Technology
Top 10 Tools for Entrepreneurs on a Budget in 2023
It’s easier for entrepreneurs nowadays to start their businesses because of online tools and software applications. Fortunately for entrepreneurs with a budget, most of these tools are free or cost less than $10/mo. And if you’re starting a new business this 2023, here are tools for entrepreneurs you must use!
1. Google Workspace
One of the best tools for entrepreneurs is the whole Google Workspace. Once you sign up for a Gmail account, you can access Google’s free tools. These include:
- Docs
- Sheets
- Slides
- Drive
- Calendar
- Chat
You need to use these features to write down all of your ideas, create presentations, and store all of your files on the cloud. Only the Individual Google Workspace is free and great for entrepreneurs on a budget.
2. Slack
If you have a growing team and want to communicate with them, Slack is one of the best communication apps out there. On Slack, you can chat with your teammates, send files, and conduct meetings with their video chat feature. Plus, you can integrate other tools into your channel, too, such as Google Docs, Zoom, Jira, Salesforce, and Outlook.
Pricing:
- Free
- Pro – $7.25/mo
- Business+ – $12.50/mo
- Enterprise Grid – Contact sales
3. Zoom
One tool you must have in your entrepreneur arsenal is a video conferencing one. After all, you need to meet with investors, clients, customers, or employees. And one of the best to download is Zoom.
If you use Zoom, make sure that the other party has downloaded the software. Other than that, you can record your meeting, chat during the video call, and use custom backgrounds. Plus, you can collaborate with your attendees using the Whiteboard feature and integrate your apps, such as Hubspot, Calendly, and Slack.
Pricing (Zoom One):
- Basic – Free
- Pro – $14.99/mo/user
- Business – $19.99/mo/user
- Enterprise – Contact sales
4. Trello
Organization is important when running a business. Entrepreneurs need project management tools to keep track of their ongoing projects. And one of the best apps for any entrepreneur is Trello. The popular kanban project management tool is home to many businesses to ensure their team is staying on track and can automate different processes.
Pricing:
- Free
- Standard – $6/mo
- Premium – $12.50/mo
- Enterprise (50 users) – $17.50/user/mo (billed annually)
5. Calendly
If you’re a new entrepreneur, you might need to set up endless meetings with investors and prospective employees. And if you don’t want to miss a single appointment, you can use an appointment app like Calendly.
You can personalize your Calendly link, integrate Stripe and PayPal for seamless payments, and schedule future meetings. Plus, when attendees want to set a meeting with you, they’ll only see the slots you’re free. And you won’t miss any appointments since Calendly will send notifications to you and your attendees.
Pricing:
- Free
- Essentials – $10/seat/mo
- Professional – $15/seat/mo
- Teams – $20/seat/mo
- Enterprise – Contact sales
6. QuickBooks
Entrepreneurs need an accounting software for bookkeeping purposes. Plus, they will need one when they hire freelancers or employees. One of the best accounting software applications for any entrepreneur is QuickBooks.
With QuickBooks, you can send invoices and receipts, keep track of expenses, and manage your inventory. Plus, there are other nifty accounting-related issues that any small business or entrepreneur will need from the start.
Pricing:
- Simple Start – $17/mo
- Essentials – $13/mo
- Plus – $18/mo
7. Boomerang
One underutilized tool for new entrepreneurs is the Boomerang extension for Gmail. This is ideal for entrepreneurs who want to schedule emails to investors or clients. Plus, it’s a great tool for checking your email’s grammar and readability. Plus, if you spend all day answering emails but want to take a break and work on other tasks, Boomerang has a pause email option. This lets you focus on other things.
In addition, it’s an appointment scheduling tool that sends you reminders of when to send an email again and other notices you don’t want to miss.
Pricing (billed annually):
- Free
- Personal – $4.98/mo
- Pro – $14.98/mo
- Premium – $49.98/mo
- Boomerang for Teams – Contact sales
8. Buffer
Your new business should have an online presence. And even if you don’t have a website yet, you need to have active social media accounts. This alerts your potential target audience that you’re here.
And if you want an all-in-one social media tool for your business, Buffer is one of the best options to use. With Buffer, you can schedule social media posts on sites such as:
- TikTok
Aside from that, you can track analytics and monitor your engagement rates. Plus, they offer a “link to bio” start page. You can add relevant links to this page, and people can visit these to get to know you or your business more.
Pricing:
- Free
- Essentials – $6/mo
- Team – $12/mo
- Agency – $120/mo
9. Canva
As a business owner, you need visuals or design assets to post on your site. Although you can share some visual assets through social media through the retweet or share button, you need to post your own visuals online. That said, you need a design tool to help you create these visuals. One of the best tools for entrepreneurs is Canva.
The most important visual asset you need when starting a business is your logo. Although you have options to use an AI logo maker, you can try your hand at DIY-ing a logo in Canva. They have an intuitive user interface that any non-designer can use. Aside from your logo, you can also make social media posts or edit images in a few minutes.
Pricing:
- Free
- Canva Pro – $12.99/mo
- Canva for Teams – $14.99/mo (for 5 people)
10. WordPress
Your business should have a website, which means also amping up your online presence. While social media can be a channel to do that, a website can solidify your business’s existence. Plus, it could be advantageous to your business, especially if your competitors aren’t online yet.
WordPress has been one of the best tools for entrepreneurs for almost 20 years. And it’s still a trusted platform for creating websites and blogs. One of the great things about WordPress is you don’t need development or design experience to create websites. You can customize their themes and use plugins for your blogs, appointments, and eCommerce needs.
Pricing (billed annually):
- Free
- Personal – $4/mo
- Premium – $8/mo
- Business – $25/mo
- eCommerce – $45/mo
Final Thoughts
You don’t need fancy-schmancy tools when launching your business. Even with these basic tools, you can be productive and attend all of your important meetings. With this in mind, you can have a great beginning to your entrepreneurial journey in 2023.