Entrepreneurs have to rely on a variety of tools to run different aspects of their business, but if you aren’t careful, the costs can start to add up. These five cost-cutting tools will make it easy for you to run your business on the cheap.
Google Workspace
Google Workspace is a collection of collaboration and productivity tools offered by Google. This paid business account gives you and your employees access to Gmail accounts and the following office products:
- Google Calendar.
- Google Docs.
- Google Sheets.
- Google Slides.
- Google Drive.
- Google Meet.
- Google Forms.
The software is cloud-based, so you never have to worry about losing your work. And all Google products are intuitive and easy to use, so you shouldn’t have to train your employees on using them.
Google Workspace offers four different pricing plans, and the cheapest option costs just $6 per user per month. You can try the software for free for 14 days to see if it’s the right fit for your business.
Wave
Wave is free bookkeeping software for freelancers and small businesses. The software comes with all the basic accounting features you need, like the ability to create invoices and set up recurring billing for repeat customers. You can store information about each customer and schedule automatic email reminders for late payments.
If you need a way to pay employees or contractors, you can upgrade to Wave’s payroll software. The software will automatically file and pay your state and federal payroll taxes, and it’ll automatically generate W2 and 1099 forms come tax season.
The bookkeeping software is free, but the payroll software starts at $20 per month. The exact cost will depend on how many employees you have and your tax-filing requirements.
[Read more: 18 Tools to Help Automate Your Business in 2024]
MailerLite is free for accounts with under 1,000 subscribers, so it’s perfect for small businesses that are just beginning to build an email list.
Trello
Trello is one of the best options when it comes to project management software, and you can use Trello’s Kanban-style boards to manage every aspect of your project. You can create a new Trello board for each project and break the project down into different cards.
Within each Trello card, you add due dates, checklists, and members, or tag other users in a comment. You can also turn your card into a template if you plan to use it again for a future project.
Trello is perfect for anyone who wants the ability to get a bird’s eye and a more granular view of their project. Trello offers four different pricing plans, and the most basic version is free. However, even the free version is quite robust and will meet the needs of many small businesses.
[Read more: What Is Project Management Software, and How Can It Help Your Business?]
Slack
Slack is a communication and messaging platform for teams. The software became a popular alternative to using email to communicate with coworkers. When you set up a Slack account, you can create different channels for various projects or teams.
Within each Slack channel, you can access a general messaging board. Members can tag other team members, share documents, and create lists. You can mute channels that are no longer relevant to you and message team members directly for private conversations.
Slack offers four different pricing plans, and the most basic version is free. The free plan should be comprehensive enough for most small teams.
MailerLite
MailerLite is email marketing software for small businesses. You can use the software to create email campaigns, set up automated workflows, and create targeted campaigns. The drag-and-drop editor lets you design emails that will appeal to your audience, and you can insert photos, videos, and e-commerce products into each email.
You can also use MailerLite to create landing pages and signup forms to collect leads. The instant email verification tool helps you build a high-quality list and improves email deliverability.
MailerLite is free for accounts with under 1,000 subscribers, so it’s perfect for small businesses that are just beginning to build an email list. The free plan includes one user, 12,000 emails per month, and up to 10 landing pages.
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