20 Must-Have Tools for Startups To Attain Better Efficiency and Drive Growth

Building a startup is difficult!

You’ve finally launched your business. There are copious amounts of tasks that must be handled like the countless team meetings, last-minute market research, brainstorming, and planning have finally started to pay off. But you may have just realized that your journey has just started. From now on, you need to look at every aspect of your business.

According to an Atlantis Press case study, recently published at the ASEAN Summit, the top three causes of startup failure are “no market need” (42%), “running out of cash” (29%) and “lack of the right team” (23%). But that’s not the only reason why startups fail. Other reasons include “lousy timing, lack of customer attention, poor marketing and a bad product”.

We know how hard it can be to grow your startup and we also know how to solve the problems you face. That’s where business tools come in. The entire journey can be made much easier, as plenty of online software solutions can make various tasks easier. Relying on these top tools for startups can make a small team very effective, essential for saving finances before the startup becomes funded.

Let’s explore the top business tools that can help you grow your business.

SCORE

Getting into the startup game requires a lot of experience. Most people are not equipped with this type of experience. If you are looking for a way to jumpstart your startup powerfully, then go for SCORE. This is one of the best free tools for startups to find an experienced mentor to guide you and your team. Finding a professional for free is practically impossible nowadays; however, this platform is entirely free.

SCORE offers the unique features, such as:

• Access to experienced mentors
• Free mentorship, making it accessible to all entrepreneurs
• Tailored advice and guidance for your specific business needs
• Support for your entire team, fostering collective growth
• Networking opportunities to connect with industry experts
• Resources, workshops, and webinars for skill enhancement and learning.

Designhill

Design plays an essential role in attracting new customers to your business. Additionally, a startup needs to look as flawless as possible to captivate people and appeal to them as possible. Designhill is the perfect place to find this for a low price. This platform features millions of graphic artists who specialize in creating logos, designs, and illustrations quickly, which is perfect for every startup.

Designhill offers the unique features, such as:

• Access to a vast community of skilled graphic artists
• Customizable designs to suit your unique business needs
• Affordable pricing options to fit any budget
• Speedy delivery, perfect for time-sensitive projects
• Quality assurance and customer support for a seamless experience.

MailChimp

If you’re a startup looking to get your email marketing up and running quickly and efficiently, Mailchimp is the way to go. It’s one of the top email marketing tools out there, and it’s easy to get started. With its easy-to-use interface and features, you can quickly create and send out professional-looking emails. Plus, Mailchimp has a ton of templates and design options to choose from, so you can make sure your emails match your brand’s look and feel. You can also keep track of how your email campaigns are doing, track the results, and get valuable insights into how your audience is engaging.

MailChimp offers unique features, such as:

• Quick setup for email marketing campaigns
• Enhanced audience connection through personalized emails
• Free plan option with valuable features

Basecamp

All startups face an abundance of tasks. Basecamp is one of the best software for startups, assisting you when you are looking for ways to manage various projects simultaneously. Additionally, this web-based solution makes it possible for project managers to track the progress of each project continuously.

Also read: Starting tech company without tech knowledge

Basecamp offers unique features, such as:

• Efficiently manage multiple projects with tasks, discussions, and file organization.
• Collaborate in real-time with team members through comments and file sharing.
• Prioritize and track tasks using user-friendly to-do lists.
• Share and access project-related files for seamless collaboration.
• Schedule tasks and milestones with the calendar feature.

Canva

While juggling multiple tasks at a time, Canva takes care of all your design needs. Be it your social profile images, blog graphics, brand visual identity, or ebook cover, Canva does everything.

Visual marketing is a crucial part of your marketing journey, and with Canvas ready-to-use templates, and accessible customization features, you can be assured that you won’t lose. And the best part is it doesn’t cost you a cent. Although it also provides some premium features for $1 each, you can use them as per your demand. So trust Canva with all of your design needs while you are focusing on other crucial tasks.

Canva offers unique features, such as:

• Access a vast library of pre-designed templates for various design needs.
• Customize templates with text, images, and shapes to match brand identity.
• Store brand assets in the Brand Kit for consistent design across projects.
• Collaborate on designs with real-time editing for team efficiency.
• Schedule and publish social media posts directly from Canva.

