50 Best Tools and Software for Small Businesses (Free & Paid)

Running a small business in 2024 requires not only vision and dedication but also access to the right tools and resources that help streamline operations, improve productivity, and enhance growth. Whether you are just starting or looking to scale your business, having the right resources at your fingertips is essential. Here’s a comprehensive list of 50 Best Tools and Software for Small Businesses (Free & Paid) to help you succeed.

1. QuickBooks Online

QuickBooks Online is one of the most popular accounting tools for small business owners. It helps streamline all financial aspects of your business, including invoicing, expense tracking, and financial reporting. The platform is user-friendly and integrates with multiple other apps, making it easier to manage your cash flow, create profit and loss reports, and stay on top of your tax obligations. With cloud-based access, you can track your business finances anytime, anywhere, which is a huge benefit for business owners on the go.

2. Xero

Xero is another robust accounting software ideal for small businesses. It offers features such as bank reconciliation, invoicing, inventory management, and payroll solutions. Xero also supports multi-currency functionality, making it perfect for businesses operating internationally. Additionally, its easy integration with hundreds of third-party apps, like Stripe and PayPal, enhances its flexibility, allowing you to tailor it to your business needs. Xero's user-friendly dashboard simplifies financial reporting, and with mobile access, you can manage your business finances even when you’re away from your desk.

3. FreshBooks

FreshBooks is tailored for service-based small businesses, freelancers, and contractors. It excels in its simple, intuitive interface that allows you to easily send invoices, track billable hours, and manage client payments. FreshBooks also offers expense tracking and financial reporting. For those who juggle multiple clients and projects, FreshBooks’ time-tracking feature helps ensure you're getting paid for all your work. Its automation of tasks like invoicing, organising expenses, and tracking time can save business owners valuable time.

4. Wave Accounting

Wave is a free accounting tool that provides small businesses with essential features such as income and expense tracking, invoicing, and receipt scanning. While many free tools have limitations, Wave’s powerful features are suitable for small businesses looking to keep costs low. The platform also offers optional paid services like payroll processing and credit card processing, giving business owners flexibility to scale as they grow. Wave’s clean interface and no-cost core features make it an ideal option for startups and freelancers with limited budgets.

5. Gusto

Gusto is an all-in-one payroll, benefits, and HR solution for small businesses. It simplifies the payroll process by automatically calculating and filing taxes, ensuring that you remain compliant with federal and state regulations. Gusto also offers benefits management, including health insurance and 401(k) plans, allowing small businesses to offer competitive benefits to employees. Gusto’s onboarding tools also make it easier to manage new hires, from setting up direct deposits to ensuring all necessary paperwork is completed.

6. HubSpot CRM

HubSpot CRM is a free customer relationship management tool that helps businesses track leads, manage customer interactions, and streamline sales processes. Its intuitive dashboard allows small business owners to monitor their pipeline and sales metrics without the need for a steep learning curve. HubSpot also integrates with popular marketing and sales tools, providing a seamless experience. With features such as email tracking, deal management, and contact organisation, HubSpot helps businesses stay organized and deliver better customer experiences.

7. Salesforce Essentials

Salesforce Essentials is the simplified version of Salesforce, designed specifically for small businesses. It provides powerful CRM tools to help you manage customer relationships, track sales, and automate repetitive tasks. Salesforce Essentials includes features like lead tracking, email integration, and mobile access, allowing you to manage your business from any device. It also offers a robust reporting tool to give you insights into your sales performance. As your business grows, Salesforce can scale with you, offering additional features and integrations tailored to larger enterprises.

8. Mailchimp

Mailchimp is a leading email marketing platform that allows small businesses to create, send, and analyze email campaigns. Its easy-to-use drag-and-drop editor helps you design professional-looking emails, while its robust analytics track open rates, clicks, and engagement. Mailchimp also offers tools for automating email sequences, segmenting your audience, and personalizing content based on user behavior. Beyond email marketing, Mailchimp also provides landing page creation, social media advertising, and even website building tools, making it a comprehensive marketing platform for small businesses.

