Successfully running a small business requires ingenuity, organization and thriftiness. Thankfully with advances in technology, there are a wealth of apps to assist small business owners in their day-to-day operations and achieve their goals. Below is a list of some of the most efficient and affordable apps small businesses can utilize to operate smoothly and grow.

Freshbooks

Freshbooks allows time-tracking, expense management, creating invoices and receiving payments. It’s also very user-friendly and straightforward. The time-tracking feature can be used to create invoices for clients and setting up to receive ACH and credit card payments is easy. With the premium plan, you can even invite your accountant as a user. Another plus when it comes to Freshbooks is cost. The Premium plan starts at only $45/month.

Microsoft Teams

The beauty of Microsoft Teams is that it’s included in Office 365, so many businesses already have access to it. Teams enables employees to instant message each other, send documents and images and even video call with an option to screen share. With many small businesses using a remote work hybrid model, Teams helps employees keep in touch and collaborate virtually.

Evernote

Evernote is the perfect app for ideas, projects and of course, notes. It’s not just for writing either. Evernote offers many ways to save information for future use, such as images, audio clips, website pages, emails and sketches from your phone or tablet. It also integrates well with other popular apps including Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Drive and Salesforce, so users aren’t forced to jump back and forth between apps. Plans range from free to $14.99/month per user, making it affordable for small businesses.

Dropbox

You don’t have to be a small business to know the value of Dropbox. Friends and family use this popular app for sharing photos. Dropbox is convenient for storing large files and images in a way that’s easy to access and provides a link creation feature to quickly share files that are too large to send via email. It’s also a great way to back up files and other information, giving business owners peace of mind if disaster strikes. Dropbox is cost-effective with a price tag of only $20/user/month for unlimited storage.

Free Conference Call

This self-described app was created 20 years ago so non-profits and charities could have conference calls at no cost. The app has evolved over the years to include video calls, yet there is still no charge for this service. The company has a ‘Pay What You Can’ pricing model where it requests payments, yet it is not a requirement. Upgrades are available and include custom greetings, custom hold music and extra storage, among others. These add-ons range in price and start at $2/month to $9/month.

At e|spaces, we understand the challenges of running a small business and we’re here to help your business thrive. We offer office space, co-working spaces and access to meeting and conference rooms. Members enjoy free parking, IT support, wi-fi, free coffee and assistance from an on-site location manager, all at an affordable price. Visit our website at espaces.com to find a location near you.