Want to run your business from anywhere? As more entrepreneurs shift to mobile work and remote teams thanks to advanced technology, having the right mobile apps isn't just convenient — it's crucial for business growth. From project management to accounting software, these business management apps will quickly become your favorite co-workers as you can develop a system to streamline everything from finances to networking.
Managing a business from your mobile device means needing quick access to your team members, ongoing projects, and critical documents. But as a small business owner, you also need to balance efficiency with preventing burnout. For example, here at Headway, we designed our book summary app to make learning accessible for everyone and encourage people to take breaks. That's why we've created this guide to the best small business apps for 2024 for even more business owners to use on the go.
These apps will help you automate task management, communicate with your team in real time, handle customer relationship management (CRM), track your business finances, process online payments, and maintain a work-life balance. Whether you're running a startup or an established company, we have apps to match your business needs.
Finding balance with wellness and productivity apps
Running a company isn't just about tracking cash flow or managing e-commerce — it's also about being an effective leader by caring for yourself and managing your stress. Let's kick off this list with wellness and productivity apps that help entrepreneurs balance learning, leisure, and work.
Headway
Here at Headway, we make learning fun and easy on the go. Through our detailed book summaries, you can access the top non-fiction reads in an accessible way. We understand how essential it is to enrich your mind and diversify your approach as a business owner, but constant task-switching can limit your reading time. That's where Headway can step in.
We offer 15-minute audio or text summaries that provide practical business insights and advice. Prioritizing your mindset development also sets an excellent example, showing your team members how much you value growth and development. With personalized reading targets and customizable topic selections, you'll discover resources to develop skills that matter for your workspace. Try it for yourself on either iOS or Android devices. Download the Headway app to enhance your skills today!
Headspace
Did you know that regular meditation can ease stress, encourage meaningful breaks, and clear your mind of clutter? Headspace is an excellent meditation app for business owners, as you can tailor sessions to your specific needs. Many people find these apps also enhance calm, productivity, and decision-making skills. Therefore, taking care of your well-being and practicing mindfulness could also lead to better outcomes for the company.
With Headspace for Work, you can sign onto a paid plan to extend these benefits to your team, which may:
Promote stress relief
Better focus and productivity
Improve employee retention
Enhance more effective team collaboration
Boost workplace wellness
Forest
Forest is a productivity app that uses a unique approach to help people stay focused. The app gamifies productivity by allowing the user to 'plant a tree' in a virtual forest that grows while you work and dies if you leave during a session.
It uses a timer to track work and rest intervals, encouraging users to take breaks and avoid distractions. While Android users can access a free version, Apple users get advanced functionality with the paid version, including customizable app-blocking features. With this feature, you can maximize productivity while still accessing your most essential apps.
Effective communication apps for business management
Modern businesses need robust communication and team collaboration tools. Here are the top apps for staying connected with your team members, clients, and customers.
Networking is essential for every business owner, and there's no better app for professional networking than LinkedIn. Whether you're working remotely or on the go, LinkedIn makes it easier to connect with industry leaders, share your latest insights, assess potential employees, and stay current with industry news, all from your mobile device.
With a user base of over 700 million professionals, LinkedIn offers unparalleled opportunities to grow your reach and establish your brand presence.
Slack
If you need to improve internal workflow, Slack facilitates user-friendly messaging and collaboration tools that work for businesses of any size. Whether you have five employees or 150, this workspace app makes communication seamless with features like:
Voice and video calls
Customizable channels for different projects
Task reminders and scheduling
Integration with project management apps like Asana and Trello
Microsoft and Google Drive connectivity
Plus, Slack shows the team's availability and promotes transparency between business owners and employees. It is an excellent app for businesses that want to optimize communication and team collaboration.
GoToMeeting
When it comes to video conferencing, GoToMeeting provides advanced functionality for businesses with remote teams or those looking to collaborate across different locations. Its cloud-based platform integrates smoothly with other business tools like Slack or Microsoft Outlook. Moreover, you can use the app on your desktop, phone, or tablet to connect with your team from anywhere.
Beyond standard features like screen sharing and drawing tools, GoToMeeting truly shines in how it offers valuable extras like meeting transcriptions, recordings, and analytics to help you assess the performance of the call and troubleshoot any issues.
The best finance apps for companies to use on the go
Managing business finances on the go requires reliable accounting software and payment processing tools. Here are some apps for handling your business accounting and cash flow from anywhere.
QuickBooks
As an industry-leading accounting app, QuickBooks offers paid plans for businesses of all sizes, from freelancers to growing teams. The mobile app offers several features to help you manage your finances quickly, such as expense tracking, inventory management, and multi-currency support (depending on your chosen subscription).
Furthermore, the app is easy to navigate and provides precise, real-time data for all financial transactions. It's an all-in-one solution that simplifies the accounting process and helps businesses stay on top of their money. So, whether you need to send an invoice on the go or record an expense, the QuickBooks app is a valuable tool.
Wave
Looking for free business management tools? Wave can offer a great solution for you! Alongside free invoicing, accounting, and banking services, you can access a suite of features, including:
Invoice creation and tracking
Payment processing
Credit card processing
Receipt scanning
Basic expense tracking
Wave is one of the best apps for small businesses managing their finances on a tight budget. As your business expands, Wave lets you upgrade for advanced features like payroll and professional bookkeeping support through their app.