9. Constant Contact

Constant Contact is another powerful email marketing tool designed for small businesses. It offers customisable email templates, contact list management, and real-time tracking of email campaign performance. Constant Contact also provides additional features such as event marketing, where businesses can create, promote, and manage events, as well as social media marketing tools. Its easy-to-use platform allows business owners to grow their customer base and engage with their audience through targeted email campaigns and online marketing strategies.

10. Hootsuite

Hootsuite is a social media management tool that allows businesses to schedule and manage posts across multiple social media platforms from one dashboard. It provides detailed analytics on post performance, helping you understand your audience engagement and social media ROI. Hootsuite supports integration with major platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter, making it easy to keep your social media presence consistent and streamlined. For businesses looking to scale their social media efforts, Hootsuite also offers team collaboration tools and content approval workflows.

11. Buffer

Buffer is another leading social media scheduling tool that focuses on simplicity and ease of use. With Buffer, you can schedule posts, track their performance, and analyze audience engagement across multiple platforms. Buffer’s intuitive interface allows small business owners to focus on what matters most: creating quality content without worrying about manually posting it in real time. Buffer also includes a browser extension, making it easy to schedule posts while browsing the web. For small businesses looking to build a social media presence, Buffer’s affordable plans and user-friendly interface are a perfect match.

12. Canva

Canva is an online design tool that empowers small businesses to create stunning graphics, presentations, and marketing materials without needing a professional designer. With an array of templates for social media posts, flyers, business cards, and presentations, Canva enables anyone to produce professional-quality designs. The platform is particularly useful for small businesses that want to maintain a cohesive brand identity without investing in expensive design software. Canva also offers collaboration features, making it easy for teams to work together on design projects.

13. Adobe Creative Cloud

For small businesses requiring more advanced design capabilities, Adobe Creative Cloud offers a suite of tools such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. These industry-standard tools allow businesses to create high-quality visual content, from marketing materials to branding assets. Adobe Creative Cloud is ideal for small businesses in creative industries like design, marketing, or media, where professional-grade design tools are essential. The cloud-based platform also allows for collaboration, with team members able to access and edit projects from anywhere.

14. Google Workspace

Google Workspace (formerly G Suite) is a collection of cloud-based productivity tools that includes Gmail, Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Drive, and more. For small businesses, Google Workspace provides an all-in-one solution for email communication, file sharing, document creation, and collaboration. The integration across these tools ensures seamless workflows, while real-time editing in Google Docs and Sheets allows for efficient team collaboration. Google Workspace is perfect for small businesses looking for a cost-effective, scalable, and reliable suite of tools to manage daily operations.

15. Microsoft 365

Microsoft 365 offers small businesses access to Microsoft’s suite of productivity tools, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams. The cloud-based platform allows for remote collaboration, file sharing, and real-time editing. Microsoft 365 also includes built-in security features to protect your business data, making it a safe and reliable option. With seamless integration across its tools, Microsoft 365 helps businesses streamline workflows and improve team productivity. Its flexibility in pricing and features makes it suitable for businesses of all sizes.

16. Slack

Slack is an essential communication tool for small businesses. It organizes team conversations into channels, allowing for better collaboration and less cluttered communication. You can set up channels for specific teams, projects, or topics, ensuring that discussions are relevant and easy to find. Slack also integrates with a variety of tools like Google Drive, Trello, and HubSpot, making it a hub for all your communication needs. It supports real-time messaging, file sharing, and video calls, making team collaboration seamless even if everyone is working remotely.

17. Dropbox

Dropbox is a cloud-based storage solution that allows small businesses to securely store and share files with their team. With its intuitive interface, Dropbox makes it easy to upload and access files from any device, making remote work more manageable. Dropbox also offers features such as document collaboration, file recovery, and automatic syncing, which ensures that your team always has access to the most up-to-date versions of important files. Its integration with other tools, like Slack and Microsoft Office, allows for seamless workflow management.

18. Zoom

Zoom has become a go-to video conferencing tool for small businesses. Whether it’s team meetings, client presentations, or webinars, Zoom’s easy-to-use platform supports high-quality video and audio calls. Zoom allows for screen sharing, which is perfect for remote collaboration and presentations. The tool also offers recording options, breakout rooms for smaller discussions, and integrations with calendars for easy scheduling, making it an invaluable resource for businesses working remotely or with distributed teams.

