Small business tools: 12 must have software

Great small business tools that will help you run it efficiently

Small business tools are an essential toolset you need to build and grow your business successfully.

So if you looking for the best small business software tool to help you run your business efficiently while saving money too, my curated list got you.

I will be reviewing some of the must-use online tools for entrepreneurs, mom & pops, bloggers, e-commerce store owners, digital course creators, midsized enterprises, start-ups, etc, which I examined and found to be top of their class.

Having a list of great small business software tools to use helps you run different tasks and functions properly whether or not you have a large or small business.

When the right online tools and software are used they provide speed, accuracy, and savings to your various business operations.

So what tools does a business need?

1. LeadPages is the top all-around app to build landing pages
2. Bluehost is best for all-around low-cost web hosting
3. ConvertKit for email marketing
4. WP Engine is the best for small businesses and enterprises fully managed WordPress hosting
5. Avast for online security
6. Canva is the best design software tool
7. Zapier for connecting apps
8. GravySolutions is the best app for customer payment failure recovery
9. 99designs for hiring top professional designers
10. SamsCart is the best business system for making custom high-converting checkout pages
11. Fiverr to hire low-cost freelancers
12. SemRush to do SEO and content marketing

The web-based software and tools listed are the ones we picked after a thorough examination.

They are some of the most important ones you need to start and grow your business successfully.

Some of them will market, be visible online, and automate important business activities while saving you thousands monthly and yearly at the same time.

1. Leadpages - Best for building landing pages

LeadPages is a marketing tool that helps small businesses build websites and landing pages to collect leads easily.

A highly recommended and needed tool for those businesses without the time or the technical skills to build and manage their landing page(s).

What we love about LeadPages after our examination is that it will save you a lot of time and money compared to other landing page creation platforms.

They have amazing and easy-to-use templates.

So whether you are a fresh start-up or have been in business for a while, you need to add this to your list of essential tools.

It is simply a powerful, high-converting, and all-around system for marketing your business through landing and web pages.

Standout features

Use to create:

• unlimited landing pages (code-free)
• super easy, flexible, and glitch-free drag-and-drop functionality
• over 200 free templates plus hundreds of paid ones
• unlimited alert bars
• unlimited pop-ups
• mobile responsive
• SEO ready
• 40+ Integration including Mailchimp, Google Analytics, webinar software, plus 1000+ apps with Zapier
• code-free websites(use as a standalone website builder or as page builder with WordPress)
• GDPR Compliance
• WordPress integration (use as a code-free page builder for your WordPress sites)
• built-in detailed performance analytics
• run A/B tests effortlessly

Tryout LeadPages for FREE

2. Bluehost - Best overall low-cost web hosting platform

If you are running any type of business you need to be online and one of the ways to do that is to create and host your website to be visible to users.

BlueHost is a website hosting company for various types of websites and content management systems (CMS).

Their price starts low which is good for those businesses or beginners with limited financial resources.

Standout features

• Online store (e-commerce) hosting
• Free domain hosting (1st year)
• Unlimited disk storage
• Unlimited domain hosting
• All website-type hosting
• Managed WordPress hosting
• Hotlink protection

Tryout BlueHost

3. ConvertKit - Best email marketing tools

If you are like a lot of bloggers, YouTubers, course creators, and business owners running e-commerce, you probably heard of ConvertKit.

But do you know what it does and how important it is?

ConvertKit is an essential online software for growing your email subscribers and marketing, especially if you are an online entrepreneur such as a course creator, blogger, YouTuber, or another e-commerce biz.

It is without a doubt one of the top small business tools for those looking to boost their email marketing.

Standout features

Use ConvertKit to

• create email subscription landing pages
• automate email building with plugin templates
• lead capture landing pages
• email performance analytics
• email A/B testing
• build unlimited, GDPR compliance, and responsive signup forms - registration & lead capture forms
• email performance analytics
• integration with Stripe, Shopify, WordPress, KingSumo, ReCart (capture cart abandoners), Teachable, Optimize Press, etc

Tryout ConvertKit

4. WP Engine - Best tools for true fully managed WordPress hosting

If you are an online entrepreneur, blogger, e-commerce store owner, a large or small enterprise using WordPress, and you want true managed WP hosting, we recommend that you go with WP Engine.

It was our first hosting when we started our business and have used them for years.

The company only hosts WordPress and Woocommerce. It is the best software hosting platform for businesses of all sizes when it comes to WordPress-managed hosting because of its premium cloud infrastructure, well-trained tech support, server speed and security, constant innovation, etc.

Standout features

• woocommerce hosting and customization
• small business hosting
• enterprise hosting (clients include eBay, AMD, National Geographic, HelloFresh, UnderAmour, SoundCloud, Pingdom, BBC Children, Thomson Reuters, DropBox, etc)
• free malware and hack removal for existing clients
• integration with Google Cloud, AWS, Cloudflare, NewRelic, HubSpot, etc
• popular plugin and theme development
• dev, stage, and production environment in a click
• free 24/7 chat, phone, and email support

Tryout WP Engine

5. Avast - Best tools for small businesses online security

Whether you are running an offline or internet small business, you are probably using a computer online.

