18 Game-Changing Small Business Resources for Success
Starting and running a small business is hard, but it gets easier if you have helpful tools. These tools are especially great if you’re considering starting a business in online tutoring or creating content.
As a small business owner myself, I’ve spent hundreds of hours searching for other online tools and programs to help me get my existing business off the ground. But it wasn’t until recently that I discovered how valuable these resources could be for new and existing businesses.
In this blog post, I’ll share my top 11 resources for small businesses I wish I had known about earlier, including compliance tools, marketing services, workflow automation, and more.
What are the top small business resources?
Below is a blend of small business resources I am using, used before, or have been recommended that I see merit in.
1. Notion.so
For a vending machine business, utilizing a productivity app like Notion.so can be crucial for managing inventory, scheduling, and overall business planning. It’s an all-in-one tool that allows you to organize all aspects of your business in one place. It has been fundamental in helping me stay organized and on top of all my tasks, especially when managing a team.
2. ClickUp
ClickUp is an ultimate productivity platform that helps businesses of all sizes manage their tasks, projects, and teams more efficiently. With the help of its project tracking feature, users can easily organize their projects from start to finish and communicate progress with their team. The platform boasts many small business resources, such as task templates, custom fields, and goal tracking, to help streamline operations and ensure optimal efficiency. Whether you’re a small business owner, freelancer, or project manager, ClickUp has all the tools you need to take your productivity to the next level.
3. Lemlist
Lemlist is a targeted outreach platform allowing entrepreneurs to create highly personalized emails that are not automated. It’s an excellent tool for businesses that want to connect with existing clients for follow-ups or look for new leads to increase their revenue.
4. Jasper.ai
Jasper.ai is an AI-powered personal assistant that helps busy professionals manage their calendars and inboxes. I use Jasper to schedule meetings, make appointments, and prioritize tasks. The assistant uses machine learning algorithms to learn your preferences and habits, making the experience more personalized over time.
5. Pipedrive
Pipedrive, a CRM tool, aids organizations in managing their sales process and enhancing vendor relationship management more efficiently. It’s an outstanding tool for startups that need a more reliable and accessible method to organize their sales process through fewer steps.
6. Canva.com
Canva.com is a graphic design platform that allows users to create stunning visual content without design skills. I use Canva to design my website banners, social media posts, and flyers. The platform has an extensive library of templates, images, and fonts, making creating professional-looking designs in minutes easy. Canva.com is free to use, with optional paid features.
7. Stripe
Stripe is an online payment platform that allows businesses to accept payments from customers worldwide. I use Stripe to process payment transactions on my website and online store. The platform is fast, secure, and user-friendly, with competitive transaction fees. It also integrates seamlessly with most major e-commerce platforms, such as Shopify and WooCommerce.
8. Zoom
Zoom is a video conferencing tool that has revolutionized the way we communicate with others. I use Zoom to host virtual meetings with my clients, team members, and partners. The platform is reliable, easy to use, and offers a range of features, such as screen sharing, recording, and virtual backgrounds. Zoom has a free plan.
9. Northwest Registered Agent
Northwest Registered Agent is a registered agent service that helps business owners comply with state regulations. I use Northwest to handle my business’s legal and compliance documents, such as filing annual reports and processing legal notices. The affordable service offers additional services, such as mail forwarding and virtual office solutions.
10. Zapier
Zapier is a workflow automation tool that connects the apps and software you use daily. I use Zapier to automate repetitive tasks, such as sending automatic email responses, triggering social media posts, and processing new orders. The platform is user-friendly and offers a range of integrations with popular tools, such as Gmail, Slack, and MailChimp.
11. Steelcase Leap Chair
The Steelcase Leap Chair is adjustable, so you can customize it to fit your body type and posture. It also has a breathable fabric that helps you stay calm, even sitting for long hours. While it’s not exactly one of the small business resources, it’s a worthy investment for anyone who spends a lot of time sitting at a desk.
