The 10 Best Apps for Small Business in 2009
1. Google Apps – its fee to setup and can grow with you as your needs grow. If you need more features the annual fee is fairly reasonable. Email, web workspace, calendaring, and document collaboration all in one. It’s a great alternative to Microsoft Exchange but it doesn’t have all of the features of exchange. Also, if you’d like to integrate with some type of industry specific software package or a CRM, exchange is usually the better way to go if you have 5 or more employees.
2. Simpleology – The Simple Science of Getting What You Want. Talk about a catch phrase, who could argue with the value in that?? Does it work? I think so. Why don’t you try for yourself, after all, its free to setup an account, for now.
3. QuickBooks – Without a doubt it’s the top choice for small businesses when it comes to accounting. With flexibility enough for a solo-entrepreneur and a larger account department, it’s a good choice for small businesses. Not to mention there are quite a few line of business applications that integrate with QuickBooks. Also, if cash flow is something you are watching closely you may want to consider the online version. It’s usually best to consult with professional before you make your final decision. Changing it later can really cost you hundreds and maybe thousands. FreshBooks may be a suitable alternative and even gives you the ability to add on services to further streamline the process.
4. Microsoft Office 2007 – Still the staple for businesses of all sizes. Microsoft has again improved the way users interact with their software as well as the features that are important. They make it easier than ever to create professional looking documents. Just make sure you keep your product keys in a safe place! It would be a good idea to give a copy of them to your IT consultant for safe keeping. We keep a record of all of our clients’ licenses just in case they misplace them. Software costs money, why spend extra if you don’t have to with just a little extra care?
5. CRM – This is not an easy category to decide on. According to votes Act! and Microsoft Office Business Contact Manager got Top Votes. I think these are okay for very small operations. To me, speed is the ultimate competitive advantage these days. You need accurate information and you need it available to you right away. This is why I would opt for a solution like Salesforce.com or Maximizer CRM. Consult with a professional to find out which is best for you.
6. Microsoft Windows Vista Business/Ultimate – Yes, Apple makes a good product but there are still a lot of limitations for software compatibility. Macs are still best used at home, design, and creative. Microsoft is the leader in business computing by a long shot. If you’re not in the creative field and you are thinking about buying a mac for business it is highly recommended that you seek expert advice first. I can tell you of specific instances where not doing this cost folks their business.
7. AVG Anti-virus – Don’t want to buy licenses up front? We need to talk. Yes you can purchase licenses or, you can pay for them monthly and get them at less cost… Shh, don’t tell anyone I told you this.
8. Line of Business Software- Weather that is PSA, practice management, etc. your business needs an application to help you run your business. The more automated and integrated the software is the better for you. Look for ease of use, integration into existing business processes, easy of maintenance, and cost of support.
1. Google Apps – its fee to setup and can grow with you as your needs grow. If you need more features the annual fee is fairly reasonable. Email, web workspace, calendaring, and document collaboration all in one. It’s a great alternative to Microsoft Exchange but it doesn’t have all of the features of exchange. Also, if you’d like to integrate with some type of industry specific software package or a CRM, exchange is usually the better way to go if you have 5 or more employees.
2. Simpleology – The Simple Science of Getting What You Want. Talk about a catch phrase, who could argue with the value in that?? Does it work? I think so. Why don’t you try for yourself, after all, its free to setup an account, for now.
3. QuickBooks – Without a doubt it’s the top choice for small businesses when it comes to accounting. With flexibility enough for a solo-entrepreneur and a larger account department, it’s a good choice for small businesses. Not to mention there are quite a few line of business applications that integrate with QuickBooks. Also, if cash flow is something you are watching closely you may want to consider the online version. It’s usually best to consult with professional before you make your final decision. Changing it later can really cost you hundreds and maybe thousands. FreshBooks may be a suitable alternative and even gives you the ability to add on services to further streamline the process.
4. Microsoft Office 2007 – Still the staple for businesses of all sizes. Microsoft has again improved the way users interact with their software as well as the features that are important. They make it easier than ever to create professional looking documents. Just make sure you keep your product keys in a safe place! It would be a good idea to give a copy of them to your IT consultant for safe keeping. We keep a record of all of our clients’ licenses just in case they misplace them. Software costs money, why spend extra if you don’t have to with just a little extra care?
5. CRM – This is not an easy category to decide on. According to votes Act! and Microsoft Office Business Contact Manager got Top Votes. I think these are okay for very small operations. To me, speed is the ultimate competitive advantage these days. You need accurate information and you need it available to you right away. This is why I would opt for a solution like Salesforce.com or Maximizer CRM. Consult with a professional to find out which is best for you.
6. Microsoft Windows Vista Business/Ultimate – Yes, Apple makes a good product but there are still a lot of limitations for software compatibility. Macs are still best used at home, design, and creative. Microsoft is the leader in business computing by a long shot. If you’re not in the creative field and you are thinking about buying a mac for business it is highly recommended that you seek expert advice first. I can tell you of specific instances where not doing this cost folks their business.
7. AVG Anti-virus – Don’t want to buy licenses up front? We need to talk. Yes you can purchase licenses or, you can pay for them monthly and get them at less cost… Shh, don’t tell anyone I told you this.
8. Line of Business Software- Weather that is PSA, practice management, etc. your business needs an application to help you run your business. The more automated and integrated the software is the better for you. Look for ease of use, integration into existing business processes, easy of maintenance, and cost of support.