Essential Tools for Startups

You’ve made the big plunge and decided to start your own business. You’re probably well aware of all of the responsibilities and challenges involved. The worst thing you could do is start unprepared. There are a few essential tools you should have when you start your own business. Not only to protect your business, but to help you grow and expand in the future.

First off, if you have employees, you should strongly consider looking into the latest payroll software and the available payroll calculators that are available. It will help you manage your expenses, from paychecks to health benefits and will save you the heart ache of rummaging through all of your old pay slips. With the right software, you’ll have all of your employee expenses in one easy-to-read and organized place. And your employees will benefit too, from a health care card you can set aside a little money in every month to a pay as you go worker’s compensation option. It’s good for you and your employees.

Now that you have a smart way to pay your employees, you might need some help from a project management tool. There are several options out there, but Podio is one of the more popular around. They offer a simple to understand and use app which you can set reminders for meetings, projects, ideas and a whole host of other options. It will also help you keep financial records and sort through the various contacts and responsibilities you will face.

From there, check out various companies that offer file sharing options. You need to be social in today’s economy and programs like Dropbox will help you with all of your social media needs. Stay connected and up to date with all of the newest business developments.

Finally, it would be a good idea to make sure you have the latest open office for all other documentation you will need to keep track of. From taxes to receipts, if you stay up to date with your financial history, open office would be an ideal platform for a “master” list of all of your business needs.