20 Best Management Software for Small Business

Management software is a great investment for any small business. It can help you save time and money, as well as make it easier to manage your employees and keep track of important data. However, there are several different types of management software available. It’s important to know what you need in order to find the right one for your business.

Every entrepreneur knows that running a small business can be a Herculean task. The demands of overseeing all aspects of operations, from finance to customer service, require optimal organization and efficiency. Thankfully, modern technological advancements, particularly management software, have made life easier for small businesses. In this guide, we’ll dive deep into the best management software for small businesses, looking at various features, usability, pricing, and more.

The Importance of Management Software for Small Businesses

Management software is a crucial tool for small businesses, offering a wide array of features that can help streamline business operations. Its benefits extend to various aspects of your business:

• Task Management: The software enables the easy tracking and managing of tasks, leading to a significant improvement in productivity.
• Financial Management: Many management software includes features for invoicing, accounting, and payroll, which can reduce financial errors and ensure compliance.
• Team Collaboration: Management software often provides tools for communication and collaboration, creating a central hub for team interaction and eliminating the need for multiple communication channels.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Management Software

When selecting the best management software for your small business, several factors come into play:

• Features: Determine what your business needs. If you have a small team, you might prefer a simple task manager. But if your team is larger or your tasks more complex, you might require software with comprehensive project management tools.
• Budget: Software pricing can vary widely. Some are free or low-cost, while others may charge a hefty monthly fee. Determine your budget and assess the value each software provides.
• User Interface: Good software should be user-friendly and intuitive, reducing the learning curve for your team.

20 Best Management Software for Small Business Free & Paid Open Source

1. Trello

management software project

Looking for the best management software project? This is one handy and functional software for project management. And the best thing about it is that it is free! The strength includes its impressive ability to build and then test workflows, to create and also manage tasks, and also the inclusion of whiteboard ideas. All of these features are completely functional if you want to keep track of what needs to be done, what projects that have completed, and such thing alike. After all, project management is about effective workflow, so Trello is helpful when it comes to effective arrangement, management, and execution.

The cool thing about the app is its sense of familiarity. It uses the Kanban technique – you know, the whiteboard which is covered with sticky notes containing the details. You can upgrade it to a higher digital format. Simply create the tasks, and then users can move those tasks to different columns. As a result, each member of the team knows their status, their responsibility and tasks, and what to expect. Each task card contains detailed information about each task. This is a great free app for individuals as well as teams. The free version has unlimited projects and boards but only allow 10MB file attachments – which should be enough for small business. You can always upgrade it to a paid service with more complete features.

2. Wrike’s Project Management

Wrike’s Project Management

This project management enables you to manage and run your tasks effectively and efficiently. This is truly a great app for those often working within a team. You know that sharing ideas and delegating tasks can be a pain, especially in a team. Well, with this one, you can manage and arrange tasks, share files, and then monitor the team’s performance, activities, and outcome. The coolest thing about this app is that everything is managed in a real-time mechanism, so it is super real – and you can understand each member’s real performance.

The app comes with a free version as well as the paid one. Even the free version is supportive enough for a small team. It can accommodate up to 5 users, 2GB of storage (free, of course), and unlimited numbers of collaborators. However, if you want reporting and customization, such a thing is only available on the higher package. But if your team is truly small and your project is also small, the free version will be more than enough. No wonder if it is included in the list of the best management software for small business.

3. Wave Accounting

management accounting software

One of the biggest challenges of running a business is accounting. There are many people and vendors to pay, such as utility providers, your landlord, and your employees. Having a powerful accounting app is crucial because it helps you streamline your bookkeeping activity. Feel free to use Wave to keep your books balanced. This one also comes with its free as well as paid versions. The free one offers you reports and accounting functionality along with the ability to scan and create invoices. You can also scan receipts right away and directly to the system.

Keep in mind that the features offered in the free version is pretty basic, so don’t expect it to deal with advanced stuff. If your operation is simple, then this app would be just great for you. But if you want advanced stuff like direct deposit payroll auto integration or payment, then you will have to upgrade it to a higher level – which will cost you less than $20 a month.

4. LibreOffice

LibreOffice

This app is super handy in terms of functions and usability. The app has a familiar and nice interface system that is compatible with Microsoft Word and also Excel. The app has its own presentation package that is almost the same as PowerPoint, a database software, and a drawing package (ideal for flowcharts) – along with its own editing software and document writing feature. And to make it even better is that the app is free – yes, you won’t have to spend a dime for it.

