So, if you’re a new business owner, heck, even if you’re like me and are trying to scrimp and save for a trip abroad and trying to get some freelance work, managing invoices and so and so forth then I hope to the heavens above that this post will help you in some way.
I mean, there’s a never-ending stream of apps and business apps out there aimed at small business owners and freelancers who are like you and I; managing life, free time, work and so on but of course, no matter what it is you’re doing, if you get an email that’s work related, you look at it. But that’s not what you want to spend your free-time doing really, is it? So, as I got fed up with working in my spare time when I’ve finished working (like a Friday or Saturday night) so I’ve tried and tested a few of these apps which I know would also be massively helpful for many small business owners, so I hope you do find some good takeaways from this post.
Wave – Finance
This is a free (to a point) and dead simple to use accounting software platform which is made specifically for people like you and I; small business owners (less than 9 employees), freelancers and independent contractors. It lets you track sales and expenses and manage invoices and customer payments. If you have employees, (I think) it will let you pay them from within the app and many other things I don’t know about.
The Wave app is natively a US app but is easily usable in the UK. You can change the language and things like the date format in the settings and you wouldn’t know that the app isn’t natively a UK app. On top of all these great features, there was some personal finance software added recently which helps you to manage all your finances in one place.
OmniFocus – Time Management
This is a great app that has been recommended to me by a friend to be included as he uses it to manage his two VAs (virtual assistants). OmniFocus is a little pricey though but if it’s something that can help you and your business out, then it’s worth the investment, right?
It’s an app that shows users what’s due and when it’s due and also shows completed tasks, reviews completed tasks and it will easily sync between your phone, tablet and computer.
Trello – Organisation
I love this awesome, awesome app. Trello is a dead simple, easy-to-use project management app that tracks workflow. You create things called cards on a Trello board and these represent assignments or tasks and you can add comments or attachments from Google Drive, Dropbox or your computer to them, as well as adding in checklists, due dates, labels and stickers to make your cards as descriptive as possible.
The app is free to use fir iOS and Android devices but the business version costs $9.99 a month which is no great shakes and if it keeps all your employees connected and on-task, what’s not to love? Plus, Trello is a tool that can be used regardless of the industry that you’re working in. If it’s financial marketing, law, or if you own a coffee shop, 99% of people will find that they have a use for Trello. I mean, I’m a freelancer and I find it incredibly useful but it was mega helpful while I was in Uni too, especially considering it’s free too.
TripIt – Business Travel
If you’re on the move a lot and travelling around all over the place then TripIt is a great way to consolidate all of your travel plans into one master itinerary that you can access at anytime, anywhere and on any device. You forward all of your travel emails to TripIt and the app does the rest for you.
On top of all of this, you can check departure times, delays and even find directions to the airport if you’re in a somewhat alien place or trying to make your way back from an important meeting or conference.
