Work smarter, not harder with these tools to help you run your small business, solo style.
Being a solo small business owner can often be tough. With so many tasks and responsibilities, it can feel like the weight of the world – and the success of your business – is on your shoulders alone. Even the most organised and passionate person might feel a little overwhelmed as your business grows and suddenly, those daily tasks grow arms and legs. You might just find yourself hoping for a helping hand. This is where handy tools can come into play. From image editors, social media schedulers, visual management boards, and more, there are plenty of great resources to help you free up some of your time.
Ready to discover your new go-to tools? Let’s get into it and take some weight off your shoulders, so you can concentrate on growing.
Types of tools that can help save time
Canva
Running your own business often means you need to be creative. From creating your brand look to making your own website or flyers, having a creative mind will come in super handy. However, if this is a trait you find yourself lacking, there are plenty of platforms that can help fill that gap in your skillset.
Available for free, or as part of a premium plan, Canva is your go-to creation hub. Used by many brands, Canva can be used for anything from designing a logo, creating infographics, product shots, and more. Use their tools to create some templates you can use across social media or banners for your website or newsletter – the possibilities within Canva are endless. There’s a reason it’s so loved among its users!
Moreover, Canva is extremely user-friendly, so even the most novice graphic designers can get to grips with its features - which now include many AI apps and tools to help you craft eye-catching and polished content for your small business. Check out Canva here and get started on building out your brand and getting the word out about your business.
Trello
If you’re struggling to keep on top of your daily to-do list or letting deadlines pass you by due to poor organisation skills, Trello has you covered. By creating visually appealing boards, set up in any way you wish, you can manage your tasks more efficiently and group them into dates, projects or anything you’d like.
The free version is an excellent option for those starting out, so make sure you pin that Trello tab in your browser – you'll likely end up using it most days! Visit their site and give it a try here.
Wave
When you’re first starting out with your small business, or running it solo, keeping on top of finances can be difficult. Luckily, there are tools out there to help you out – introducing Wave! A free, cloud-based accountant software, Wave can be your go-to for invoicing, receipt scanning and even payroll when it comes. Think of it like your digital accountant! Designed for small businesses and budding entrepreneurs, the interface is popular for its ease-of-use and cloud accessibility – allowing you to manage on the go!
Although Wave offer paid features, their free to use features are a great place to start. Check out their website here and get all your financial ducks in a row from day one of launching your small business.
Calendly
Meetings, appointments, networking events and more, your calendar is sure to fill up - but are you keeping it organised? If you’re struggling with planning meetings or even just want to simplify the process, Calendly has you covered. Cutting out the often-time-consuming back and forth via email to find a meeting time that suits everyone, this software allows you to share your calendar via a link to tighten up the process. Their free plan offers many features that will help keep your calendar in tip-top shape. Find out more about Calendly on their website.
PayPal.me
You’ll need a PayPal account for this one, but it's likely you already have one set up. PayPal.Me provides you with a link that you can then use to request payments, or send, to your contacts. Not only does this take the sting out of transferring funds but allows you to manage your finances without the need for a business bank account. If you’re just starting out, this tool is a great one to have in your back pocket. Please note that transaction fees may apply. You can find out more about PayPal.me here and sign up for an account if needed.
Hootsuite
With a staggering 18 million users worldwide, Hootsuite is the most well-loved and used social media management tool out there today. Established way back in 2008. The company has had a lot of experience helping small business (and businesses of all sizes) schedule, create, and monitor social media content.
For your small business, utilising Hootsuite’s features could save you time in your working week and also help you identify patterns in your content with its reporting function. You can also reply to your interactions straight from the website or app – super handy! Check out their features and plans (there’s a free version too) on their website here.
Mailchimp
Getting the word out about your business is crucial when growing your brand. However, it doesn’t have to take up loads of your time! Sending out a newsletter is an easy way to directly reach your customers with any business updates, offers and news. Not sure how to create or send your own newsletters? Not a problem – this is where Mailchimp comes in.
Widely used, Mailchimp is the go-to for email marketing. Using their easy-to-use builder, you can create (alongside your new Canva capabilities) attractive and professional emails that you can send directly to your newsletter subscribers. From there, dive into the analytics to see which content resonates with your audience, giving you insights and learnings to better shape the content your customers want to see.
For small businesses, their free plan is perfect for smaller audiences, but the paid version offers more features such as automation and advanced analytics. Find out more about Mailchimp and what they can offer on their website.
Are you ready to get growing?
Ta-da! Now you’ve got the right tools in your proverbial small-business belt, you can concentrate fully on your products, services and the bigger picture. As small business owners, your time is one of your most valuable assets, so get stuck into these tools and see which ones work best for you! Not only filling any gaps in your own skillset, but helping to get your business not only growing, but thriving.