There are tons of competitor apps out there, but this app is definitely one of the best. Besides the feature-rich abilities, the app also makes sure that any (MS Office) documents opened within the app would retain their formatting. This is a cool feature because not all apps can do such a thing – even the paid ones. The free service doesn’t provide you with a cloud-based feature but if the basic features are enough for you, then this one can meet your requirements just great.

5. EquityNet Business Planning

EquityNet Business Planning

This is an app that would be perfect for startups looking for investors. This app is about a free crowdfunding platform to help you analyze, plan, and also share the business plan with your investors. The app can be used to create the business plan, along with the analysis software, and then you can publish it to the site. You are free to share it with anyone wanting and willing to learn more about it.

This app is more about funding tool, really, instead of a planning tool. However, it doesn’t mean that it can’t be useful for the business. This is especially great to help you go through the initial stage of setting up the ideas as well as attracting investors. In an overall sense, this app is quite good and handy, depending on how you see it fit.

6. Wix Website Builder

Wix Website Builder

Looking for the best management software for the website? Today’s business generally requires a website and this app would be one of the best management software for small businesses. It is pretty basic, really, but it is quite good for a free service.

Thanks to this app, you can create a mobile-friendly and full-features site. And you can use the free version as long as you want. Once you have realized that this app can benefit you greatly from the functionality and performance, then you can consider having a paid app, which will give you more features and more benefits. This app is perfect for beginner users who have very limited knowledge and experience in building a website.

7. Join.me Video Conference

Join.me Video Conference

If your business is about connecting to remote prospects or clients, or even workers, you must have a reliable and credible video conferencing app to help you with efficient task management. Among the many types of video conferencing apps out there, join.me isn’t only handy, but it is also free. With the free plan, you can have 10 participants and 5 video feeds too. Sharing screen is also possible. Remember, all of these are available through the free service, so it is truly not bad.

Despite all of these good offers, the app isn’t the most robust or the best either. But it truly offers not-so-bad features and services for the free apps. If you don’t have much to spend (especially if you have spent every dime for your startups), then this app can be a good (and ideal) option.

8. Slack

management software for business

This is another cool and handy management software for business, especially for teams – and you need to maintain constant communication and interact with other members, even through a remote system. This app has many integration options that enable you to communicate efficiently with teams. Not to mention that it is also easy and straightforward to do. What if everyone gets tangled in the fun of interacting that they forget about their work – and end up procrastinating their work? No need to worry, the app will make sure that it won’t happen.

The app is great whenever you have a new project. You should be able to create a new channel within seconds and then invite everyone to the project. And then you can share ideas, related files, and updates. It’s integrated with the office suite from Google, so attaching the related documents should be a breeze. You can install bots within each channel to connect and interact with other services as well as performing various (business) functions. Even if the team is geographically separated in different areas, you can still be connected to each other with this app – and you don’t need to use the emails either, which can take a longer time when compared to this app.

9. Duplicati

Duplicat

Another best management software for small business to have is Duplicati. It is handy to backup your data as well as managing it. This app follows the 3 important rules of business: you must have 3 copies of the critical data. They must be kept within at least 2 places. And one of it, at least, must be off-site in case there is an environmental disaster.

Well, Duplicate is a perfect one. It is open source – and it is also free. It can encrypt your data before it backs it up and you can also choose for them to go to different locations for the storage. It means that you can decide whether you want to keep the data in the cloud system, a file server, or a local drive. It also supports incremental backups which means that the app only needs to send a small number (of data) each time it runs so the archives will stay up-to-date. Of course, this occurs after the initial backup. The app itself may require a little technical knowledge but it is a handy one. Once it is running, you won’t have to worry about your crucial data anymore.

10. Deputy

Deputy

This app is great for HR (Human Resource) manager or department. It will help you perform tracks on the right candidates, especially if you have found the perfect candidate. With this app, you can make schedules of the employee shifts, manage tasks, make announcements concerning the company’s activity, and such things alike. In short, when you want to make sure that you can handle and manage all of your employees in the proper and correct way, this is an app that you should use.

Keep in mind, though, that this app isn’t free. You will have to spend $1 an employee for a monthly basis – and that’s only for the very basic package. The price may seem right but it won’t have all the advanced features that you want, which may include payroll integration or timesheets. If you want such features, you will have to upgrade the service. But this one is super handy and it is worth the extra spending, for sure.

11. Zoho One

zoho one

Zoho One is the best business management software and company management system, gives you integrated system to transform your company disparate activities into a more joined and agile business. Boost productivity throughout your small business, provide better customer experiences, plus much more.

