Current times are tough for businesses due to the pandemic which imposed responsibility on employers to transfer most of the work from office to remote in a very short time.
No matter if you’ve just started your business or have been operating for a few years, if you want to streamline your day-to-day processes in the pandemic times, a good business app might be just what you need.
Mobile applications have changed the business completely, from customer experience to mobile payments. They’ve become more powerful and can help your business run more smoothly. Do you want to improve your daily work process? Organize your projects? Manage your expenses?
There’s an app for everything.
If you wish to conduct your business more effectively or run your company while automating some of your core business processes, check out our list of the best business apps.
Cloud Based Apps
G suite
G suite is a great app as it lets you share files among PCs, tablets and smartphones. You have 30 GB online storage free and if you need more space, you can upgrade to unlimited starting off $12 per person per month. Additionally, you get all Google apps which allow you to create docs, spreadsheets, presentations, charts and much more.
Features:
- A set of popular business apps included
- It is like different apps in one app with all basic business functions
- Free professional business email
Pricing: Freemium but if you want unlimited storage or more features, you can upgrade starting from $12 per person per month.
Dropbox Business
Dropbox Business is a cloud based app enabling you to sync files and folders through various platforms on the go. Its plans are the best for the small businesses which count less than 10 people.
Features:
- Flexible storage plans
- Cloud storage of all important files
- Prevents file loss
Pricing: Starts at $12.50/month for 3 users
Microsoft OneDrive
Microsoft Drive is similar to other cloud based apps allowing its users to store and share files through synced folders. You can view and edit your files from any device with the app. Additional services like settings backup or an automatic photo upload work only on Windows 8 or Windows phone users.
Features:
- Easy collaboration tools
- Prevention of file loss
- Convenient file share
Pricing: Starts from $5/month per user
Inventory Management
Inventory Now
The Inventory Now app is designed only for iOS and incorporates the functions of a high-end point-of-sale (POS).
The UI is simple and it allows you to keep track of your inventory throughout the product cycle. The barcode scanner function allows easy addition of new products and data can be imported/exported as a spreadsheet while automatically backed up to your Dropbox account.
Features:
- Tracking of product life cycle
- Barcode Scanner Support
- Item grouping
- Order Tracking
Pricing: Free Tier (up to 20 inventories) and upgrade starts from $7 depending on the package
Veeqo
Veeqo syncs with popular ecommerce platforms like Magenot, Shopify, Etsy, Amazon, eBay etc. Many functionalities are available through the mobile app enabling you to run your business remotely.
Features:
- Multi channel inventory tracking in real time
- Ecommerce platform and marketplace integrations
- Parcel tracking and barcode scanner features
Pricing: starts at $160 up to $260
Sortly
Sortly app allows you to manage your inventory remotely – you can maintain your catalogue with custom tags, look up barcodes or use the built-in scanner and all of this as a part of its free version.
Features:
- Barcode search
- In-app scanner
- Custom fields
- Stock alerts
Pricing: Free or paid plans as of $39 a month
On Shelf
On Shelf tracks not only your inventory but it does it through the use of customer-specific tracking. That way, the app allows you to see the customer’s purchase history, email specific product offers to customers, import contacts and much more. It comes in 2 apps for each iPad and iPhone and the cloud backup is an additional cost.
Features:
- Searchable time frames
- In-app invoicing
- Barcode Scanner
- Data import from another system/spreadsheets
Pricing: Starts from $4.99 but additional fee apply
Accounting / Finance
QuickBooks
QuickBooks is simple accounting software enabling you to track your business’s sales and expenses, view financial statements, pay your employees and vendors, maximize your tax deduction and much more.
QuickBooks connects to many accounts like business bank accounts, credit card, PayPal and Square simplifying your accounting processes.
QuickBooks mobile accounting app allows you to create invoices, manage expenses and much more and all on the go.
Features:
- Track income and expenses
- Connect your bank
- Track VAT
- Send custom invoices or quotes
Pricing: Starting at $14 depending on the payment plan
Freshbooks
Freshbooks app gives you an insight of your cash flow, expenses, invoices and more – a high quality customer service included in all plans at no additional cost. You can create personal invoices to match your business, track and organize your expenses from anywhere and create customizable reports like profit or loss statements.
Features:
- Create and send professional invoices
- Manage expenses on the go (coming soon on Android)
- Stay on top of important updates
- Data synced across all devices
Pricing: Starting from $15 depending on the payment plan.
Wave
Wave is the only REALLY free accounting software system enabling you to use their online-based platform or mobile invoicing without payment for a subscription.
It is great for small businesses, independent contractors or sole proprietors with less employees.
The app lets you track sales and expenses, manage invoices or customer payments, scan receipts and generate accounting reports.
Features:
- Unlimited income and expense tracking
- Unlimited bank and credit card connections
- Easily organize income and expenses into tax categories
- Run multiple businesses in one account
Pricing: No set-up fees, no hidden charges, no monthly fee
Gusto
Gusto app makes your company’s payroll, tax and benefits processes much more efficient as it manages all those plus online employee onboarding. Gusto handles all local, state and federal tax filings, automates deductions for benefits and workers’ payments as well as emailing digital pay slips to the employees.
Features:
- Automatic Payroll Tax Processing
- Detailed Payroll Reports
- Multiple PTO options (tenure accrual, waiting periods, and standard or unlimited PTO)
- Digital Paystubs
Pricing: Starting at $19 depending on the payment plan
POS / Payments
SQUARE
Square payment enables its users to get a small, portable card reader that is attached to the phone (or another mobile device) to perform fast and convenient payments and is said to be the best for businesses that perform in-person sales.
Square also offers a POS system under the name of Square Register for businesses which is compatible with iOS and Android devices.
