First-time start-ups are no easy task. In fact, according to data from Forbes, 90% of start-ups fail. If you want to be in that 10% of entrepreneurs that find success, you’ll need the best possible tools at your disposal.
With that in mind, today I want to go over five of the best tools on the market for first-time entrepreneurs. Hopefully, this list can help you take the first step toward start-up success.
Asana
Asana is one of the top task management systems on the market today. It makes managing team projects and tasks a breeze with its easy to use platform.
Asana allows teammates to quickly and easily assign tasks, communicate with team members, specify deadlines, track time, and so much more.
Every major company has some form of task management system in place these days, so as a first-time entrepreneur as soon as you get employees this should be one of the first tools on your wish list.
G-Suite
Google’s version of Word, Excel, etc. is called G-Suite and in my view, it’s the superior choice to it’s Microsoft competitor Office Online. G-suit offers all the same features as office online, but only costs $12 per month for businesses. That’s great value for money.
G-suit is also connected to Google Drive, Google’s cloud service, which means you’ll have reliable, easily accessible storage for all your spreadsheets, articles and more.
If you’re worried about making the switch from Microsoft to Google, don’t be. Google’s Google Docs is essentially the same thing as Microsoft Word, in fact, my Mom was convinced it was the exact same before I showed her the Google logo. That means the transition to a cheaper, higher quality service will be a breeze.
Threads
Entrepreneurs have a lot of communicating to do. From phone calls to emails to text messages, sometimes it can get a little out of control.
That’s where intelligent message hubs like Threads come in. With an intelligent message hub, all of your work communications fall into one easy to use dashboard. Even phone calls and audio messages are automatically transcribed and stored by Threads in the dashboard.
On top of that Threads offers shared inbox software which allows bosses to see all company communication in a one-stop-shop so to speak. That means instead of asking your employees to CC you on that email thread, you can keep track of everyone’s communications in shared inbox software, saving time and money.
Quickbooks
Quickbooks by Inuit is the most commonly used accounting tool in the world. It offers an easy to use platform that makes monitoring income, debt, and expenses a breeze.
You don’t need to be an accounting expert to do your own accounting these days. With plenty of free training and a self-explanatory platform, Quickbooks can save you thousands annually when you decide to be your own accountant.
From invoicing to customer reminders to direct deposits, Quickbooks really has any accounting tool you may need.
Google Analytics And Ahrefs
Finally, many new entrepreneurs often overlook Search Engine Optimization(SEO). Think of SEO simply as how your business ranks on search engines like Google. The higher you rank, the closer to the first page you’ll be, and that means more business.
So don’t forget to utilize SEO tools like Google Analytics to see how your website traffic is doing, and where you can improve. You also might want to consider SEO tools like Ahrefs or Moz to help you find keywords that can help propel your business up the search rankings.
These tools can also help you determine your website’s domain rating, which is vital for SEO. Even if your business is just getting off the ground, don’t forget to optimize your search results otherwise no one will be able to find your business in the first place.
Despite the vast majority of start-ups failing, there is always hope that with the right tools, and a little hard work and dedication, you can find start-up success in your first entrepreneurial venture. Just don’t give up, after the first two years, you’ve already outlasted more than 30% of the competition, according to the Small Business Association. So don’t get down if your business is struggling, dig in, use all the tools at your disposal and make your dreams a reality.
