One of the things that keep us doing our jobs and thriving as entrepreneurs are the need to do everything we can to be as efficient as possible. And one of the ways we’re able to continue to be so efficient in our work and remain on top of our industry’s trends is by using the right business apps to automate parts of our workflow, save us time, and ensure better communication within our team. In this article, we’ll share 10 business apps you didn’t know you needed, along with short descriptions of what they do and why they matter to you.

Point of Sale App

If you're in the business of selling products, then you need a Point of Sale (POS) system to track inventory and sales. A POS system can also help you keep track of customers, create loyalty programs, and accept payments. There are many POS systems on the market, so be sure to do your research to find one that fits your needs. We recommend Shopify's POS system, which is easy to use and integrates with Shopify's eCommerce platform.

Cost: $89.00/month

Accounting

QuickBooks is an essential tool for keeping track of your finances, and it can save you a lot of time and headache down the line. QuickBooks is easy to use and can be accessed from anywhere, so you can keep track of your finances on the go. Plus, QuickBooks integrates with a lot of other business apps to make your life even easier.

Cost: $30.00/month

Payroll

ADP Payroll is an app that allows you to manage your payroll even from your phone. This is perfect for small business owners or those who are self-employed. With ADP Payroll, you can view your employees' pay stubs, make changes to their withholdings, and see their year-to-date earnings. Plus, you can run reports and see real-time data on your company's payroll.

Cost: $59.00/month

Invoicing

The best app that helps with invoicing and managing expenses, in our opinion, is Zoho Invoice. It's great for small businesses and freelance workers who need to keep track of their finances on the go, and it is FREE!

The app is available for free on iOS and Android, and it integrates with other Zoho apps like Zoho Connect and Zoho Projects.

Project Management

Nothing beats Asana when project management is at stake. This app helps you keep track of your work and collaborate with your team. You can download reports, create separate projects, link to your calendar, attach progress, and keep track of each task in your organization.  Asana is it's free to use and easy to set up. Plus, it has a lot of features that can help you stay organized and on top of your game.

Content and Design

Is your business creating content that engages with your target audience? Do you need to create a logo, brochures, banners, or high-res images for large prints? Canva is your best ally. Although the free version is robust and has a lot of graphic elements that can easily fool anyone into believing you manage a high-end graphic design team, Canva Pro, at $12.99/month opens the door to even the rookies of content creators. The Pro version includes video editing, a large variety of fonts and design elements, and a large collection of themes.

Inventory

Nothing beats SOS Inventory App. It allows you to track items and serial numbers, see your profit- and loss report, and support inventory of multiple locations. It also tracks purchases at each location, precisely forecast for replenishment, creates packing slips, and coordinates packing and shipping efforts. It integrates with other apps like QuickBooks.

The basic plan costs $49.00/month

Communications

Although email is still very much alive, it is hardly an effective way to communicate between teams that are all working on the same project at the same time. Those long threads are hardly user-friendly when trying to understand the hierarchy of the conversation. With apps like Slack, which is a team messaging tool, an organization can stay in the Loop of the work your team is doing. Slack allows you to create different channels where each field in your company can message, collaborate and request updates in real-time. The free version is all you really need. It's that good.

Tracking and Team Management

TSheets is becoming super popular in the past couple of years to track time and manage schedules. It has a mobile app that saves time and it's super easy to use. You can also track GPS location, attach progress photos, assign schedules, and detailed notes on each of your projects. TSheets integrates with QuickBooks, and this is the number 1 reason why businesses have preferred this app to others.

Cost: $40.00/month and $10.00 per user/month