When it comes to startups, founders have a lot on their plates. It’s not easy to get a brand-new business off the ground, and if you don’t utilize your resources, you might find yourself floundering.
It’s not uncommon for startups to hit a phase where they don’t know where to turn. When you pour so much time and energy into getting your business off the ground, it’s easy to let the clerical stuff fall through the cracks.
Finding and using right tools will be a lifesaver. If your startup needs an organizational makeover, consider these options.
1.FreshBooks
Too many startups fail within the first five years of operation because of poor cash flow management. You need a way to organize your cash flow so it can be used in an optimized way to help your business.
FreshBooks is the perfect tool for that. It’s an online invoicing software that helps you curate and distribute invoices to clients. It makes it easy for clients to pay with convenient links to credit cards or payment portals. If the client doesn’t pay in a timely manner, you can also send automated reminders.
Not only do clients typically pay their invoices twice as fast when you invoice with FreshBooks, but it also keeps your information organized. You can clearly see your incoming cash flow and avoid misspending.
2. OmniFocus
Although OmniFocus is only available for iOS, it’s a super handy tool that helps you get and stay organized. You likely have a lot going on, both personally and professionally, and this tool can help you manage all of your tasks so that you don’t drop any of the balls you’re juggling.
OmniFocus helps you prioritize the most important things first. You’ll set goals and deadlines according to what’s most important, and then work on one thing at a time. It keeps you from feeling overwhelmed and promotes organization.
- Wrike
More and more startups are turning to remote workers to save overhead and labor expenses. When you’re working in a team like this, you need a solid application for collaboration. Wrike should fit the bill.
It’s a typical task management system that helps you organize and assign projects to individual users and groups. It has excellent tracking capabilities, so you can monitor performance and keep track of the time spent on each project.
You can also communicate with team members, so everyone is updated on your progress. Using a system like Wrike is a proactive approach to getting your work done right.
- Dropbox
Dropbox offers a variety of uses in your startup. First and foremost, it’s a way to share files with your team. You can easily upload documents to a specific folder so that any authorized user can access them. It’s a much better way to transfer files than through email.
Dropbox is also a useful tool for saving storage space on your computer. You can set up Dropbox so that you can save Word documents and files from other applications directly to the online platform. The files will be stored securely on the cloud rather than taking up space on your hard drive.
- Evernote
How many times a day do you have a great idea for your business? Sometimes, you’ll remember them or immediately put them into action. Other times, your great ideas will be forgotten as you get wrapped up in other activities.
Evernote is a note taking app that will solve this problem. You can take voice or written notes whenever inspiration strikes. You can also take pictures of notes that you’ve written down, and it will file everything on the app so you can easily find and use your notes whenever you need them.
- Social Oomph
Social media is a key tool for startups. It’s an affordable marketing platform that helps you build real connections with your clients or customers. However, it’s also a difficult beast to master, especially if you don’t have a lot of time.
Social Oomph makes social tasks easier by removing the manual labor. You can automate your posts and engagement on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram, and other platforms.
It also monitors your social profiles, pointing out areas that are performing well and places where you can improve. It might suggest influencers that you can follow and content ideas that can help you beat the competition.
It can be argued that your startup is only as good at the tools you have at your disposal. Don’t try to run your startup without some handy online tools. These six tools, and others, will keep you on the right path and help you master your market.