19. Calendly

Scheduling meetings can be time-consuming, but Calendly simplifies the process by allowing clients or colleagues to book time with you based on your availability. Calendly integrates with popular calendar apps like Google Calendar and Microsoft Outlook, preventing double bookings and automating reminders. Whether you're scheduling one-on-one meetings or group events, Calendly helps streamline scheduling, freeing up more time for small business owners to focus on running their business.

20. Doodle

Doodle is a scheduling tool designed to simplify group meetings. It allows you to create polls with different time slots, enabling participants to choose times that work best for them. Doodle is particularly useful for small businesses that work with multiple stakeholders and need a quick way to find a consensus on meeting times. It integrates with calendars and can send automatic reminders to participants, making scheduling smoother and more efficient.

21. LastPass

Managing passwords can be a hassle, but LastPass makes it easy for small business owners to store and share passwords securely. It generates strong passwords for your accounts, encrypts them, and stores them in a secure vault. LastPass also allows team members to share access to specific accounts without revealing the actual password, providing an extra layer of security for your business’s sensitive information. This tool is a must-have for maintaining online security.

22. DocuSign

DocuSign enables businesses to send, sign, and manage contracts and agreements digitally, saving time and reducing paperwork. Whether you need client contracts, supplier agreements, or employment documents signed, DocuSign offers a legally binding and secure way to handle the process online. This tool is especially helpful for small businesses that deal with remote clients or employees, ensuring agreements are signed quickly and efficiently without needing physical signatures.

23. HelloSign

Similar to DocuSign, HelloSign provides a platform for electronic signatures and document management. It allows small businesses to streamline the contract-signing process by enabling users to sign documents digitally. It’s easy to use, integrates with popular tools like Google Drive, and is a cost-effective solution for businesses that need to handle contracts and agreements on a regular basis.

24. PayPal

PayPal is one of the most widely used payment platforms, offering small businesses an easy way to accept payments from clients around the world. PayPal supports invoicing, online payments, and even recurring billing, making it a versatile tool for businesses with various payment needs. PayPal also integrates with e-commerce platforms and accounting software, ensuring seamless payment processing. Its user-friendly interface and global reach make it a valuable tool for businesses of all sizes.

25. Square

Square is a payment processing tool designed for both in-person and online transactions. It offers a range of solutions, from mobile card readers to point-of-sale systems, making it easy for small businesses to accept payments anywhere. Square also includes inventory tracking, customer management, and sales reporting features, helping business owners stay organized. Its simple setup and transparent pricing make it an attractive option for businesses that want to accept credit card payments without the hassle of traditional merchant accounts.

26. Stripe

Stripe is a powerful online payment processing tool used by small businesses to handle credit card transactions, subscriptions, and even global payments. It offers an API for developers, allowing you to customise your payment processes. Stripe is particularly useful for e-commerce businesses and SaaS companies that need to accept payments online. With robust security features, real-time tracking, and seamless integration with various platforms, Stripe is an essential tool for managing digital payments.

27. Shopify

Shopify is one of the most popular e-commerce platforms, providing small businesses with everything they need to create an online store. Shopify offers customisable templates, integrated payment processing, inventory management, and marketing tools. Whether you're selling products or services, Shopify makes it easy to manage an online store without needing extensive technical knowledge. Its scalability also allows businesses to grow without needing to switch platforms.

28. WooCommerce

WooCommerce is a customisable e-commerce platform built on WordPress. It’s perfect for small businesses that already use WordPress and want to add an online store. WooCommerce is flexible, offering various plugins and themes to help businesses create a fully functional online store. It also integrates with payment gateways like PayPal and Stripe, making it easy to process payments. WooCommerce’s open-source nature means it can be tailored to suit the unique needs of your business.

29. Etsy

For small businesses selling handmade or vintage products, Etsy is a great platform to reach a global audience. Etsy allows you to set up an online shop easily and provides built-in marketing tools to help you reach potential customers. With millions of active buyers, Etsy is a valuable resource for artisans, crafters, and vintage sellers looking to grow their business without the overhead of a traditional retail store.

