Starting a Small Business? Here are 7 of the Best Free Software You Need

Starting a Small Business? Here are 7 of the Best Free Software You Need

Starting a business can be daunting and stressful. You will need to have the right know-how and the capital, to dig deep into your vision to make it a reality. Businesses nowadays are looking to free or online software to cut costs. While it is true that investing in paid applications can be the saving grace for long-term cutting of expenses, there is still top of the line free software for small businesses to use that cuts.

We live in a world where connectivity affords us easier access to software and tools that were not available years ago. With this instant gratification and results, businesses need to keep up with customer demand to stay afloat. If you plan to start a business and want to get ahead of the competition, being streamlined in your systems is one thing you can do. Get reliable software that will work efficiently through different aspects of your business, from inventory to sales management. Visit TEC to learn more about this fantastic software that will support business operations to gain more profit in the future. Or else, here are the best free software, both online and offline, you can use:

Browser-based PDF Editor and Converter: PDFBear

Gone are the days when PDF editing means that you need to have a dedicated, third-party PDF software for all PDF-related functions. Getting one with an annual subscription only makes sense when you deal with PDFs all year-round, but if you don't, online, browser-based editors and converters like PDFBear should be enough.

With PDFBear, you can easily do quick edits with PDFs online, and since it is browser-based, you don't need to have extra storage and RAM to run it properly. PDFBear's suite of applications ranges from tools that teach you how to compress a PDF to password-protection, as well as the merging of documents. Browser-based PDF editors are accessible worldwide, which means you can take your work everywhere and on any device!

Website Builder: Wix

If you are a business and don't have a website, you lose at least half of your potential customers. We live in a world where smartphones are everyone's weapon in searching for solutions to their everyday needs and wants. Having an online presence, especially a dedicated website, means that people will immediately know where you are, what services and products you offer, and how you compare with other providers in your locality.

Wix is your best option for this. A small business only needs a basic website to advertise themselves as legit and existing, and the free account that the website builder offers is more than enough to get you started. It can help you build a mobile-friendly website (which is the most important because of smartphones!) and maintain your website for the rest of the year.

Accounting Software: Wave Accounting

Accounting can be a pain, but it is also one of the most important parts of getting a business system that places responsibility and keeps your transactions in one place. The importance of a sound, built-in accounting system cannot be overstated. So if you don't have the smallest inkling of how to start your business' accounting, use Wave Accounting software instead. It lets you track income and expenses, issue invoices, receipts, and everything else in between.

Email Marketing Software: MailChimp

While there is a big chance that your small business won't need email marketing, having the option, and know-how on how to set this up for your business will be beneficial to you in the long-run. An email marketing software helps create a list of your customers, keep their email information intact and updated, and manage the root of your marketing and promotions. For this, Mailchimp is a champ.

Project Management: Trello

Any small business will need to have project management software to track everything – transactions, project developments, file updates, etc. On top of having a great accounting system, having a project management system lets you track your existing projects, side hustles, and other miscellaneous tasks.

There are a lot of options in this arena. Most are free to sign up but will give you limited resources. Trello, on the other hand, is a top of the line, free, intuitive project management software that you can opt to download or use online. You need a working email to sign up!

Office Suite: GDocs, GSheets, GSlides

An office suite is a necessity no matter what industry you are in. You can be in the food industry, fast fashion, Internet services, even construction, and you'll still be needing a robust and reliable office suite across all departments. Luckily, an office suite these days isn't as expensive as it was compared to a few years back, with even free options for those starting!

When you have a Google account, you will automatically use the other Google suite of online applications. That's why it's important to choose Gmail for your company's emails, provided you don't want a dedicated email address of your own. With a Gmail account, you are getting free GDrive services. As well as the growing collection of online Office suites like GDocs, Gsheets, and slides.

These applications are intuitive and feature-rich enough for basic word processing, spreadsheet needs, and even presentations. Plus, you can collaborate with other people on a document easily, from anywhere in the world. This opens up the possibility of a more versatile and connected workforce, making your business more streamlined.

Grammar Checker: Grammarly

English is the language that the world speaks. That's just how the world works, so you'll need an English grammar checker, especially if you're working with clients abroad. Proper communication is an edge for most small businesses. And to get clients, you'll need to be able to communicate with them in a precise and formal way. Grammarly is the top pick for this, as it improves sentence structuring, corrects basic grammar mistakes. And improves the readability of your proposals.

This free software collection is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to available tools that you can use to start up your business. Being connected means that you can access these wonderful tools, so start with getting a reliable Internet provider first.

Bonus video: How To Calculate Startup Costs

FAQs


How can I start a small business?

1. Direct market research

2. Write your business plan
3. Fund your business
4. Pick your business location
5. Choose a business structure
6. Choose your business name
7. Register your business
8. Get federal and state tax IDs

What is another word for small business?

Small business also called small enterprise.

What is the easiest business to start?

1. Event Planning
2. Gardening and Landscaping Services
3. DJing
4. Painting

5. Yoga Instruction. Image (c) Hero Images / Getty Images
6. Local Tour Guide. Image (c) Zero Creatives / Getty Images
7. Tutoring. Tutor helping one of her students
8. You Don't Need Much Money But You Do Need… The couple running a small gardening business

Thank you for reading!

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