month, plus $8 per user per month.
Conclusion
In today’s startup world, you have to have a smart phone and know how to use it. For the last six months I have been reviewing apps for startups and corporate developers who want to start using mobile devices for business. I put together a list of the best apps for startups that will help you get rooted in success – whether you are a new or seasoned entrepreneur – check them out – they are all free.