30. Wix

Wix is a website builder that allows small businesses to create professional-looking websites without needing any coding skills. With drag-and-drop functionality, Wix makes it easy to design and customise your site. It offers various templates for different industries and integrates with e-commerce tools, marketing features, and SEO settings. For small business owners looking for an all-in-one solution to build their website, Wix is a cost-effective and easy-to-use option.

31. WordPress

WordPress powers over 40% of all websites, making it the most popular website platform in the world. Its open-source nature allows small businesses to create highly customizable websites with a range of plugins and themes. WordPress is ideal for content-heavy sites like blogs or businesses that want complete control over their website’s design and functionality. Its flexibility and scalability make WordPress suitable for businesses at any stage of growth.

32. Moz

Moz is an SEO tool that helps small businesses optimize their websites for search engines. From keyword research to backlink analysis, Moz provides detailed insights to improve your site’s ranking on search engines like Google. Moz also offers a suite of tools to help track and manage local SEO efforts, making it particularly useful for businesses that rely on local customers. Its comprehensive reports make it easier to identify areas for improvement and track your progress over time.

33. Ahrefs

Ahrefs is another powerful SEO tool that provides in-depth analysis of your website's performance, backlinks, and keyword rankings. With Ahrefs, you can conduct competitor analysis, identify high-traffic keywords, and track your site’s ranking over time. It also offers tools for content analysis, helping businesses improve their content strategy. For small businesses looking to boost their online visibility, Ahrefs is a must-have resource.

34. SEMrush

SEMrush is a comprehensive digital marketing tool that offers features for SEO, content marketing, social media management, and competitive analysis. It helps small businesses identify opportunities to improve their online presence through keyword research, backlink tracking, and site audits. SEMrush’s content marketing tools help you optimize your content for better search engine visibility, making it a valuable resource for small businesses looking to grow their organic traffic.

35. Grammarly

Grammarly is a writing assistant that helps businesses improve their communication by catching grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors. It also provides style suggestions and helps ensure that your writing is clear and professional. Whether you're drafting emails, blog posts, or social media content, Grammarly can help improve the quality of your written communication. It integrates with popular tools like Google Docs, Slack, and Microsoft Word, making it an essential resource for maintaining professionalism in all written content.

36. Fiverr

Fiverr is a marketplace for freelancers, offering services from logo design to digital marketing at affordable rates. Small businesses can use Fiverr to hire professionals for one-off tasks like website design, copywriting, social media marketing, and more. Fiverr’s diverse pool of freelancers allows businesses to find high-quality talent quickly and at a price that fits their budget.

37. Upwork

Upwork is another freelancing platform where businesses can hire professionals for tasks ranging from graphic design to app development. Small businesses can post job listings and receive proposals from freelancers all over the world. Upwork offers tools for managing projects, setting milestones, and tracking progress, making it easy for businesses to collaborate with freelancers remotely.

38. Zapier

Zapier is an automation tool that connects different apps and automates repetitive tasks without the need for coding. For small businesses, Zapier can save time by automating workflows between apps like Slack, Gmail, Google Sheets, HubSpot, and hundreds of others. For example, you can set up workflows (called "Zaps") to automatically send data between apps, such as creating new leads from form submissions or sending automatic follow-up emails. This streamlines processes, reduces manual work, and allows small business owners to focus on higher-level tasks.

39. Adobe Spark

Adobe Spark is a simple, easy-to-use design tool that allows businesses to create graphics, web pages, and videos. It’s particularly useful for social media marketing, offering templates for Instagram stories, Facebook posts, and YouTube thumbnails. Adobe Spark integrates with Adobe Creative Cloud, allowing you to access more advanced tools if needed. For small businesses that need to produce visually appealing content without a steep learning curve, Adobe Spark is a great solution.

40. SurveyMonkey

SurveyMonkey allows small businesses to create surveys and collect feedback from customers, employees, or partners. Whether you’re looking to conduct market research, gather customer feedback, or measure employee satisfaction, SurveyMonkey’s user-friendly interface makes it easy to create professional surveys. It also offers reporting tools to help you analyze the data and make informed decisions.

41. Google Analytics

Google Analytics is a free tool that helps small businesses track website traffic and user behaviour. It provides insights into how visitors find and interact with your site, which pages are most popular, and what actions users take on your site. Google Analytics is essential for understanding your audience and optimising your website for better performance. Its integration with other Google tools, like Google Ads, makes it easy to track the effectiveness of your marketing efforts.

