Along my small business journey, I have come across some amazing apps and tools to streamline my processes, so I thought I would share some of them with you. No matter what kind of business you run, I’m pretty sure we all share some of the same challenges! Hopefully this collection of apps I have found across the years help you as much as they have helped me!
Rounded
I have no idea how I survived without some form of accounting software haha! I actually think I created my own invoices in InDesign and had an over-complicated filing system – I’m a typical creative! Rounded has made accounting and invoicing straightforward with all the tools I need to get organised and get paid. It is an online app aimed at streamlining the proposal and quoting process. It also has the ability for clients to accept quotes online, send recurring invoices, track time and expenses (this is super helpful!), and you can even send all this to your accountant! For small businesses, I highly recommend it as it provides the right amount of features, without the need for overly-robust accountancy software such as Xero.
Link: rounded.com.au
Pricing: Plans begin at $19.95 per month
Trello
This free software is a personal favourite. I have used quite a few different project programs/apps, but this app makes things easy. I generally create 4 columns to separate my projects. They are: ‘Work in Progress’ (WIP), ‘To Do’, ‘In Progress’ and ‘On Hold’. This then makes it easy to see where everything is up to. And the good part about Trello is that they offer a free version.
Link: trello.com
Pricing: The Basic version is free
Asana
Another workflow management app similar to Trello is Asana, which uses a highly customizable list format that you can design however you like. It allows you to map out each step and organize all the details of your work in one place and create a streamlined process. Using a specific system to manage your tasks like Asana will definitely improve your productivity and make your projects transparent and easy to manage!
Link: Asana.com
Pricing: There is a free account, or paid starting from $14.99 month.
Canva
Canva is a super easy-to-use designing platform to create social media graphics, presentations, posters, documents and a whole lot of other visual content. There are a heap of templates ready to go, which makes life easier for when you quickly need to throw something together or don’t have access to a graphic designer. I mostly use this to create social media templates for my clients so that they can take ownership of their social accounts. They love the user interface and find it simple to use. I highly recommend this to non-professional designers to keep their brand consistent as it’s so easy to upload your brand colors, fonts, logos and imagery – all in one place!
Link: canva.com
Pricing: Canva has a free or paid option starting from $17.99 per month
Evernote
This app has been designed for note taking, organizing, task management, and archiving. I find it makes it easy to share important notes/documents that your team or clients need access to. Evernote allows you to set up notebooks privately, or you can share them with any number of team members. Notes sync between members allowing for easy collaboration and sharing. There’s also a convenient mobile app, so you’re never left without your notes.
Link: evernote.com
Pricing: There is a Free Basic version and upgrades available, starting from $9.99 per month.
At the end of the day, it’s really up to what you feel most comfortable working with! I know that I certainly have a love for all things tangible, so it has been a slow adjustment to move a lot of my processes online. If you are like me and still love the idea of writing things down, I’ve got you covered! Check out some of my resources that I have designed, such as planners that can be printed out (or used digitally) to help you stay on track!
Prices as of June 2021.
