7 Apps for Small Business

Blog Layout

7 Apps for Small Business

Alyson Scott • Jun 13, 2021

7 Apps for Small Business Owners

To Make You More Productive and Efficient

As a virtual assistant, I spend my days helping clients get more done in less time. If you’re an

overwhelmed small business owner, you know how precious time is! Here are my favourite 7 apps to

help you be more productive and efficient.

1) Quickbooks

You may already have this, as it's one of the most popular financial apps. With its wide range of features, ease of use, and affordable plans, Quickbooks is a favourite among small business owners, bookkeepers, and accountants.

You can start small, with no big lump sum or lengthy contract, and adjust as your business grows,

upgrading your plan without losing any existing data. You'll find a wide range of features for both new and growing companies, such as income and expense tracking, financial statements, payroll, accounts payable, invoicing and inventory tracking.

The platform is easy to use, intuitive and user-friendly, with videos and tutorials to help you make the

most of all features.

2) Trello

Trello is a visual collaboration tool that helps you get organized! Track projects and to-do lists in a fun and rewarding way.

As you can see in the image, you create lists with cards attached. You can click on cards, move them from one list to another, and prioritize.

3) Asana

Asana is a project management tool to help you organize critical initiatives, projects, and tasks. It's an excellent way for businesses to stay on top of client deliverables, track time spent on projects, and align employees. You can assign team members to different tasks, have group conversations, and add comments.

With both free and paid versions, you can customize a plan to fit your team. It's perfect for larger projects and groups, as all members can quickly see how projects and tasks are dependent on one another.

4) Slack

A messaging app to help you stay connected, Slack is like an online chatroom, meeting space, and

bulletin board rolled into one.

Benefits of Slack:

Real-time communication for quick questions and decisions
Switch from messaging to phone calls and video chats
Share your screen, files, and images securely
Use @ mentions to grab the attention of a specific team member
Set up multiple groups for separate projects

5) WhatsApp

Another messaging app I love is WhatsApp! All you need is access to 3G or WiFi, and you can send free text messages, images, sound files, videos, and documents, and make calls to other WhatsApp users.

It's secure, easy and straightforward, and convenient for international messaging. To kick it up a notch, you can also use WhatsApp Business.

6) WhatsApp Business

WhatsApp Business is geared toward the small business owner, allowing you to create a business

profile, listing your address, description, email and website. It's easy to communicate with clients, and will enable you to show up where your customers are. You can create automated quick replies to save and reuse for frequently sent messages, and use labels to organize contacts and chats.

7) Facebook Business Suite

One task my small business clients all agree is time-consuming and overwhelming is social media

management. Business Suite allows you to manage your business accounts over Facebook, Messenger, and Instagram.

This social media tool allows you to:

Engage with your community
Create and schedule posts
Respond to messages and create automated replies
Manage advertising campaigns
Check and monitor analytics

I get the overwhelm that comes with being a small business owner (I've been one myself for 11 years

years). Entrepreneur burnout is real!

Getting suitable systems and apps in place can make all the difference in your business. Lean on the tools available to you, and reach out for help if you need it - you don’t have to go it alone!

I’d love to hear from you - what apps and tools do you love in your business?

< Older Post Newer Post >

Planning Business Parties: Summer Edition

By Alyson Scott • 26 May, 2023

Everyone enjoys a great business party to kick off the summer season! Do you know how to plan for a business party? Here are the best ways to plan your next business party.

6 Biggest Time Wasters for Entrepreneurs

By Alyson Scott • 26 Jul, 2022

Save Time by Delegating Tasks to a Virtual Assistant. As a small business owner, there aren't enough hours in the day to get everything done! Your time is precious, and not all tasks are created equally. Say goodbye to these top 6 time wasters for entrepreneurs so that you can focus on the most critical areas of your business. 6 Biggest Time Wasters for Entrepreneurs: 1. Meetings. Whether you meet with clients, vendors or employees, prioritize and respect your time. Does it need to be a full meeting, or would a quick call or email do the trick? Look for other, easier ways to communicate. And if you need a face-to-face or virtual meeting, set a boundary beforehand as to how much time you have to dedicate. 2. Online Distractions. Getting swept up in social media, checking your email, or reading texts can be a big distraction and time waster. Setting times to sort through your emails and messages can help you focus on the task at hand. 3. Routine and Repetitive Tasks. Not all tasks are created equally. What jobs can only YOU do in your business, and which tasks can you delegate? Try keeping a list for a week or two, jotting down all the things you do in a day, then look it over and see what tasks are eating up your time that could be passed off. 4. Outdated Tools. Using the right tool for the job can save you time and energy. A few of our favourite tools are Calendly and Acuity for scheduling meetings, Dubsado for customer management, and Mailchimp for email marketing. 5. Lack of Strategy and Systems. Does it feel like you’re spinning your wheels and not making any progress? Creating a strategy for growth with measurable goals will help create a clear direction in your business. While systems and routines help you make the most of your time by ensuring you are as efficient and productive as possible. 6. Overthinking and Second Guessing. One of our biggest time wasters as entrepreneurs (and a significant factor in holding ourselves back!) is second-guessing our actions, overthinking, and not taking chances. Once you’ve done the research, don’t be afraid to jump in! Second-guessing yourself, your choices, and your abilities will only you back. How a Virtual Assistant Can Help Save You Time Take on the repetitive tasks that consume your time and take you away from the work only YOU can do. Set you up with systems and strategies to help run your business as efficiently and effectively as possible. Introduce you to tools and new technologies to help make your life easier. Run interference with clients and vendors, so you only take on the necessary meetings and calls. You didn't become an entrepreneur to work 24/7 – be sure you aren't giving more of your time to your business than you need to. Say no to some of these big time wasters and set yourself up for success! Check out a list of what a Virtual Assistant can do for you! If there’s anything we can do to help you save time (so you can get back to your LIFE), reach out here .

Email Marketing – 5 Things You Need to Be Successful

By Alyson Scott • 24 May, 2022

How does a business owner use email marketing to grow? Here are 5 tips for email marketing to help you build a solid email marketing strategy!

How Much Does a Virtual Assistant Cost?

By Alyson Scott • 03 May, 2022

If business is booming and you’re ready to hire help (but aren’t quite at a point where you need a full-time staff), a VA might be right for you. A virtual business assistant can take time-consuming tasks off your plate, so you can get back to the work you love. At Smart Choice Business Assistance, our experienced VAs handle a multitude of jobs.