Essential Founder Toolbox: Affordable 10 Business Apps Every Start-Up Needs by Ritchie R Nanda
- Ritchie Nanda
- Feb 7, 2024
- 12 min read
Updated: Dec 23, 2024
Embarking on the exciting journey of starting a new business requires more than just enthusiasm; it involves careful planning, tech know-how, and a solid grasp of how to boost productivity.
With over 36 years of experience in the entrepreneurial world, I've had my share of positive and not-so-positive experiences. Every new venture starts with a little capital and a very small team, but as your business grows, it can get rather frustrating to keep track of your tasks, projects, timelines, team members, productivity, analytics, etc
Constant brainstorming on how to boost productivity, and make the most out of the available resources is something every entrepreneur struggles with. I know I did. There is no magical rule to it, each entrepreneur makes his/her own set of rules, I made mine. But it’s been a long time since I did it and now that I am embarking on a new venture as the Chief Editor of PRESSHOP all those memories come rushing back.
What made this time different was the availability of so many online tools. These amazing tools (apps and platforms) have enabled start-up founders to improve their work-life balance and grow their businesses at a much faster and efficient manner provided they chose the right tool for their business needs. The challenge lies in the solution itself. There are so many options available out there to choose from. Finding the right-priced and the most efficient business tool is tricky and quite challenging. Having recently been through this myself, I wanted to share the tools that are good, and have been extremely helpful to me.
In this article, we'll explore a variety of affordable and effective apps that startup founders can use to improve productivity, communication, marketing, financial management, customer relationships, and overall business operations.
Communication and Collaboration Apps For Founders
Slack serves as the go-to platform cloud-based collaboration platform designed to replace email as the primary method of communication within teams. Its real-time messaging, file sharing, and channel organization features make it an indispensable tool for teams to stay connected and share information for start-up founders. It offers a variety of features including
Features:
Channels: Channels are like group chats dedicated to specific topics or projects.
Direct messages: Direct messages allow you to chat privately with one or more people.
File sharing: You can easily share files and documents with team members within Slack.
Integrations: Slack integrates with a wide range of other apps and services, such as Google Drive, Dropbox, and Trello.
Search: Slack's powerful search feature makes it easy to find past conversations and information.
Pros:
Improved efficiency: Slack can help you save time and be more efficient by reducing the need for email and meetings.
Increased productivity: Slack can help you to be more productive by making it easier to stay connected and collaborate with your team.
Better communication: Slack can help you to communicate more effectively with your team by providing a clear and organized way to share information.
Enhanced collaboration: Slack can help you to collaborate more effectively with your team by making it easier to share files, documents, and ideas.
Greater transparency: Slack can help to make your team more transparent by providing a central place where everyone can see what is happening.
Cons:
Can be distracting: Slack can be a distraction if you are not careful. It is important to set boundaries and avoid checking them constantly.
Can be expensive: Slack can be expensive for large teams. There is a free plan with limited features, but paid plans can be costly.
Not ideal for one-on-one communication: Slack is not ideal for one-on-one communication. It is better suited for group communication.
Pricing:
Free plan: The free plan includes unlimited messaging, 10,000 searchable messages, 10 integrations, and 5GB of storage.
Standard plan: The standard plan costs $8 per user per month and includes everything in the free plan, plus unlimited integrations, 1TB of storage, and guest accounts.
Plus plan: The Plus plan costs $15 per user per month and includes everything in the standard plan, plus priority support and SAML-based SSO.
Enterprise Grid plan: The Enterprise Grid plan is a custom plan for large organizations. Pricing is based on the number of users and features needed.
Trello is a visually intuitive project management tool that helps start-ups organize tasks on boards. Its flexible design makes it easy to track progress and collaborate on projects efficiently. It uses a board-based interface with cards that represent tasks. You can move cards between lists, which represent different stages of a project.
Features:
Boards: Boards represent projects or workflows.
Lists: Lists represent different stages of a project or workflow.
Cards: Cards represent tasks.
Labels: Labels can be used to categorize cards.
Checklists: Checklists can be added to cards to track subtasks.
Attachments: Attachments can be added to cards to provide more information.
Power-Ups: Power-Ups are add-ons that add more features to Trello, such as voting, calendars, and integrations with other apps.
