In the business world, only the strong survive and if you’re a small business owner you may find it tougher than ever to make your business stand out amongst the rest.

Of course, all businesses have to begin somewhere, but one thing we can all agree on is the fact that starting a new business is tough.

Starting a new business is tough, there’s no escaping that, but if you know what you’re doing and have access to the right tools and software, everything will run a heck of a lot smoother.

To help ensure you get your business off on the right foot, here’s a look at some of the most vital must have tools for small businesses.

Forwardly

Accounting software for small businesses is vital, yet finding a reliable piece can be troublesome. For small businesses with slightly more basic accounting needs, ForwardAI Free Accounting Software is perfect.

It has many accounting tools one would need, all condensed into simple to use program.  With Forwardly, users have a variety of different features that will aid them in in the process as well as save a great deal of time.

Google Analytics

Up first we have perhaps the most important tool of all; Google Analytics. Google Analytics is a user-friendly statistics tool for businesses that helps break down the online side of things in regards to your business.

With Google Analytics, users can view percentage differences in traffic drivers, they can see which parts of the world their site has been viewed, they can view key numbers, and so much more, all broken down clearly in a series of graphs and charts so you can get a general overview of your website as a whole.

For example, you can see how many hits your site has received on a specific day, plus you can see where they came from. If you want a general overview of your website, Google Analytics is perfect for you.

Dropbox

For small business owners, DropBox is essential, especially if you are trying to juggle multiple things at once. With DropBox, users can link up virtually between any and all devices connected to the internet, making it perfect for small business owners that are constantly on the go.

Based in the cloud, DropBox allows users to save documents, images, video clips, and more, all onto their specially designed DropBox account, on whichever device they like.

What’s more, not only can they save their things from wherever they like, they can also access them from wherever they want. Also, it is possible to share files and documents with other users, in a matter of seconds.

You can easily organize your documents and folders, making your life that little bit easier and saving you a great deal of time in the process.

Skype

Skype is one of the most popular tools ever created for businesses both large and small, and it continues to improve with each passing year. Skype is perfect because it has literally changed the way we communicate with one another, especially via long distances.

Skype is essentially a video-chatting piece of software that can also be used simply as a phone service if users would prefer. With Skype, users merely call other users on their Skype accounts, and can then chat away for as long as they would like.

Skype allows you to communicate with people anywhere in the world, all the while eliminating extraordinarily high phone charges commonly associated with overseas calls.

However, is not just for chatting, it also allows you to share documents and files even while you’re in the middle of a call. Skype is a very welcome business tool for all businesses, and if you are not yet utilizing it, you are missing out big.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a platform that has revolutionized the way small businesses source talent for their companies. LinkedIn provides business owners with access to a wide range of networks which will allow them to scout for talent, post job vacancies, seek out services/recommendations, and much more besides.

The great thing about LinkedIn is the fact that not only can users access their own specific networks, but they can also access the networks of any existing contacts they may have as well.

This opens up a whole world of possibilities in terms of sourcing talent and posting job advertisements. If you wish to focus on manpower and employee efficiency, LinkedIn is ideal.

WordPress

As a business owner, no matter what size your business may be, there is a very strong chance that you will have seriously considered blogging to help expand your reach and grow your list of prospective customers. WordPress is arguably the most popular hosting platform in the entire world.

There is a free version, and there is also hosted WordPress, so consider which one is best for your needs and goals.

If for example, you plan on really boosting your SEO and using blogging as a means of marketing and advertising your website, the hosted WordPress version may be worth purchasing.

If however, you simply plan on putting up the odd blog post here and there to give your followers something to read now and then, the free WordPress variant may be more to your liking.

There are millions of templates to choose from, plus you can personalize plug-ins and add-ons until you find one that best suits your own specific site layout and requirement.

Put very simply, if you plan on hosting a blog of any sort, WordPress is a must-have.

Now put these tips into practice and get paid faster today with Forwardly!

Try our FREE cash flow forecasting tool designed for small businesses. Stop wasting time crunching numbers and start forecasting in minutes with Forwardly – all you need to get started is to log into your accounting software. Sign up now for free.

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