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If you plan to start a business, it’s important to think of things like managing workers, renting commercial real estate, and commuting to the office. The concept of self-employment is appealing to most individuals for various reasons.
Some envision the financial and time freedom entrepreneurship may bring, whereas others fantasize about working in their dream industry. While it is possible for these dreams to be a reality, you also need to work hard to accomplish these goals.
In the modern world where technology affords more flexibility in working, home-businesses come in different forms. Some need you to convert a spare room into mini-warehouses, while others completely run online. Whether you want to start an Airbnb hosting or home daycare, you will need the following tools to succeed:
1. Shopping Cart Software
Having a website is just half the equation for businesses, which need to use the internet to sell their services and products. For you to authorize payments through a website, your site should have a shopping cart software program. The program is specifically designed to provide credit card processing, PayPal, and other payment methods.
Apart from letting clients buy products online, this software program will offer your business options to generate reports automatically and keep track of all inventory.
2. Calculators
It is important to have a list of expenses in order to estimate how much starting and running your business will cost you in total, but this process might be different for every financial outlay you have. Once you identify your business expenses and determine how much they will cost, you need to organize your expenses into monthly and one-time payments.
Tools, such as budget calculators, are important for estimating the overhead of your business. You might treat the calculators as a worksheet to plan out your budget and quickly reassess all priorities. These calculators are also straightforward – meaning you just need to input every value into the right boxes to get statistics, which may indicate how lucrative your business is.
3. Time Tracker
Whether you have an online or brick-and-mortar business, time tracking is important. Time tracking programs like TimeClock Plus and TSheets can allow you to punch on and off the work clock to ensure you see how many hours your workers have logged. If you’re also managing remote workers, a time tracker can be important to enable you to conveniently see where and when your team is putting in time.
To track the time you put into the projects for individual customers, be sure to check out apps like Due Time Tracking and Top Tracker. You can track all your hours and invoice customers for the time with just a tap of a button.
4. VPN
Small businesses concerned about security should use personal VPN (virtual private network) services. These services hide online activities from snoops who may access network content. Many VPNs are pay-to-play, though there are some services like CyberGhost, which offers a bit of protection at no cost.
CyberGhost is a perfect free VPN service on the market. It provides excellent network security and dependable connection speeds, plus it works on many modern OS (operating system). However, it is somehow challenging to configure, particularly for small businesses, and if you require Linux or Mac support, you will have to upgrade to the paid version.
5. WorkflowMax
WorkflowMax is a high-end cloud-based software that more than 6,500 businesses in different industries globally use. This software program is basically an all-out business manager that helps handle reports, projects, time sheets, and invoices.
Specifically designed for businesses of all sizes, WorkflowMax’s extensive suite of tools allow users to generate invoices and quotes for customers. With just a single click, your customers may access and turn your quote into projects. From there, you can manage milestones, time, and task assignments.
In a Nutshell
Starting a business might change your life forever. It might free you from unfulfilling and dull jobs and offer you the flexibility to work at home. Being a businessperson will allow you to set hours, pursue your dream career path, and choose the right workers. Do this right, and you’ll make more money and have fun.
However, beginning a business is not simple. It will require determination, courage, and energy. Always be honest with yourself and have the energy to persevere during bad and good times.
