INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Small business owners are no strangers to operating on a shoestring
Any small changes you can make in terms of efficiency may transform into a huge advantage over your competitors.While there is no shortage
of comprehensive business solutions and services online offering all manner of diverse features, these are often overkill for managing small
companies.In this guide, we've focused on five of the most useful applications for SMBs (small to medium businesses)
All of these either offer a free tier or represent excellent value for money
Further premium features are often available as your business grows.When considering new apps, take some time to reflect on current business
For instance, if you currently use spreadsheet software such as Microsoft Excel to create expense reports, consider employing Expensify
This automates the process for you by integrating with popular travel apps like Uber.1
KashooA smart and reasonable priced companion for SMBsSupports multiple accounting featuresExcellent tech supportMobile version is only for
iOSKashoo has been kicking around since 2008 and is designed to be an ideal accounting solution for freelancers, entrepreneurs and other
The platform supports easy creation of invoices, auditing, taxation and more.The multi-currency invoice feature is particularly
praiseworthy, allowing you to issue invoices in any number of currencies
Current exchange rates are downloaded automatically
Kashoo supports connection to over 5,000 bank data feeds out of the box.Users can accept credit card payments via Kashoo's own payment
Square, Stripe and BluePay are also supported
There is also a 14-day free trial and a money back guarantee if you are not satisfied.The main dashboard displays all relevant business data
available for iOS, offers similar features such as invoice creation
Users can also track expenses by taking and uploading photos of receipts.Kashoo is constantly updated which makes for a modern platform but
the UI has received some online criticism for being rather complex
ExpensifyManage expense reports and count the beansExcellent free tierIntegrates with travel apps like UberSupport has been
criticizedExpensify is the creation of developer David Barrett, who in his own words wished to create "expense reports that don't suck!" One
of the ways that Expensify does this is by integrating services like Uber and HotelTonight to record expenses on the fly
Such expenditures can then be consolidated with others, allowing managers to review trips as a whole and work out where costs can be
cut.Expensify offers a generous free tier which supports up to 10 free smart scans per month along with a free mobile app and unlimited
package, as well as advanced policy enforcement, corporate card reconciliation and integration with more powerful accounting software such
There is a free trial for premium features to allow you to decide if Expensify is right for your company.The platform is popular with small
business owners due to its competitive pricing, but it takes time to master as there's little online documentation
Some users have also complained that chat support takes some time to respond.3
SlackWork together on projects with this definitive collaboration toolFree tier availableIntegration with cloud servicesTricky to
masterSlack (Searchable Log of All Conversation and Knowledge) is a handy cloud-based tool that keeps all messaging and files in one place
This application is available for all mobile devices and can also be accessed via the web page itself.Slack was originally brought to life
to be used as an online tool for the game Glitch, which is now defunct
It was officially launched in 2013 as a way of helping people collaborate together online.The Slack channel system enables businesses to
divide up work based upon teams, clients, or in whatever way they need
Employees can join and leave the chats as they see fit so that they do not have to be subjected to in-depth conversations that are not
It also has a handy video feature where you can speak to members of your team face to face no matter where they happen to be.The Slack
directory integrates with over 1000 apps which include Dropbox and Google Drive
You can drag and drop files, images and videos directly into Slack if needs be
Screen sharing is also another handy feature incorporated into the app.Slack has three tiers, with the first tier being free, but that can
seem to be quite limited depending on the size of your team
response time.It has received some criticism online for not being user-friendly and there's a steep learning curve.4
AvaamoManage corporate messages securelyFree versionManage messaging via dashboardUnclear pricing modelAvaamo has been designed as a secure
that users can add other Avaamo members and exchange messages with them.The paid version offers extra features such as data compliance,
automated on/off boarding for new and former employees as well as broadcasting messages to all company users.Business Admins can manage
these and other settings via the handy dashboard, as well as monitor daily user activity and groups
Both admins and standard users can create dedicated messaging groups, so they won't be distracted by messages meant for other departments
The premium tier also has a handy 'check-in' feature allowing admins to display employees' location on a virtual map.Pricing varies based on
The Avaamo website encourages interested parties to contact them for a demo, without providing a fixed tier for small businesses
It's not clear if security features can be customized: for instance, a delivery company may need to display the current location of their
couriers via the virtual map but the CEO may not wish to be traceable in the same way.5
QuickBooksAll your small business needs in one handy appSeveral tiers to suit your needsIntegrates with Apple Pay and PayPalUI can be a bit
overwhelmingIntuit QuickBooks was originally founded as a software package geared towards individual financial management
However, after seeing how successful this was, the company decided to offer a solution for small to medium-sized businesses.QuickBooks can
be downloaded onto each computer within your firm but it is also available as a cloud-based solution
Businesses can use it to manage and pay bills as well as to accept payments, along with being a useful resource for payroll.The 'Simple
that the basic tier has to offer along with the ability to track mileage
A free 30-day trial is offered so that you get plenty of time to decide if this is the app for you.The app uses Apple Pay and Paypal for
easy payments and invoicing
This is definitely a resource suited for smaller businesses as it does not have very detailed reporting and most company's find that they
outgrow it.It has also been criticized online for not being user-friendly, and it takes a bit of getting used to.KjJw4uxQ4fPqfNmrUeBYoi.jpg#
