Getting a startup off the ground and up and running is a daily challenge. Money is tight and you need to get a lot done, in little time. You need to focus your attention on what’s really important – running your business – and with the right tools in place, you can do just that.
RELATED: 5 MISTAKES STARTUPS MAKE WITH THEIR WEBSITES
We’ve put together a list of 17 tools that will help you simplify certain aspects of your business that may be tripping you up and forcing you away from your other, more important, duties.
1. Alibaba
Alibaba allows you to buy products directly from manufacturers and suppliers quickly and efficiently. From office paper to coffee beans, whatever you may need for your business, Alibaba will find it.
2. AngelList
AngelList simplifies the process of early stage business. It’s a platform for startups, investors and even job seekers to come together to find exactly what, or whom, they’re looking for.
3. Brand24
Brand24 is a great tool to measure the buzz around your brand, product or services online. Designed to keep track of online conversations about your brand and products, Brand24 collects real-time social data from millions of sources.
4. Codecademy
Learn how to program with Codecademy, offering free coding classes in eight different programming languages. It provides a forum where coding beginners, and advanced coders, can come together to help each other.
5. CoFoundersLab
CoFoundersLab is like the Match.com for entrepreneurs. It’s a matchmaking service that connects entrepreneurs with compatible co-founders looking to join a startup through their online platform and in-person events.
6. Dropbox
Dropbox lets you store, synchronize and share files online with public access. The free version offers up to 16 GB.
7. Expensify
Expensify’s online expense management service eases the process of tracking expenses. Expensify does the hard work of expense reports so its customers don’t have to.
8. Fiverr
With Fiverr, you get graphics, marketing, copywriting and other online services on budget and on time. Most services go for just $5, or a little bit more.
9. Free Invoice Generator
Free Invoice Generator provides for an easy to use free invoice template to create invoices in PDF. It ensures a standard and convenient form for invoicing every order.
10. Google Analytics
Google Analytics is a free website analysis service offered by Google that tracks and reports website traffic. It shows you the full customer picture across ads, videos, websites, social tools, tablets and smartphones.
11. HootSuite
HootSuite is a social media management tool that allows you to to map out campaigns across social media platforms and schedule posts hours, days or even weeks in advance.
12. HubSpot
HubSpot is an inbound marketing and sales platform that helps businesses attract visitors, convert leads and close customers. It includes tools for social media marketing, email marketing, content management, analytics, landing pages and search engine optimization.
13. MailChimp
MailChimp is an online email marketing solution to manage contacts, send emails and track results. It helps you design email newsletters, share them on social networks and integrate with services you already use.
14. Shopify
Shopify is a website solution that provides everything a business needs to create an online store. Shopify offers a professional online storefront, a payment solution to accept credit cards, and the Shopify POS application to power retail sales.
15. Square
Square offers easy credit card processing and complete solutions for every type of business. From mobile point-of-sale tools and appointment scheduling to fast deposits and online invoicing, Square has everything you need to take care of every little thing.
16. Termsfeed
Create legally binding documents in minutes, including: Privacy Policies, Terms and Conditions, Terms of Use, Terms of Service or Return and Refund Policies.
17. WordPress
WordPress lets you create a free website or easily build a blog. It provides hundreds of free, customizable, mobile-ready designs and themes with free hosting and support.
BONUS TOOL!!
Canva
Canva is a free graphic-design tool website, founded in 2012. It has an easy to use drag-and-drop interface and provides access to over a million photographs, graphics, and fonts. It is used by non-designers as well as professionals. The tools can be used for both web and print media design and graphics.