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Apps for small businesses

6 Apps To Help Your Small Business Manage Daily Operations

March 6, 2023

Running your own small business has many perks, but it can require long hours. Luckily, there are apps to automate tasks and alleviate stress.

If you don’t quite have the funds to outsource certain tasks, that’s okay. These apps will simplify the day-to-day operations so you can run your small business smoothly.

Square Point of Sale (POS)

Square Point of Sale (POS)

Square acts as a point-of-sale system that handles all your physical transactions at your storefront or in-person. You can receive cash, contactless cards, chip cards, and mobile payments. The app lets you set discounts for your customers, receive orders, and manage customers’ contact information.

Taking payments isn’t the only thing Square can do. You’re able to keep track of your entire stock and inventory. This makes it easier to analyze your reports and performance on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. You can manage multiple stores or shops in different locations.

It’s free to use Square itself but you’ll get charged for card transactions. Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express are all accepted at the same rate of 2.6 percent plus $0.10 per tap, scan, or swipe.

You’ll have to purchase the Square Reader from Square to accept cashless payments if you have an older iPhone. You can accept contactless cards, Apple Pay, and other digital wallets in person with Tap to Pay on iPhone XS or higher running iOS 15.5 or later.

Free
Square Point of Sale (POS)
Square Point of Sale (POS)
Square, Inc.

PayPal Business

PayPal Business

PayPal Business is a mobile money management app. It has everything you need to manage accounts and track sales activity on-the-go so you can take your small business with you wherever you go.

You can save valuable time by balancing your accounts, accepting payments, and having instant access to all of your sales reports. You’re also able to create and send professional-looking invoices in just a few quick taps.

This app is a must-have for busy business owners and freelancers always on the move.

PayPal Business is free to download and use. There are seller fees for merchants and businesses. The standard rate for receiving domestic transactions depends on the region of the recipient. Rates start at 3.4 percent plus a fixed rate of $0.30.

Free
PayPal Business
PayPal Business
PayPal, Inc.

Canva: Designer, Photo & Video

Canva: Designer, Photo & Video

Business owners looking to do their own marketing will love what Canva has to offer. It gives you everything you need to do your own online marketing. You can create amazing graphics for posters, advertisements, banners, videos, Instagram posts, YouTube thumbnails, and more.

Canva doesn’t require any special design skills. It’s suitable for small business owners of all walks.

The free version has thousands of design templates to choose from. If you want unlimited access to even more icons and illustration you can opt for one of the subscription options starting at $12.99 per month or $119.00 per year.

Free
Canva: Design, Photo & Video
Canva: Design, Photo & Video
Canva Pty Ltd

QuickBooks Accounting

QuickBooks Accounting

QuickBooks Accounting lets you take care of all your accounting needs right from your iPhone. You can quickly and easily send and track invoices. The app allows you to view your expenses and manage sales at the same time. You can connect bank statements to the app, making it more convenient to review.

This app is a must-have for small business owners looking to do their own accounting and invoicing. It’s especially handy for existing QuickBooks users. It’ll save you time, stress, and money.

The app is free to download with basic features. If you want access to all premium features in-app purchases start at $9.99.

Free
QuickBooks Accounting
QuickBooks Accounting
Intuit Inc.

HotSchedules

HotSchedules

HotSchedules provides a large variety of scheduling features for both managers and employees. The app makes it easier to stay on top of the schedule, manage time-off requests, and communicate with your team.

HotSchedules lets you assign and manage employees shifts. Team members can swap or pick-up shifts with a single tap. It’s a great way to keep your staff connected.

The app is available for a one-time fee of $2.99 so there is no need to worry about recurring costs.

$2.99
HotSchedules
HotSchedules
HotSchedules

Asana: Work In One Place

Asana: Work In One Place

Asana is a workflow management app that allows you to manage team projects and individual tasks. It uses a highly customizable list format that you can set up and design however you see fit.

You can use Asana on your iOS device or on the web. It’s a nice way to visualize and bring your team’s work together in one shared place. Breaking down the workload into manageable tasks with a clear due date and assignee ensures you and your team stay on track.

The basic version of Asana is completely free to use. If you’re wanting even more features like managing private projects, advanced search, workflow builder, and custom charts you’ll need to opt for one of the subscriptions plans. The monthly premium plan is $10.99 per month and the business plan is $24.99 per month.

Free
Asana: Work in one place
Asana: Work in one place
Asana, Inc.

To Finalize

To Finalize

What apps are right for you will depend on your type of business and business needs. Having your own business can be fun, adventurous, and rewarding. These apps can reduce the amount of tasks hanging over your head and increase efficiency with minimal to no cost.

So what are you waiting for? Let your phone do some of the heavy lifting for you.