Are you new to online entrepreneurship? If so, congrats are in order and we mean that sincerely. You’ve taken the leap where many have failed to. This article was specifically written for you, to give you the free online business tools you’ll need to create the life that you want!
The end goal may be similar for many new business owners but they all share different reasons for embarking on their journey. So whatever your story is, perhaps you can share it with us later in the comments.
In general, every entrepreneur with or without a web presence needs tools. Through advancements in technology, online tools have become very efficient and effective over the years. And the best part is that most of them are completely free or at the very least, designed to help you grow.
Online Tools Guaranteed to Help You Run Your Business
Some of the tools on this list will eventually become paid tools as your business flourishes. But the free time that you get is reasonable and plenty.
For learning:
Knowledge is a cornerstone for any entrepreneur, so commit yourself to lifelong learning. Trust us, you’ll be glad that you did!
1. Google
Even though there are other notable search engines like Bing in existence, the accuracy of Google is a bit uncanny. You can find almost anything with somewhat frightening accuracy. Use it to learn and improve your skills or knowledge.
2. YouTube
You probably know this one unless you’ve been living in a cave for the past three decades (joking). There’s a lot of accessible educational information on YouTube. All you have to do is search for what you’re looking for and be patient enough to sift through it.
3. Blogs
There are so many blogs out on the web and search engines help you find them. In fact, you can easily start your own blog too. The trick is to know which ones to subscribe to. For instance, if you want all round business information on topics such as entrepreneur, wealth management and real estate tips, then subscribing to FinancialBin is a great idea.
For accounting:
Every business needs a way to collect money, file taxes and maintain records.
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4. Wave
Also known as Waveapps, is free online accounting software that allows you to maintain records of incoming and outgoing transactions. But it gets even sweeter because you can accept payments, process payroll, generate important tax forms, etc.
5. PayPal
When it comes to accepting, making payments and keeping transaction records, PayPal is suitable for just about any kind of business. With this tool, you can send and receive money with or without website integration. All major credit cards are supported.
6. Square
Whether your customers are paying you online or you want to process payments physically, Square helps you cover all that and more! They’ve got this nifty device that hooks up to your smartphone and allows you to process credit card payments on the spot. It’s definitely worth checking out.
7. TurboTax
Most entrepreneurs don’t have wads of cash lying around when they first start. So it’s nice to know that you can file your own taxes! And TurboTax helps you do that online. You may also have to install their software on your computer. There’s a tiny fee for processing your taxes.
For storage and redundancy:
Imagine that you’ve spent one year working on your business and have developed tons of content in that time. Then one day, your hard drive crashes and poof, there goes all of your hard work. Bummer, huh?
Fortunately, there are ways that you can avoid this debacle. And that’s ensuring you’ve got preventative measures in place!
8. Dropbox
The company provides you with 2 GB of free storage. But what really makes Dropbox amazing is how easy it is to be productive and worry free, knowing that your data is regularly backed up. Their sync feature lets you save files to the cloud in minutes or even seconds. Also, companies like them have redundancy measures in place, so you don’t have to worry about it.
9. Google Drive
That’s right, big G gives you a generous 15 GB of free space. Also, they’ve got really affordable plans for people who need more storage. Google Drive is a great option if you need more than 2 GB to start but don’t have the budget for a premium plan with Dropbox.
For building your website:
If you’re going to have an online presence, then make sure you’ve also got a website. The old “all we need is social media” isn’t a good idea. No, seriously!
10. WordPress
This is the most used and preferred content management system on the web today. If you want to quickly design your website using fabulous templates that are easily customizable via an admin dashboard, then WordPress is your best bet. And it’s absolutely free!
For marketing:
You’ll need tools that help you make better marketing decisions and promote your company.
Learn how to start a profitable blog on WordPress with our Run Your Blog Course!
11. Social Media Platforms
Social media is a great place to start marketing your product. However, you shouldn’t jump right in without covering the basics. You know, things like deciding on which networks to be present or active on, optimizing your profiles, strategy etc. Once you’ve covered the groundwork, start your engines!
Learn what you need to create an online presence for your business.
12. Analytics Tools
Google Analytics and Piwik are amazing software for tracking inbound or outbound traffic, including other user behaviours. Bottom line is: the more you know about your website visitors, the better you can improve their experience and subsequently sell more stuff.
13. Meetup
Meetup.com helps you find events or gatherings that are happening within your locality so that you can attend. If possible, it’s a good idea to attend a few of them, perhaps, once or twice a month because you can attract new customers this way. Just ensure that you’re being strategic and only partake in events where your ideal customers are.
Well, that’s all young ‘Jedi’. It’s time you get out there and make your goals a reality. Just remember that dedication and hard work are huge factors.
14. Qwilr Business Proposal Template
As their site says, “Qwilr’s business proposal template helps you compile a proposal that wins the job. Embed spreadsheets, videos, SlideShare presentations and more into your proposal, get notified when your client views it and enable them to accept the job in 1 click.” Check it out and see how it can work for your next proposal.
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Author’s Bio
Gabriel Nwatarali is a digital marketer and founder of Tech Help Canada. ‘Every business deserves effective marketing’ is their company motto. When he isn’t hanging out at FinancialBin, you can locate him on LinkedIn and Twitter.