12. Amazon Business
Amazon Business is a game-changer for those looking to take their small business to the next level. With an extensive range of small business resources at your fingertips, the platform is designed to make your life easier. From managing your invoices to purchasing supplies, Amazon Business streamlines the process, freeing up more of your valuable time. The best part? Amazon Business is a global marketplace, allowing small businesses to expand their reach and connect with customers worldwide. With Amazon Business, the sky’s the limit for small businesses looking to grow and thrive.
13. Small Business Administration
The Small Business Administration is a federal agency that provides resources and support to small businesses. They offer loans, grants, and other resources to help small business owners achieve their goals.
14. Chase Bank
Chase Bank is an excellent option for small businesses searching for banking services. It’s an all-in-one platform that offers various financial services like checking accounts, merchant services, payment processing, and business credit cards. Finding a bank or financial institution that makes it so easy to pay vendors, customers, and bills swiftly and securely is also challenging.
15. Grants.gov
Grants.gov is a website that provides information about grants available to small businesses. It’s a great resource for entrepreneurs who are looking for funding for their businesses.
16. Cloutboost
Cloutboost is a valuable resource for small businesses in the gaming industry looking to expand their reach. They connect video game brands with popular gaming influencers to create engaging marketing campaigns. This service helps small businesses gain visibility and attract customers by using influencers with a large following. With Cloutboost’s strategy development, influencer matchmaking, and campaign management, small businesses can effectively promote their products and grow their audience.
17. Discord
Discord is a free resources chat app designed for gamers, but it’s now a popular communication tool in many industries, including “the small business.” Discord channels are like virtual chat rooms that allow you to communicate with your team members, clients, and partners in real-time. You can use it for text, voice, and video chats, file sharing, and screen sharing. Setting up your own Discord server can be done in 5 quick steps.
18. Popl
Popl is a great resource for small businesses and entrepreneurs to exchange their contact data, as it is important for companies to share contact information with their target audience to spread the word about their brand. Popl contains NFC tags that can easily be put on a digital business card to share with interested people. All they need to do is tap their device on the Popl, and voila! The recipient will immediately receive the contact details. Popl is a great tool for networking, marketing, and personal branding.
What are Small Business Resources?
Small business resources are tools and programs designed to help entrepreneurs, freelancers, and small business owners start, grow, and maintain their businesses.
These resources can include everything from online tools to business resources that offer support, training, and access to financial, marketing, and automation tools.
Some of these resources are free, while others require a monthly or yearly fee, but all are designed to help businesses succeed.
Benefits of Small Business Resources
The benefits of using small business resources are countless. They can help business owners save time, money, and energy by streamlining their operations and providing them with the insights and tools they need to succeed.
These resources can help businesses expand their reach, increase revenue, and improve customer satisfaction. They can also help business owners stay up-to-date with the latest trends, best practices, and regulations, ensuring they are always ahead of the competition.
Conclusion
These resources are only a small percentage of the many online tools, websites, and business resources available for businesses. With plenty of options, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one.
But investing energy, time, and money in finding the right tools for your business can save you years of expensive mistakes, learning curves, and frustrations associated with navigating certain tasks manually.
Finally, I encourage you to explore these resources, find what works best for you, and enjoy the time, freedom, and prosperity of being a successful small business owner.
Frequently Asked Questions
What resources there are to support small businesses?
Additionally, a wealth of resources is out there to help small businesses. From free online courses to grants and loans, plenty of options can make it easier for entrepreneurs to start their own businesses or scale up an existing one.
If you’re interested in learning more about the various opportunities available, we recommend doing some research into your local economic development
What are the 5 types of business resources?
The five types of business resources are financial resources, human resources, physical resources, intellectual resources, and emotional resources. Small businesses need all of these resources to succeed and thrive.
What is the most important resource of a small business?
Small businesses face many challenges, and it can be difficult to know where to focus your efforts. There are countless resources out there, from social media platforms to funding opportunities.
However, when it comes down to it, the most important resource for any small business is people. Your team drives your business forward, from the initial idea stage to the day-to-day operations.
Finding the right people to help you build your business is crucial and should be your top priority. Consider using online job postings or networking events to connect with potential employees who share your passion for business.
With the right team in place, your business can achieve great things.
