Starting a new business is not for the weak. It requires an enormous amount of dedication and willpower, in addition to proper thorough research to make sure your business idea is optimal, required in the market you are located in, and will be here in the long run.
In this article, we collected the 10 most essential tools every new business needs no matter what industry you plan to partake in. Most of these tools are free as a start and to unlock certain premium features payments will be required, however, as a start, you can benefit from the free features until your business is up and running and you can afford multiple tool subscriptions.
Starting a business can be overwhelming, but having the right tools can make a big difference in your success. From project management tools to keep your team organized and on track, to communication tools to stay connected with your team and clients, to accounting tools to manage your finances and not to forget marketing tools to promote your business and reach your target audience, these tools are to go for!
Here are the 10 most essential tools for new business owners:
1. Google Workspace
The very first thing you need to get settled would be managing Google accounts for you and your team to be able to use the highly supportive features that Google provides for businesses.
Google Workspace is a collection of cloud computing, productivity, and collaboration tools and products. You can use Google Workspace to:
- Create and share documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and forms with your team
- Manage a professional email address with your own domain name which can help you establish credibility and build trust with your clients/customers.
- Schedule Meetings on your calendar
- Store files securely in the cloud.
In addition, Google Workspace allows you to work on your projects collaboratively, in real-time, with your team members, no matter where they are located. You can also customize your Google Workspace by adding third-party apps and integrations that can help you automate your workflows and increase productivity.
Overall, Google Workspace is a powerful tool that every business should acquire as it will help you streamline your business operations, improve communication, and boost productivity.
Competitor comparison:
Zoom is usually the alternative option to Google Meet; however, Google Meet is best for small organizations and individuals who want a user-friendly video conferencing solution that’s already integrated with Google Workspace.
Zoom is preferable for larger organizations with stricter security expectations that need to accommodate more people and provide hosts with advanced controls.
2. ClickUp
Personally, I do not want to experience my work life without ClickUp. When it comes to project management, it comes in super handy as it is a productivity platform that helps teams organize and manage tasks, projects, and workflows.
It offers a wide range of features and tools that enable users to collaborate, communicate, and stay on top of their work, no matter how complex or challenging it may be and it will help you to ensure that tasks are completed on time and that everyone is on the same page.
With ClickUp, you can:
- Create tasks and subtasks, assign them to team members, set due dates and priorities, and track their progress in real-time.
- Collaborate with your team members easily. You can share files, comments, and ideas in one place, which can help to improve communication and reduce the need for back-and-forth emails.
- Streamline your workflows and automate repetitive tasks. You can use templates to save time and ensure consistency across your projects, as well as to automate recurring tasks and workflows.
- Utilize a variety of views and layouts, such as lists, boards, timelines, and calendars, that can help you visualize your work and manage it in a way that suits your preferences and needs.
- Customize your ClickUp workspace by adding integrations, widgets, and apps that can enhance your productivity and efficiency.
ClickUp is a resourceful, versatile, and user-friendly tool that will help you and your team stay organized, focused, and productive, whether you’re working on a small project or a large-scale initiative.
Competitor comparison:
Trello is the most common competitor to ClickUp. ClickUp is more flexible and customizable than Trello and it offers more advanced workflow automation capabilities. It also allows you to build custom dashboards and easily track relevant metrics and performance indicators. ClickUp is more affordable than Trello, which charges extra fees for some of the features.
Another competitor is Monday. It offers many of the same features, and they both offer integrations to increase the capabilities of each service. Your choice for an optimal project management tool should depend on the size of your organization. For larger organizations, Monday is best, while ClickUp is best for solo or small companies/teams.
3. HubSpot CRM
HubSpot CRM is a customer relationship management software that helps businesses to manage their contacts, sales, marketing, customer service, and analytics in one place. It is a free, cloud-based tool that will provide your business with a 360-degree view of their customers, allowing them to track interactions, deals, tasks, and more.
Some of the features of HubSpot CRM include:
- Contact management, deal tracking, lead generation, email marketing, social media management, marketing automation, and customer service.
- Streamlining your sales and marketing processes, automate tasks, and improve customer engagement and satisfaction
- Integrations with other tools such as Salesforce, Gmail, Outlook, and more.
It is a great tool for small businesses, startups, and anyone looking for a simple, yet powerful CRM tool to manage their customer interactions and grow their business.
Competitor comparison
Zoho CRM and Salesforce are the most common HubSpot competitors. HubSpot offers a free plan for basic CRM needs while Salesforce does not.
As for Zoho CRM, it is considerably more budget-friendly than HubSpot, however, HubSpot offers more built-in marketing features that make its higher price tag worth it for some businesses.
4. SEMrush
Marketing is one of the most essential aspects that all fresh entrepreneurs should focus on as it helps new businesses get noticed in a crowded marketplace. It’s the way to introduce your brand, products, or services to potential customers.
Utilizing SEMrush will be of huge help as it is an all-in-one digital marketing tool that can help you improve your online visibility, attract more traffic to your website, and increase your revenue. It offers a wide range of features and tools that enable you to analyze your competitors, track your rankings, and optimize your content for search engines.
