5 Free Tools You Need to Run Your Small Business

There are numerous small businesses that prefer using traditional means to run their workforce. That means using less or no technology to save time and money. You don’t need to be a software expert to be able to successfully run your business. There are several easy-to-use tools that can help you manage your business operations effectively. What’s awesome is that most of these tools are free of cost. Let’s take a look at some of the must-have business operation tools out there.

Connecteam: For Communication

As your small business grows to include more employees, partners, and service providers, managing communication can be time-consuming. Connecteam is one of the best tools to use if you have less or non-tech-savvy employees. The tool offers features like live group chat, one-on-one chat, employee feedback surveys, work directory, suggestion box, and more. Its secure cloud stores all documented data that can be accessed at any time. And the best part, it has no storage limit.

HubSpot: CRM

As your operation grows, keeping track of your sales processes and inventory can become increasingly tougher. HubSpot is a free CRM that offers automation features that help you track customer interactions, save time, and achieve your sales goals faster. You can also get a complete overview of your sales funnel at any time, and easily create and follow your sales-related tasks.

IFTTT: For automation

If you’re spending a lot of time doing a simple algorithm, automating most of your business processes and tasks can help you save precious time. If This Then That (IFTTT) is a flexible automation system that helps you to integrate hundreds of apps and services to build automated processes. This is an extremely helpful tool that allows you to create a database and keep track of your leads and customers.

MailChimp: For Emailing

With the introduction of new and faster communication tools, most believe that email is dead or is dying. But this is not true. It still remains one of the most commonly used communication tools in business and is evolving. If communication with your clients and partners is based on newsletters, then MailChimp is a must-have tool for your business. Its features include a WYSIWYG template editor, open and click rate tracker, and the ability to integrate with automation platforms. MailChimp is free of cost for up to 12,000 emails and 2,000 subscribers.

Asana: For task management

If you have a big team, it can be really difficult to track various tasks of employees, partners, and affiliates. These tasks can get lost and forgotten if you don’t have the right management solution. This is where a platform like Asana comes to the rescue. As the name suggests, Asana, much like a yoga pose, is a flexible task management tool. It is easy to use and completely free. Using its customizable dashboard, you can create recurring tasks, assign tasks, and keep track of task progress all in one place.