Pros:
Easy to use: Trello is very easy to use, even for people who are not familiar with project management tools.
Flexible: Trello can be used for a variety of projects, from simple to complex.
Visual: The board-based interface makes it easy to see the status of a project at a glance.
Collaborative: Trello is a great tool for collaboration. Team members can easily add comments, attachments, and updates to cards.
Cons:
Can be limited for complex projects: Trello may not be powerful enough for complex projects with many dependencies.
Not ideal for large teams: Trello can become difficult to manage with large teams.
Limited reporting: Trello's reporting features are limited.
Pricing:
Free plan: The free plan includes unlimited boards, cards, and lists.
Standard plan: The standard plan costs $5 per user per month and includes everything in the free plan, plus custom backgrounds, board templates, and Power-Ups.
Business Class plan: The Business Class plan costs $10 per user per month and includes everything in the standard plan, plus unlimited Power-Ups, organization-wide visibility, and priority support.
Enterprise plan: The Enterprise plan is a custom plan for large organizations. Pricing is based on the number of users and features needed.
In the era of remote work, Zoom has become a staple for virtual meetings. Start-up founders can conduct team meetings, client presentations, and webinars effortlessly through this user-friendly video conferencing platform.
Zoom is a cloud-based video conferencing platform that allows users to host and participate in online meetings, webinars, and chats. It offers features like screen sharing, recording, and breakout rooms, making it a popular choice for businesses, education, and individuals.
Features:
Meetings: Host and join video meetings with up to 1,000 participants.
Webinars: Host webinars with up to 10,000 attendees.
Chat: Send instant messages to individuals or groups within Zoom.
Screen sharing: Share your entire screen or specific applications with others.
Recording: Record meetings and webinars for later viewing.
Breakout rooms: Divide participants into smaller groups for discussions.
Waiting rooms: Keep participants in a virtual waiting room until the host is ready.
Polls and Q&A: Conduct polls and collect questions from participants during meetings.
Integrations: Zoom integrates with a variety of other apps and services, such as Google Calendar, Outlook, and Salesforce.
Pros:
Easy to use: Zoom is easy to set up and use, even for people who are not familiar with video conferencing technology.
Reliable: Zoom offers a reliable and stable connection, even with large numbers of participants.
Feature-rich: Zoom offers a wide range of features that make it suitable for a variety of use cases.
Secure: Zoom takes security seriously and offers a number of security features, such as encryption and password protection.
Cons:
Free plan limitations: The free plan has some limitations, such as a 40-minute time limit for meetings with more than 3 participants.
Privacy concerns: There have been some privacy concerns about Zoom, but the company has taken steps to address these concerns.
Pricing:
Free plan: The free plan includes meetings for up to 100 participants with a 40-minute time limit for group meetings.
Pro plan: The Pro plan costs $149.90 per year per host and includes meetings for up to 100 participants with no time limit, cloud recording, and custom branding.
Business plan: The Business plan costs $199.90 per year per host and includes everything in the Pro plan, plus meetings for up to 300 participants, phone support, and vanity URLs.
Enterprise plan: The Enterprise plan is a custom plan for large organizations with additional features and security options. Pricing is based on the number of users and features needed.
Productivity Apps For Founders
Formerly known as G Suite, Google Workspace offers a suite of productivity tools like Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides. These cloud-based applications facilitate seamless collaboration on documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.
Google Workspace (formerly G Suite) is a suite of productivity and collaboration tools offered by Google. It includes Gmail, Calendar, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Meet, Chat, and more. Google Workspace is designed to help teams work together more effectively and efficiently.
Features:
Gmail: Email for business with a custom domain, spam filtering, and mobile access.
Calendar: Shared calendars, scheduling tools, and video conferencing.
Drive: Cloud storage for files and documents, with real-time collaboration features.
Docs: Word processing with online editing and collaboration.
Sheets: Spreadsheets with online editing and collaboration.
Slides: Presentation software with online editing and collaboration.
Meetings: Video conferencing for up to 250 participants.
Chat: Instant messaging for teams.
Vault: Ediscovery and compliance tools for email and Drive.
Admin console: Manage user accounts, security settings, and billing.