With SEMrush, you can:
- Conduct keyword research, analyze backlinks, track social media metrics, and generate reports that can help you make data-driven decisions about your marketing strategy.
- Monitor your brand reputation online, identify new growth opportunities, and stay up-to-date with the latest trends in your industry.
- Understand your target audience, improve your online presence, and stay ahead of the competition.
Whether you are just starting or looking to grow your business, SEMrush can provide you with the insights and tools you need to succeed in the digital marketplace.
Competitor comparison:
Ahrefs offers a strong set of SEO features at a lower overall price point than Semrush. On the other hand, Semrush offers more features than Ahrefs and a free seven-day trial.
5. Slack
For any team to thrive, they must be well-connected, as communication is key. Slack allows teams to communicate and collaborate in real-time. It offers features such as messaging, file sharing, video and voice calls, and integrations with other tools like Google Drive, Trello, and Asana.
It allows you to streamline communication and improve collaboration among team members. It also allows you to create channels for specific projects or topics, which can help keep conversations organized and easily accessible. You can also integrate Slack with other business tools, which can help automate certain processes and save time.
Competitor comparison:
Chanty is a Slack competitor. The main differences between Chanty and Slack are that Chanty has more affordable pricing (with an unlimited message history even in the free plan), but Slack offers more advanced customization options and more security options.
6. QuickBooks
QuickBooks is an accounting software that can help you manage your finances and keep track of your income and expenses. It is a popular option for new businesses because it is user-friendly and offers a range of features to help you stay on top of your finances.
With QuickBooks, you can create and send invoices to your customers, track your expenses, manage your bank accounts, and generate financial reports. It also offers features like inventory management, time tracking, and project tracking that can help you manage your business operations more efficiently.
In addition, QuickBooks offers integrations with other business applications like payment gateways, CRM tools, and project management software, which can help you streamline your business operations and improve your productivity.
Competitor comparison:
Xero is a common competitor; it is ideal for businesses that keep a team of bookkeepers or accountants in-house. QuickBooks offers a more intuitive interface than Xero. This is because QuickBooks was designed for small businesses that might not have an accounting background, whereas Xero was designed with accountants and bookkeepers in mind.
7. Wix
For you to start marketing for your business, you will at some point need to create a website for your business for your customers/clients to find you and use your service/utilize your products.
Wix is a cloud-based website builder that allows users to create professional-looking websites without needing to code. It offers a drag-and-drop interface, making it easy for businesses to design and customize their websites according to their needs. Here’s how Wix can be beneficial to your new business:
- Ease of Use
- Ability of customization
- Affordability
- Scalability
- Mobile-Friendly
Competitor comparison:
In terms of user experience, Wix is more user-friendly and intuitive, while WordPress may require a steeper learning curve but offers more advanced customization options for those willing to invest the time and effort.
8. ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems)
It is recommended for new businesses to obtain an ATS which will allow them to manage their recruitment and hiring processes electronically. ATS systems are designed to streamline the entire hiring process, from receiving and storing resumes to managing job postings, tracking candidate progress, scheduling interviews, and ultimately making job offers.
ATS can certainly be helpful for startups that plan to rapidly grow and need to scale their hiring processes efficiently.
Here are some recommendations for an ATS that would help you in your new business:
- Breezy HR
- Jazz HR
- Recruit CRM
- Greenhouse
- Zoho Recruit
- BambooHR
- Go Hire
9. Canva
Graphic design is a huge part of any marketing team. It is crucial for businesses as it serves as a visual representation of the brand and its offerings. Effective graphic design can create a strong and memorable brand identity, making it easier for customers your customers/clients to recognize and remember your business.
Canva is a web-based graphic design platform that allows users to create a wide range of visual content such as social media graphics, presentations, posters, documents, and other visual content. It provides a user-friendly interface and a vast library of templates, images, and design elements that can be customized to create professional-looking designs.
Using Canva can help you in your new business by enabling you to create eye-catching marketing materials, professional presentations, social media graphics, and other visual content to promote your products or services. It can save you time and money by allowing you to create your own designs without the need for extensive design skills or hiring a professional graphic designer. Canva also offers collaboration features, making it easy to work with team members or external partners on design projects.
Competitor comparison:
According to research, the top Canva competitor is Microsoft PowerPoint. Compared to PowerPoint, Canva allows for more sophisticated designs without being tricky to use.
10. Ovarc
If we are talking tools that would facilitate your way into a successful business, then Ovarc has to be put into consideration.
We are an all-in-one digitalized platform for people operation needs, as we provide multiple services including international expansion, managing incorporation, legalities, assets, and international payments, aiming to simplify business processes and allowing companies to only focus on establishing and growing their business.
You can leave all your people operations needs to us given our expertise in that area. The services we provide include:
You can reach out to us by filling out the form at the following Contact Us page link to have a representative contact you and discuss how we can be of help.