With hundreds of software to select between and vendors obscuring their pricing, choosing the ideal applications is difficult to work. We are going to act as consultants that will assist you to navigate the intricacies of picking software. Our staff takes the time to know your own targets and indicate which applications will work best for you personally. Our job is not to sell you, but to find the proper matches based on what you need.

12. Scoro

scoro

Scoro is an all-in-one business management software created to bring your team collaboration, quotes, projects and tasks, contact management, billing, sales, and reports together at a centralized location. With Scoro you are able to manage work better and be organized in each part of your business.

Everything comes with customizable live dashboards. Whether you’re in the workplace or on the move — the KPIs and key metrics that you want to make smart data-driven decisions are almost always available.

Get more performed by incorporating Scoro using the tools you use. Scoro has highly configurable integrations with popular accounting applications, cloud storage solutions, and 1,000+ additional programs through Zapier to assist you to achieve automation. If you need the best contact management software for small businesses, I strongly recommend you Scoro.

13. Basecamp

Basecamp

Looking for the best free contact management software for small businesses? Basecamp is among those project management tools which provide customers with concise but focused features. With a rising number of subscribers, Basecamp is gaining popularity and credibility among consumers from throughout the internet.

Its project management features are only right for the typical team size. But several organizations will need to rely on more than just basic task management stuff. At its continuing price, Basecamp offers 500GB of file storage, messages, along with real-time conversation, to-do lists, programs. Additionally, you may even manage files and automatic check-ins.

14. Proworkflow

Proworkflow

ProWorkflow is best project management software for teams of 5 to 5000. 17 years of experience and reliable for more than 3 million endeavors, we know small details through to large data. Track Gantt chart jobs, Kanban boards, time, files, communications, quotations, and invoices. Our strong API and customizable features enable you to tailor ProWorkflow. World-class customer support & free on-boarding make the choice to combine simple.

It makes it easy to handle projects by having a partner. Even though there are just two people and the customer, there’s a good deal of back and forth on every project. It used to be tough to keep track of where we were who had to take another step, but today it is easy. In addition, I enjoy the simplicity of monitoring time on every step of a project. The customer service is superb.

15. GetYooz

GetYooz

GetYooz is a cloud-based accounts payable solution that can save you a lot of time when processing your invoices. Usually, when you receive an invoice, you need to process the data, enter it in your database, get approvals, and then process the payment. With GetYooz there is no risk of human error along the way, and approvals are a snap.

The solutions that Yooz offers are: 

• Automate approval workflows
• Completely paperless AP
•  Mobile access to invoice approval 
• Same day invoice approval
• Supplier participation and enablement

16. Google Apps For Business

This product is available for anyone with a Gmail account; it includes tools for email, calendar appointments, word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations. Google Docs also offers basic file storage and real-time collaboration features.

The workspace is changing. As teams of all sizes connect, create, and collaborate, the way we work is evolving dramatically. Where task management and communication used to require dedicated applications and single-purpose tools, we now find it all in one place.

17. Jira

Jira is the best management software for small businesses developed by Atlassian, which is used for issue tracking and agile project management. It provides a platform for organizing, tracking, and prioritizing projects, and it can be used for a wide range of projects, from software development to marketing campaigns.

Jira’s main features include the ability to create and track issues, such as bugs, new features, and tasks, as well as the ability to plan and manage sprints and releases. It also allows teams to collaborate on projects by providing tools for communication, documentation, and reporting.

One of the key benefits of Jira is its flexibility. It can be used by teams of all sizes and across a wide range of industries. It offers a variety of customizable workflows, and it can be integrated with other tools, such as Confluence, GitHub, and Trello, to help streamline workflow and improve collaboration.

Jira also provides robust reporting and analytics capabilities, which allow teams to track progress, measure performance, and identify areas for improvement. These reports can be used to gain insights into the status of projects, the efficiency of teams, and the overall health of the organization.

Additionally, Jira offers both cloud-based and self-hosted options, providing teams with the flexibility to choose the deployment option that best suits their needs.

Overall, Jira is a powerful tool for managing software projects and provides many features that are essential for effective project management. Its flexibility and customization options, along with its reporting and collaboration capabilities, make it a popular choice among teams and organizations looking to improve their project management processes.

18. Asana

Asana is a popular management software for small businesses designed to help teams effectively manage their tasks, plan their projects, collaborate, and report on their progress. In today’s fast-paced work environment, finding the right tool that connects team members and keeps projects on track is crucial for success. Asana stands out as a comprehensive solution, providing users with a platform that simplifies task management and improves overall team performance.