Pros:
Familiar interface: Google Workspace uses a familiar interface that most people are already comfortable with.
Seamless integration: Google Workspace integrates seamlessly with other Google products, such as Search and Maps.
Affordable: Google Workspace is a relatively affordable option for businesses of all sizes.
Secure: Google Workspace offers a high level of security and compliance.
Cons:
Limited storage: The free plan only offers 15GB of storage per user.
Not as feature-rich as some competitors: Google Workspace may not have all the features of some other productivity suites.
Vendor lock-in: Google Workspace can lock you into the Google ecosystem.
Pricing:
Free plan: The free plan includes Gmail with 15GB of storage, Calendar, Drive with 15GB of storage, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Meet, and Chat.
Business Starter plan: The Business Starter plan costs $6 per user per month and includes
Overview: Monday.com is a visual project management platform that uses a board-based interface with customizable columns and cards. It offers features like team communication, file sharing, automation, and integrations, making it a popular choice for businesses of all sizes.
Features:
Boards: Represent projects, workflows, or any other organizational unit.
Columns: Customize columns to track different aspects of your work, such as status, due date, assignee, etc.
Cards: Represent tasks, ideas, or any other unit of work within a column.
Views: Different views like calendar, timeline, and Gantt chart for better visualization.
Automation: Automate repetitive tasks using built-in or custom automation.
Integrations: Integrates with a wide range of other apps and services.
Communication: Built-in chat and commenting features for team collaboration.
Reporting: Generate reports to track progress and measure performance.
Pros:
Highly customizable: Adapt the platform to fit your specific needs and workflows.
Easy to use: The intuitive interface makes it easy for teams to get started.
Visual: Boards and cards provide a clear overview of your work.
Collaborative: Features like chat and comments facilitate team communication.
Automated workflows: Save time and effort by automating repetitive tasks.
Cons:
Can be expensive for large teams: Pricing scales with the number of users.
Learning curve for complex features: Some advanced features may require training.
Limited reporting capabilities: This may not be ideal for in-depth data analysis.
Pricing:
Free plan: Limited features for individuals and small teams.
Basic plan: Starts at $8 per user per month, and includes most core features.
Standard plan: Starts at $10 per user per month, and includes additional features like automations and integrations.
Pro plan: Starts at $16 per user per month, and includes advanced features like reporting and dashboards.
Enterprise plan: Custom pricing for large organizations with specific needs.
Canva is a user-friendly graphic design tool that allows start-up founders to create eye-catching visuals for marketing materials, social media posts, and presentations without the need for extensive design skills.
Canva is a graphic design platform that allows users to create professional-looking visuals even without design experience. It offers a vast library of templates, elements, and stock photos, making it easy to create social media graphics, presentations, posters, and more.
Features:
Drag-and-drop interface
Extensive library of templates and elements
Stock photos and videos
Photo editing tools
Brand kit integration
Team collaboration
Pros:
Easy to use, even for beginners
Large library of free resources
Affordable paid plans
Brand consistency with templates and kits
Cons:
Limited customization options on the free plan
Watermarks on exported designs in the free plan
Some advanced features require paid plans
Pricing:
Free plan with limited features
Pro plan: $9.95/month
Enterprise plan: Custom pricing
Mailchimp is an excellent choice for start-ups dipping their toes into email marketing. Its user-friendly interface and automation features make it an ideal tool for creating and managing email campaigns.
Mailchimp is an email marketing platform that helps businesses create, send, and track email campaigns. It offers various features for building email lists, designing emails, automating campaigns, and analyzing results.
Features:
Email editor with drag-and-drop functionality
Landing page builder
Email automation tools
A/B testing
Analytics and Reporting
Integrations with other platforms
Pros:
Free plan for up to 2,000 subscribers
Easy-to-use interface
Affordable paid plans
Wide range of features
Cons:
Limited customization options on a free plan
Transaction fees for paid plans
Some advanced features require paid plans
Pricing:
Free plan for up to 2,000 subscribers
Essential plan: $9/month
Standard plan: $15/month
Premium plan: $29/month
Buffer simplifies social media management by allowing start-up founders to schedule posts across various platforms, ensuring a consistent online presence without constant manual effort.