Features:
- Affordable mobile payment processing
- Free virtual terminal
- Inventory tracking
- Instant setup and offline mode
Pricing: Some features are free while other tools start as of $5 per person depending on the chosen tools.
PayPal Here
PayPal Here processes credit cards, cheques and invoices via your phone. Its features include fund transfers, inventory management, sales reporting along with credit card and chip reader. It charges 2.7% per USA card swipe and it is said to be the best for merchants searching for a mobile solution to assist with managing their business.
Important thing is that PayPal Here works through your PayPal account so make sure you’re synced up properly to use it.
Features:
- Inventory Management
- PayPal Here reporting
- Fund Transfers
- Secure and mobile payments
Pricing: Starts at 2.7% per USA card swipe yet check their webpage for more details
QuickBooks GoPayment
QuickBooks GoPayment enables you to review analytics data, swipe or scan your credit card, monitor your best-selling items as well as review key-in details to accept payments from customers.
It directly integrates with QuickBooks, TurboTac or Mint.
Features:
- Track income & expenses
- Maximize tax deductions
- Invoice & accept payments
- Track sales & sales tax
Pricing: Starting from $7.5 depending on the package
Project Management / Organization
Trello
Trello is a great choice if you manage more than just a few employees – it is a card-based system that allows you to easily create, assign, monitor and complete various tasks making sure that everyone is efficient and productive.
It can be used online or via your mobile device and it integrates with apps like Evernote, Slack and more.
Features:
- Create different boards per project and cards for specific tasks
- Freely move the cards around as per appropriate status
- Attach photos, files or videos per card
- Tag a relevant person per task, colour coded labels for organization
- And many more
Pricing: It’s free with specific features yet starts from $9.99 for upgrade packages
Asana
Asana is similar to Trello yet it uses a highly customizable list format that you can design however you want. Using a specific system to manage your tasks will greatly improve the team’s efficiency.
You can share notes, upload files and communication without emails. Asana integrates with Google Drive, Dropbox and Slack.
Features:
- Organize work into lists or boards
- Create custom fields within projects
- Add files to any task or conversation
- Task comments, project conversations and more
Pricing: Offers limited free package but depending on your needs, you can take upgraded packages starting from $10.99.
BaseCamp
BaseCamp allows you to organize your projects into 6 categories – your team can access a chatroom, a message board or any documents, task lists or a calendar.
It offers integrations with various third party tools and provides extensive reports so you can have a full picture on the work process in one place.
Features:To-do lists, message boards
- To-do lists, message boards
- Real time chat
- Documents and file storage
- Relevant reports and more
Pricing: Limited free package while other plans start at a aflat rate of $99 per month.
Evernote
Evernote is an app which enables you to keep your notes organized – you can store and share your personal or business to-do lists, reminders and notes across mobile or desktop devices.
Features:
- Mobile offline notes
- To-do lists, reminder, notes etc.
- Share the notes with others
- Easy search of your files
Pricing: Basic limited package is free yet if you wish more features unlocked you can check other packages starting at $13.99 per user per month.
Communication
Slack
Slack is an app with instant messaging which is very friendly with a simple and clear UI. You can send a message to your relevant team member. You can create different channels per different projects and include only the relevant members, have voice and video calls and send files through Slack.
It also integrates with Google Drive, Asana, Salesforce and more.
Features:
- Public and private channels
- Streamlines communication with messages, tags etc.
- Share files, documents, images and more
- Voice and video calls
Pricing: Free limited option plus premium versions starting at $8 per person per month.
Zoom
Zoom is a video conferencing tool and it is perfect if you’d like face to face communication rather than a chatroom. You can arrange for individual or group calls, record your conversations and store them on the cloud.
It also enables screen sharing which enables smooth and quick communication.
Features:
- Group chats
- Conversation recording and cloud storing options
- Screen share
- High quality video with secure access through passwords for members
Pricing: It is free for personal meetings (suitable for small business) while upgrade packages start at $149.9.
Skype
Although Skype has been referred to as outdated, it is still a widespread common tool for internal communication. Its features cover most necessary things like group chats, file and screen sharing, free audio and video calls and more. It is simple to use which makes it the most popular tool.
However, Skype offers a more serious version being Skype Business which provides similar services with an addition of integration with Office apps, online meetings and few more add-ons.
Features: Online meetings
- Online meetings
- Audio and video calls with an option of recording
- File and screen sharing
- Group chats and calls
Pricing: Skype is free but Skype for Business starts at $3 per person per month depending on the package you need.
OTHER USEFUL APPS
Expensify
Expensify is an app that keeps track of your expenses and makes the process less stressful for you. You can link your credit or debit card to your Expensify account or you can take pictures of your receipts and the app will automatically extract the relevant details. You can also make an expense report which takes only a few minutes.
Mailchimp
MailChimp allows you to build and manage your emailing lists and easily create and send newsletters, offers etc. You can customize your email templates and track the performance reports on your email campaigns. Such insight enables you to send your customers more relevant offers. It may be referred to as a tool for bigger business, but it can make your business process much easier so it’s worth a try. It’s freemium but if you want an upgrade, it starts from $9.99/month.
Polaris Office
Polaris Office is an alternative to Apple’s iWork allowing you to edit, create and sync files from your phone or other device. You can create spreadsheets and docs and much more. Its monthly subscription starts at $6.99.
Final
Today, we have more tools than ever to help business owners from accounting software to business management apps and all of them serve solely one purpose: to enable small or medium business owners to remain agile and efficient.
This is a selected list of apps that can help you streamline your business operation but keep in mind that there are many more apps depending on your business needs.
As a small business owner, the more you can automate tasks, stay organized and streamline your processes, the more efficient and productive your business will become.