Running a successful startup isn’t easy. Just because you’ve gotten past the idea phase and are making your plans into actions doesn’t mean that the hard work is over. To turn your startup into a business that makes money and supports your lifestyle, you’ll need the right tools. Here are startup tools that can help any business succeed—no matter the industry.
#1. Business Planning: IdeaBuddy
Starting an online business isn’t as easy as having a great idea. First, you’ll need a plan to make it all happen. IdeaBuddy can help you plan your business, create a business model, and help you write a business plan. IdeaBuddy comes with several tools so that you can organize your business while giving you real-life examples. It also provides a Financial Plan so that you can make financial projections easily with no complicated equations necessary.
#2. Project Management: nTask
Once you’re past the idea and business planning phase, you’ll need to start managing your project and all of the tasks you’ll need to complete. With nTask, you can plan your projects and record the time each one takes. It also allows you to organize meetings online. nTask’s most significant benefit is that you won’t have to switch between different software to ensure all of your tasks are completed. Luckily, nTask has a basic version that’s free, so you can check it out before you purchase.
#3. Amazon Selling: Amazon Keyword Tool
If you sell your products on your website and Amazon, you’ll need to make sure that potential customers can find you. The Amazon keyword tool can help you understand where your products are ranking on Amazon so that you can find ways to improve them. If you already sell products on Amazon, then you know that the higher you rank for a specific keyword, the more sales you’ll get because more potential customers have the opportunity to look at your product.
If you’re not yet selling on Amazon, make sure that you understand how keyword research works to track your rankings and find the best way to position yourself as one of the top products that show up in Amazon search results.
#4. Communication: Slack
If you already have a team working within your business, then you’ll need to keep the lines of communication open. Slack is an excellent tool with a free option that allows you to instantly message team members and ensure everyone is on the same page. If you’re a new business that’s saving money by letting everyone work remotely, then Slack is the best tool to make sure that everyone is working collaboratively.
#5. Finance Management: Fiskl
All successful businesses carefully manage their finances. However, as a startup owner, it can be difficult to wrap your head around all of the costs associated with your company and whether or not you’re selling enough products to ensure its success. Fiskl allows you to scan receipts, create and manage invoices, and handle all of your expense reports so that you know exactly how much your business is spending. A tool that helps you manage your expenses can help you understand how to improve your business and your pricing.
#6. Customer Support: ZenDesk
Your customers should be your highest priority. Even if you sell high-quality products at the best price, you still need a customer satisfaction plan that keeps your customers coming back. Customer experience is the most important thing you can provide your customers because it will help them trust you, which means more loyal, repeat customers.
ZenDesk allows your customer to communicate with sales support directly through a chat on your website or a ticket system to keep your customer support team organized and your customers happy.
Running a startup is no easy feat. However, with these six tools, you’ll be able to succeed with ease.