Buffer is a social media management platform that helps businesses schedule, publish, and analyze their social media posts. It offers features like post-scheduling, analytics, engagement tools, and team collaboration, making it a popular choice for social media marketers of all levels.
Features:
Post scheduling: Schedule posts to multiple social media platforms in advance.
Analytics: Track key social media metrics like likes, comments, and shares.
Engagement tools: Respond to comments and messages directly from Buffer.
Team collaboration: Share and collaborate on social media content with team members.
Customizable reports: Generate reports to track progress and measure performance.
Browser extension: Schedule and publish posts directly from your browser.
Mobile app: Manage your social media presence on the go.
Pros:
Saves time and effort by scheduling posts in advance.
Provides valuable insights into social media performance.
Easy to use with a user-friendly interface.
Affordable pricing for small businesses and individuals.
Integrates with various social media platforms and marketing tools.
Cons:
Limited features compared to some competitors.
May not be powerful enough for large enterprises with complex social media needs.
Limited customer support in the free plan.
Pricing:
Free plan: Includes limited scheduling and analytics features for one social media profile.
Pro plan: Starts at $15 per month, and includes unlimited scheduling, analytics, and team features for up to 3 social media profiles.
Premium plan: Starts at $65 per month, and includes additional features like reporting and custom branding for up to 10 social media profiles.
QuickBooks is a reliable accounting software that helps start-up founders manage their finances efficiently. It streamlines invoicing, expense tracking, and financial reporting, providing a comprehensive solution for financial management. A comprehensive accounting software suitable for businesses of all sizes, with features for bookkeeping, invoicing, inventory management, payroll processing, and more. It offers both online and desktop versions.
Features:
Accounting: Track income and expenses, generate reports, reconcile bank statements, and categorize transactions.
Invoicing: Create and send professional invoices, track payments, and accept online payments.
Inventory Management: Track inventory levels, set reorder points, and manage purchase orders.
Payroll Processing: Pay employees, manage taxes, and file payroll returns (US only).
Additional: Multi-user access, data security features, and integrations with other business apps.
Pros:
Robust features for diverse needs
Scalable for growing businesses
Strong reputation and support
The desktop version offers offline functionality
Cons:
More expensive than Wave and Expensify
Can be complex for beginners
The desktop version requires installation and updates
Limited free plan features
Pricing:
Starts at $25/month for the Self-Employed plan, and $50/month for the Essentials plan, with higher tiers for advanced features and payroll.
HubSpot is a comprehensive CRM platform that aids start-ups in managing customer relationships, automating sales processes, and enhancing overall customer engagement.
A free-to-paid CRM and marketing automation platform known for its user-friendliness and inbound marketing focus.
Features:
Free CRM with basic contact and deal management.
Paid Sales Hub with advanced features like email tracking, pipeline management, and lead scoring.
Marketing Hub with tools for email marketing, landing pages, SEO, and social media management.
Service Hub for customer service ticketing and live chat.
Extensive integrations with other business applications.
Pros:
The free plan is generous and suitable for small businesses.
User-friendly interface and easy to set up.
Strong inbound marketing tools and resources.
Excellent integration ecosystem.
Cons:
Paid plans can get expensive for larger businesses.
Limited customization options compared to some competitors.
The free plan lacks some key features like email automation.
Pricing:
Free plan available.
Paid plans start at $35/user/month for Sales Hub and $45/user/month for Marketing Hub.
Conclusion
Starting a new venture in the current scenario can be slightly scary and intimidating with so many existing players crowding the space, and so many new ones trying to find their place. It is really important that a budding entrepreneur can constantly work on the vision and purpose he/she has in their mind. Rest all the components that contribute to the success of any venture can be managed with some initial research and decision-making. In my opinion, the apps I have suggested above can significantly empower startup founders to improve communication, boost productivity, handle finances, and foster strong customer relationships without straining finances if used properly.
Before we end this article, here is one more learning from my entrepreneurial journey that I would like to share:- By viewing failure as a stepping stone to growth, startups can tap into the transformative power of technology, turning challenges into opportunities to flourish. Cheers to embracing innovation, utilizing affordable apps, and creating a success story where technology enhances productivity and propels startups to new heights. Good luck Founders - always remember, when the going gets tough, us tough Founders get going🚀
Comentarios