10 Online Tools to Help Run a Business

admin on Oct 25th 2010 with 6 comments

Running a business is a tough thing. You have to be able to lead others and delegate tasks in an efficient manner. You have to be capable of big vision but also of dealing with the daily details of your industry. You need to wear a lot of different hats. And you definitely need to have the right tools to make it easier to do the job.

Following are ten of the best online tools available to help you run your business:

1- Invoicera

You absolutely have to have good accounting software if you’re going to run a business. You need to be able to keep track of money earned, money owed, etc. Invoicera is a top choice for many businesses. Other options include Microsoft Money and SimplyBill.

2- Basecamp

A good business has a terrific project management system. You need to be able to easily share information about projects, delegate projects, schedule deadlines, check on progress and collaborate together within the business. A leading choice for project management is Basecamp. Another good option is Liquid Planner.

3- PB Works

It is very important for you to have other tools for sharing large files. PB Wiki is a top choice. This allows you to transfer files between employees as well as from your business to another business (such as a subcontractor that is working with you). Drop.io and MediaFire are other top choices.

4- Remember the Milk

Another important online tool for running a business is a good task organizer. You need to be able to brainstorm lots of tasks and ideas and then easily organize them into different structured lists. Although programs like Basecamp can help with this a little bit, you’ll want an online tool like Remember the Milk that is specifically created to do this job right.

5- Google Chat

An instant messaging program is very useful for businesses. You can stay in touch with each other in real time, answering quick questions without wasting time on email. Google Chat is a top choices for a lot of businesses although some people prefer AIM and others use internal instant messaging systems designed specifically for their own companies.

6- Yugma

Instant messaging alone isn’t going to work for running a business. You also need a good web conferencing system. That’s because there will be times when the most efficient way to get things done is to get everyone together virtually for a video or phone conference. This is a great way to hold weekly meetings for an offsite staff. Yugma is a top choice although other options include Gaboogie and GoToMeeting.

7- Referral Key

The best way to run a business is to connect the right people to one another so that they can get the job done quickly. Referral Key is a useful online business tool for this purpose. It allows you to easily create a referral network for the people in your business. Similar online tools include intorNetworks and PartnerUp.

8- Kudos

If you’re going to run a business well then you need to keep your employees happy and loyal. Kudos is a cool online tool that helps you do that easily. More generally speaking, you might rely on other employee management tools such as time clock tools (like Clockspot) or paycheck tools (like PayCycle).

9- ClientScribe

Many people don’t realize it but running a business doesn’t just mean managing your employees. It also means managing your clients. You need an online system for tracking all of your client interactions. ClientScribe is a top choice.

10- Jumpchart

Running a business means running a website. You want to find a good online tool for designing your website and keeping it up to date without a lot of effort. Jumpchart is a leading choice in this area. It is specifically designed to help you with website planning.

Author Bio:

Clark has over 5 years of experience in tech blogging. Currently he blogs over at CAD.org, a custom application development site providing development & cloud computing advice.