One of the key features of Asana is its user-friendly interface, which makes it easy to navigate and ensures that teams can quickly adapt to the platform. With Asana, project managers can create tasks, set deadlines, and assign team members to specific roles. Additionally, Asana offers built-in communication tools, such as comments and notifications, allowing team members to stay connected and up-to-date on project developments. This streamlined approach to team collaboration helps to reduce miscommunications, resulting in increased efficiency and productivity.

Beyond collaboration, Asana’s powerful reporting features aid in tracking team progress and identifying areas of improvement. Customizable reports provide a clear overview of projects and tasks, making it simple for managers to analyze performance, set priorities, and allocate resources accordingly. This data-driven approach ensures that teams are consistently working toward their goals and can continually refine their processes for even greater success in the future.

19. Monday.com

Monday.com is a cloud-based management software for small businesses that enables teams to collaborate, manage tasks, and streamline project planning. The platform is designed to enhance productivity and communication, simplifying the process of managing tasks and tracking progress. This article will discuss the key features of Monday.com, its benefits, and how to get started using the platform for your team.

Monday.com provides an intuitive interface for project planning, enabling you to visualize project progress using timelines, Gantt charts, and calendar views. The platform also allows you to set dependencies, ensuring that tasks are completed in the correct order. This helps your team stay on track and meet deadlines.

Collaboration is vital for successful project management, and Monday.com fosters teamwork by providing a central platform where team members can communicate and share information. Team members can leave comments, @mention other users, and participate in group discussions. The platform also features real-time notifications, ensuring everyone stays up-to-date with project developments.

One of the primary advantages of using Monday.com is the time saved by streamlining task management and project planning. The platform automates many manual processes, such as sending reminders for deadlines and updating task statuses. This enables your team to focus on more critical tasks and complete projects faster.

Monday.com provides a single, centralized platform for storing all project-related information. This ensures that team members can easily access the data they need and reduces the likelihood of miscommunication and errors. It also makes it easier to maintain version control and keep track of document changes.

Effective communication is crucial for successful project management, and Monday.com makes it easy for team members to stay connected. The platform offers various communication tools, including comments, group discussions, and real-time notifications. This helps to keep everyone on the same page and ensures that important updates are communicated promptly.

By streamlining task management, project planning, and team collaboration, Monday.com helps to boost team productivity. The platform provides a clear overview of project progress and individual responsibilities, enabling team members to prioritize their work and complete tasks efficiently.

20. Workzone

In today’s fast-paced business environment, managing projects and tasks effectively is crucial for the success of any team. That’s where Workzone Project Management Software comes into play. Designed to help teams collaborate, stay organized, and achieve their goals, Workzone is a powerful tool that simplifies project management.

Workzone’s task management capabilities allow users to create, assign, and track tasks with ease. You can set deadlines, priorities, and dependencies, ensuring your team stays on track and focused on the most important tasks. With the ability to create custom workflows and automate notifications, Workzone makes it simple to manage tasks and keep everyone in the loop.

With Workzone’s time tracking feature, you can easily record the time spent on each task, making it simpler to analyze productivity and efficiency. This information can be used to generate timesheets and reports, providing valuable insights into how your team is allocating their time and resources.

Workzone includes Gantt chart capabilities, which are essential for visualizing your project timelines and dependencies. This feature allows you to get a clear overview of the project progress and make adjustments as needed, ensuring your team stays on schedule.

Efficient file management is vital for smooth collaboration, and Workzone delivers in this area. The software enables you to store, organize, and share documents, images, and other files with your team. With version control, you can keep track of revisions and ensure everyone is working with the most up-to-date information.

Workzone integrates with a variety of popular tools, such as Microsoft Office, Google Drive, Slack, and Zapier. These integrations streamline your workflows and enhance collaboration, making it even easier to manage your team’s projects and tasks.

Conclusion

Choosing the best management software for your small business involves understanding your business’s specific needs, evaluating the various software options, and selecting the one that offers the right features within your budget. Whether it’s Monday.com for its user-friendly platform, Zoho Projects for comprehensive project management, or Asana for streamlined task management, the right software can be a game-changer in how you manage your small business.

At the end of the day, the best management software for your small business is the one that aligns best with your business goals and operational needs. So, evaluate your options, test out the platforms, and make an informed decision that will boost your productivity and drive your business growth.

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