So you want to make sure that you protect your computer(s) and online activities from bad actors looking to install spam and hack you.

Avast is a top online software that helps protect your devices and online activities from attackers.

It is also a VPN that hides your activities from attackers or anyone who want to spy on you.

Standout features

• detect and remove viruses, malware, spyware, ransomware, phishing, and other online threats in real-time
• firewall
• password protection
• data shredder
• email scan in real-time to detect

Being hacked is no joke as it leads to the loss of thousands of dollars per incident.

So protect your computer and internet activities asap with this software application.

Tryout Avast

6. Canva - Best software for graphics for non-designers

Canva is the ultimate graphic design tool for non-designers. You can use existing templates to design all types of graphics or use stock designs for your needs.

A great resource for bloggers and others who require a lot of graphics.

But definitely a must-have for any business size and type, both small and large.

We use this all the time for our design needs.

Standout features

• create any type of graphic you can think of
• over 50k design templates for your need
• easy to use interface
• extremely beginner friendly
• thousands of free stock icons, fonts, and images
• drag and drop feature
• videos
• animations

Tryout Canva

7. Zapier- Best software for connecting apps & services

Zapier is a web-based automated tool that connects your various apps and services together without any coding knowledge.

It is mostly one-click integration. For example, you can connect your SamCart with Shopify or WordPress with any other tools you want, etc.

A very powerful software that saves you time and money.

This is one of the must-have tools for small businesses.

Standout features

• no software coding skill required
• save business time from doing the same tasks over and over
• task automation
• connection with more than 5000 software tools, services, applications

Tryout Zapier

8. GravySolutions - Best tools for payment failure recovery

What if I tell you that you can have a U.S based customer support that will contact customers each time their online payment for your services and products fail?

This is exactly what GravySolutions software does.

They have an experienced engagement team that helps you increase revenue and customer retention by contacting a customer as soon as a payment fails.

Lovely!

They work with both large and small businesses.

Research shows that 62% of online payment that fails, the customer will abandon the transaction and won't return to the website again. So don't be one of those losing money because of payment failure.

Definitely include this in your business tool list if you like to generate more revenue.

Standout features

• Billing management
• Conversion management
• Access management
• Cancelation management

Tryout Gravy

9. 99designs - Best platform for hiring top pro designers

99designs is the best and world's largest design marketplace for entrepreneurs, bloggers, e-commerce store owners, small businesses, etc, to find experienced and vetted design pros for custom landing pages, websites, merchandise, apps, logos, clothes, etc.

The way it works is that you will submit a request for a design and thousands of pro designers will submit their idea for your design.

You will then choose the best ideas for what you want or find fit for your small business design goal(s).

Standout features

Use 99designs to find pros for sessions need like

• websites
• apps
• logos
• clothes
• merchandise
• package
• label

Tryout 99designs

10. Samcart - Best custom check pages builder for small businesses

SamCart is one of the best web-based software for small businesses to build custom high-converting checkout pages for their online store.

It is a great platform for selling both digital and physical products.

Standout features

• no coding needed
• mobile responsive
• pre-designed templates
• work with various payment providers
• integration with WordPress and other CMS

Tryout SamCart

11. Fivver - The best marketplace for hiring freelancers at low-cost

Fiverr is of the first freelancing websites where you can hire freelancers to handle some of your business tasks such as content writing, website maintenance, logo creation, web design, etc.

You can also use the platform to monetize your own skills.

It is one of my favorite business apps because finding help on the platform is super easy and cheap.

Notable Features

• Hire talents or monetize your skills as an independent contractor
• Vetted talents
• Find talents of all talent level
• Find freelancers at all cost levels
• Great customer support

Try Fiverr

12. SemRush - Best for SEO & content marketing

If you are looking for top-notch online software to take your small business SEO and content marketing to the next level, Semrush is the answer.

This online application allows you to find keywords to target, generate content ideas, find loads of backlinks, do social media marketing, and content creation.

Standout features

• Know a keywords search intent
• Find content topic ideas
• Local SEO
• Marketing calendars
• Competitors analysis
• Find backlinks to prospect
• Keyword research
• Content creation
• Social media poster

Try Semrush

Frequently asked questions(FAQ)

Q: What's the benefit of using business tools?

A: Having a list of various small business software and tools to use saves time so you to focus on other parts of your business that matter.

Secondly, using tools helps you run your business efficiently.

Thirdly, using tools saves you money. Instead of hiring more workers or paying someone hefty fees, tools and software will help you do some of your business operations without spending more money.

They also help you multitask efficiently.

Q: What's the average cost of most of these online tools and software?

A: The cost for most powerful business software and tools depends, however, the range is from $2/m to $25/m for starter subscriptions.

Most offer a free trial.

Start using the list already!

As said earlier, whether you are a mid-to-small business owner, running an e-commerce store, an online entrepreneur or a blogger looking for an essential tool list, the ones listed above will definitely help make your life easier, save you money, and complete tasks faster.

A lot of the small business tools and software I have used and still use.

So please get more tasks done and save money and time by using the apps on the list above.

If you have questions regarding the best web-based business software and tools for small businesses listed contact us.