Having strong and solid systems in place is an easy way to simplify and streamline your business. Not only can these tools make things run more smoothly and save you time, but they are also easy to work with so you have more time to work on money-making and needle-moving tasks (or make cookies, totally acceptable and encouraged).
In this blog post, I am sharing our seven favorite tools for small businesses here at 1428. As an online business owner, my time is so valuable so nailing down things that work well and efficiently is very important to me and my team. Now that I’ve found our favorites, it makes life so much easier. So I want to share them with you! Let’s get to it!
1. Xero
This one should come as a surprise to no one. Their integrations with Stripe and banks are seamless and often work better and have fewer interruptions than other options. Once you connect your business bank account to Xero, all of your transactions are automatically imported and all you have to do is categorize them. Yep, talk about easy.
We use Xero for most of our clients and recommend it especially if you’re a DIYer because it’s so easy to use. AND their customer service is unmatched.
2. Stripe
Let’s chat payment processing…You can find our post about different payment processor options for different businesses, but for online businesses, Stripe is the best option. I have used Stripe for all of my billing and it is easy and simple. Not only are there no monthly fees or contracts, but fees are standard and it integrates very well with tons of other websites, apps, and software.
3. Last Pass
Last Pass is a super useful and secure way to keep track of the million and one different passwords we pile up, especially when we have to change them. It is also great for sharing passwords with team members if needed.
4. Canva
For creating graphics and editing photos, I find Canva to be the simplest to use. One time I tried switching to Adobe’s Creative Cloud Express and lasted two days before I switched back to Canva😅 Whether you go with the free version or the upgrade, both are helpful tools for your business. Whether it’s for creating PDFs, social media graphics, or even Christmas cards, Canva has it all.
5. Showit
For your website! Showit is easy to use, customizable, aesthetically pleasing, and integrates well with other platforms. We recently moved to Showit and I have been so happy with both the transition and how good everything looks (all the heart eyes). If you are not super creative, (or if you are), this is a great option.
6. ClickUp
Insert the organized hub of all things: ClickUp! A key component to finding quality apps and systems to help small business owners is that they are user-friendly. I recently hired someone to build (add templates and everything we need for easy use) up my ClickUp and it is now my team’s central hub. It has so many great features! It is customizable, and helps you stay so organized and on the same page with the team. Not only can you assign due dates, but everything has a place that makes it easy to find, did I mention staying super organized?
7. Dubsado
Dubsado saves you time with workflows and automation, and has very aesthetically pleasing proposals and emails.
I’d love to know, which of these tools has been the most helpful for you? Send me a DM and let me know!
Looking for more bookkeeping tips? Check out these great resources!
The content in this blog post is provided for general informational purposes only and should not be considered professional tax or legal advice. The author is not a Certified Public Accountant, and no assurances can be made regarding the outcomes or consequences of tax returns, IRS actions, or any financial decisions based on this information. Readers are strongly advised to consult with a qualified tax professional or legal advisor for personalized guidance specific to their individual circumstances. The author expressly disclaims any liability for decisions made based on the information presented in this blog post.