42. Hotjar

Hotjar is a tool that provides insights into how users interact with your website through heatmaps, session recordings, and surveys. It helps small businesses understand user behavior, identify pain points in the user experience, and make data-driven decisions to improve website performance. For businesses focused on improving conversion rates and user satisfaction, Hotjar offers invaluable insights.

43. HubSpot Marketing Hub

HubSpot Marketing Hub is a comprehensive marketing platform that offers tools for email marketing, content management, social media, and lead generation. It’s perfect for small businesses looking to grow their marketing efforts without investing in multiple tools. HubSpot also offers a free CRM, making it easy to manage your customer interactions while improving your marketing strategies.

44. LinkedIn

LinkedIn is an essential platform for small businesses to build professional networks, find new clients, and hire talent. It’s also a great tool for content marketing, allowing businesses to share industry insights, promote their services, and engage with potential customers. LinkedIn’s advertising platform offers targeted ads, making it a valuable resource for businesses looking to grow their online presence.

45. Instagram for Business

Instagram for Business is a powerful platform for small businesses looking to reach a broader audience through engaging visuals. With over 1 billion users, Instagram allows businesses to create captivating posts, stories, and ads that showcase their products or services. The platform also offers analytics tools to track engagement and audience demographics, helping you optimize your content for maximum impact. Instagram’s shoppable posts feature allows users to purchase directly from your posts, making it easier to convert followers into customers.

46. Facebook for Business

Facebook for Business provides small businesses with a versatile platform to build their brand, engage with customers, and run targeted advertising campaigns. With tools for creating business pages, managing customer interactions, and promoting products or services, Facebook is essential for businesses aiming to connect with a large audience. Facebook Ads allows businesses to target specific demographics, interests, and behaviors, ensuring that your ads reach the right people. The platform’s integration with Instagram and Messenger also allows for multi-channel marketing, making it a comprehensive tool for business growth.

47. Twitter for Business

Twitter for Business helps small businesses stay connected with their audience through short, real-time updates. Twitter is an excellent platform for customer engagement, as businesses can respond quickly to customer inquiries, share industry news, and participate in trending conversations. The platform also offers advertising options such as promoted tweets and Twitter ads, which can help businesses increase their visibility. Twitter’s hashtag feature makes it easy to join industry conversations and reach a wider audience.

48. Pinterest for Business

Pinterest for Business is ideal for small businesses that rely on visual marketing. It’s particularly effective for businesses in the fashion, home decor, food, and DIY industries. Pinterest allows businesses to create “pins” that link back to their websites, driving traffic and increasing brand visibility. With tools like Pinterest Analytics, you can track which pins are performing well and tailor your content to your audience’s interests. Pinterest also offers advertising options to promote pins and reach new customers.

49. Airtable

Airtable is a flexible database tool that combines the functionality of spreadsheets and databases, making it a powerful organizational tool for small businesses. Whether you’re managing projects, tracking inventory, or organizing customer data, Airtable’s customizable interface makes it easy to visualize and manage information. Airtable’s integration with popular tools like Slack, Google Drive, and Mailchimp helps streamline workflows, making it an ideal resource for businesses that need to organize and collaborate effectively.

50. Notion

Notion is an all-in-one workspace for notes, tasks, databases, and collaboration. Small businesses can use Notion to keep track of internal documents, plan projects, and manage to-do lists. Its highly customizable templates make it easy to adapt to different business needs, whether you're using it for team collaboration, personal productivity, or knowledge management. Notion’s integration with tools like Slack and Google Drive allows for seamless information sharing across teams. For businesses looking to consolidate their project management, documentation, and note-taking into one platform, Notion is a valuable tool.

Conclusion

In 2024, small business owners have a wealth of tools and resources at their disposal to streamline operations, improve communication, manage finances, and enhance marketing efforts. From CRM platforms like HubSpot to marketing powerhouses like Instagram and Pinterest, leveraging these 50 resources will help you build and grow a successful small business. By integrating these tools into your workflow, you can boost productivity, improve customer relationships, and set your business up for long-term success.