PayPal
As a business owner, you want to ensure you're getting paid quickly and securely without any hassle. That's where the PayPal app comes in handy! Its intuitive interface for digital payments allows you to accept customer payments with just a few taps on your phone. But that's not all this nifty app can do.
You can also create professional-looking invoices, track expenses, and manage cash flow from anywhere. Plus, with detailed reports and analytics, you can make informed decisions for your business. Say goodbye to tedious payment processes and hello to the convenience of the PayPal app!
Square
Square is a simple, secure, and affordable way to process payments for your business. This app offers competitive pricing, low transaction fees, and additional features like inventory management and appointment scheduling. With the Square app, it's easy to streamline your operations and get paid quickly.
Its customizable point-of-sale system works well for both brick-and-mortar and e-commerce businesses. It also has robust analytics and reporting tools that deliver valuable insights. In short, it is a must-have app for small business owners!
Streamline your workflow with task management apps
The right task management app can help you meet crucial deadlines and streamline your workflow. With them, you'll have a simple and effective way to organize your to-do list, delegate tasks, and track real-time progress.
Trello
If you need a simple approach to task management, Trello might suit you. You can create project boards, task cards, and columns to sort and categorize your workflow. After assigning your team members to a task, you can add a description, checklist, supporting documents, and due date to ensure they know what to do.
You can even design different boards for your to-do list, social media management plans, email marketing calendar, or team projects. If having a friendly user interface is vital to you, download the Trello app and access your task list on the go.
Asana
If you need a business management app to organize projects and team members, you should download Asana. With Asana, you can add subtasks, set start times and due dates, and assign responsibilities to team members to action long-term projects. Whether you need to manage approvals, leave comments, or view calendars, it is a helpful app for team management. Asana can integrate with various other platforms, including Google Drive, Dropbox, Slack, and Zoom, adding flexibility and convenience to its functionality.
Evernote
Evernote is the ultimate app for business owners who want to make their notes paperless and categorize everything in one place. By combining notes, tasks, and schedules, Evernote helps you prioritize and complete tasks efficiently. It even has templates for professional documents to keep your note-taking clean and organized.
Integration with other platforms is a breeze, keeping all your information in one place. Moreover, it offers an offline mode which allows you to access data even when there's no internet.
TSheets
TSheets provides team management and time-tracking capabilities for business owners looking to streamline their payroll and invoicing. With seamless integration with QuickBooks, Square, and Xero, tracking employee hours and generating accurate invoices is pain-free. Downloading the TSheets app saves time and reduces errors when monitoring tasks. Whether you're a small business owner or part of a larger enterprise, TSheets is an excellent way to improve workflow and reduce errors.
Top business apps to optimize file sharing
File-sharing apps help entrepreneurs access and share documents from any device. Whether traveling to meetings or working from home, these tools will help keep your business files both secure and accessible.
Dropbox
If you need to share files across teams and devices, Dropbox is a go-to app that works seamlessly across Windows, iOS, and Android devices. With Dropbox, business owners can collaborate with team members in real-time, share large files, and track document changes with version control.
Dropbox also has robust security features, such as two-factor authentication and encryption, to protect your data from unauthorized access. Dropbox is an ideal solution for any size company with remote workers, ultimately saving you time and boosting efficiency.
Google Drive
If you're already using Google applications, like Google Sheets or Docs, the Google Drive app can help keep your business documents organized and accessible. It holds all your spreadsheets, files, and media in one convenient place so you can easily access your team's work. Whether you're presenting in a meeting, making approvals, or taking notes, Google Drive keeps all the essential documents secure.
As a busy business owner, you likely come across lots of online content, such as articles and videos, that you don't have time to read or watch immediately. That's where Pocket comes in handy. This app lets you save links, articles, and videos to view later from any device. You can access content on a computer or phone when you have the time. With its user-friendly interface and seamless integration with other apps and platforms, Pocket is a must-have tool for anyone looking to stay productive without missing out on valuable news.
Empower your team to develop their skills with business apps
Having the right tools at your fingertips can improve your workflow, communication, and mindset. However, opting for a business plan from these apps lets you extend these benefits to your team. From onboarding new team members to streamlining project management, there's an app for every business need.
At Headway, we believe learning is vital to a balanced life. That's why we made it simple to continue learning in the workplace, at home, or when you're out. Taking just a few minutes to listen to a fresh perspective, learn a new idea, or revise industry tactics can do wonders for your productivity and creativity.
Furthermore, investing in yourself better equips you to manage a team and grow a business. If you want to empower your team, add Headway to your business's toolkit and inspire your employees to take mindful breaks. Many companies are already using Headway as part of their internal wellness program and creating a culture of self-growth. One reviewer said it helped their team boost soft skills specific to each role.
Download the Headway app today and start implementing daily learning into your routine.
FAQs
What apps are good for starting a business?
Project management apps like Asana help track tasks and team collaboration. In contrast, apps like Headway expand your mind, teach you to take meaningful breaks, and increase productivity.
What applications do businesses use?
Successful entrepreneurs typically rely on a mix of accounting software for business finances, CRM tools for customer management, Project management apps for task tracking, Communication platforms like Slack, and Productivity apps for time management to streamline workflow and improve communication.
What are the best free apps for small business owners?
While many require a paid subscription, some free apps for business owners are still worth downloading. For example, Trello, LinkedIn, and Google Drive are free, while Headway offers a free version to support your personal growth goals.
Remember to evaluate each app's functionality against your business needs before committing to paid subscriptions.
