As a small business owner, you have many roles to fill and need different skills to help organize, manage, plan, and expand your business. The never-ending demands of a small business can be frustrating, but very rewarding at the same time as you meet or exceed your goals and finish projects. Check out the following FREE APPS available to help contractors manage their business. (Original blog from ERIESENSE)
Payroll, taxes, operations—there are lots of details to stay on top of when you run your own business.
Fortunately, today’s evolving technology makes it easier than ever to be organized. And small business owners rely on it: A survey conducted by the National Small Business Association revealed that 70 percent of small business owners said that technology is key to their success.
Of course, more complex technology solutions can cost quite a bit. But many others charge only a modest fee—or are even free. That’s the case with the six phone apps below. They can help you get the job done at no extra cost. Read on to see how.
The app: Google Keep
Best for: Creating lists
What it does: When you need to offload an idea for later use, this is the app you’ll want to use. Google Keep lets you create notes and lists, set reminders, loop in a “collaborator” and more. Even better, it automatically syncs to your devices.
The app:Bubble Level (for Android) and iHandy Level (for iOS)
Best for: Calibrating surfaces
What it does: Forgot your level? That’s no problem when you have either of these apps. They’ll help you check surfaces, calculate angles and more.
The app: Safety Meeting App
Best for: Getting help with OSHA compliance
What it does: With versions for 34 trade types, Safety Meeting App lets you track safety meetings, accidents, employee attendance and much more. It also has information on 950 safety topics. The first year is free.
The app: Wave
Best for: Staying on top of accounting
What it does: Whether you want to create and send an invoice, scan a receipt or create an accounting report, Wave has you covered. The free version offers a surprising number of services—and more complicated functions like paying employees are available for a fee.
The app: Construction Manager
Best for: Staying connected to the people in the office and the field
What it does: Whether you need to share project estimates, time sheets or maintenance logs, Construction Manager has you covered. It lets everyone stay in the loop, no matter where they may be. It also lets salespeople and estimators create on-site estimates for projects. The app is free, and you have the option of purchasing options that block advertising, give you unlimited form submissions and more.
The app: SignNow
Best for: Gathering signatures
What it does: How does signing a document or getting someone’s signature with no need to mail, fax or scan anything sound? SignNow makes that possible with just one simple finger stroke serving as your signature. The free version gives you five signatures a month—after that, it’s just $6.99 a month for the service.
Erie Insurance does not endorse the apps described above. Please do your own investigation and make up your own mind whether any of these apps is right for you.