Dropbox

Every startup requires collaborative efforts. One of the best solutions for managing documentation is to rely on cloud-based document-sharing platforms. One of the companies that truly stands out is Dropbox, which offers its customers an incredible amount of space. Being able to access documentation from any place is essential as well as the ability to work together on a variety of projects. If you are looking for ways to ensure an impeccable workflow, save time and make your team efficient, relying on a solution like this is a must.

Dropbox offers unique features, such as:

• Automatically sync and backup files across devices for easy access and data protection.
• Share files with team members or clients for efficient collaboration.
• Recover deleted or changed files with file recovery options.
• Access files stored in Dropbox offline for work flexibility.
• Scan physical documents directly into Dropbox for digital storage.

SurveyMonkey

Startups conduct surveys to understand customer sentiments and improve customer satisfaction and perfect their products. It is a matter of time before you will need to run a study, and this platform is the perfect way of creating and sharing surveys with your customers. This is one of the best free tools for startups, allowing up to 100 participants per survey. So, make sure to utilize it and it will boost a startup incredibly.

SurveyMonkey offers unique features, such as:

• Utilize survey templates tailored for different purposes for quick survey creation.
• Choose from various question types, including multiple-choice and open-ended.
• Analyze survey responses in real time with easy-to-read graphs and charts.
• Customize survey themes with branding elements for a professional look.
• Distribute surveys via email, social media, and website embedding for maximum reach.

Wave Accounting

Wave Accounting is a free, cost-effective financial management software designed for small businesses with fewer than 10 employees. It is ideal for micro-businesses, freelancers and contractors, as well as service-based ventures that have limited resources. The software provides all the necessary features to manage finances efficiently, such as tracking income and expenses, connecting with bank accounts, creating professional invoices and generating reports. Wave Accounting is a cost-effective solution for small businesses that can help them stay informed of their financial situation and make informed decisions.

Wave Apps offers unique features, such as:

• Efficient accounting tools to manage expenses and financial transactions.
• Seamless billing and invoicing process for a streamlined payment experience.
• Integration with bank accounts for easy and automatic transaction reconciliation.
• Detailed financial reports for better insights into the business’s financial health.
• Free to use with no hidden fees, making it a cost-effective solution for startups.

HootSuite

Social media presence is essential for all businesses, and startups are no different. Reaching out to millions of people is now easier than ever with these platforms. However, to conduct a successful social media campaign, it is necessary to be present on various social networks such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and others.

Managing all these networks simultaneously would take an immense amount of time were it not for tools like HootSuite. This web platform will allow you to monitor all your social networks and make scheduled posts. It is a necessary tool to use in your social media management strategy.

HootSuite offers unique features, such as:

• Simplify social media management by handling multiple social networks in one platform.
• Schedule and publish posts across various social media channels for consistent engagement.
• Monitor and analyze social media performance with detailed analytics and reports.
• Collaborate with team members for efficient social media campaign execution.
• Respond to messages and mentions in real-time to enhance customer engagement.

Trello

Trello, a top-notch collaboration tool for task management, facilitates transparent delegation and monitoring of tasks with visible boards and task cards. Team members can track their progress, along with others’ work and project timelines. It enables creating cards for various actions, such as providing feedback on demos and sharing design guidelines.

Trello offers unique features, such as:

• Transparent Task Delegation
• Visible Boards and Task Cards
• Progress Monitoring for Team Members
• Timeline Tracking for Project Completion
• Versatile Cards for Project Progress
• Action Cards for Feedback and Guidelines

Google Workspace

Google Workspace is one of the most essential tools for startups as it entails a suite of productivity tools offered by Google, comprising Gmail, Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, and more. This integrated suite empowers teams and individuals to work collaboratively and efficiently on projects in real-time. Users can create, edit, and share documents seamlessly, enhancing productivity and streamlining workflows.

With features like shared cloud storage, real-time collaboration, and cross-platform accessibility, Google Workspace revolutionizes how teams collaborate, ensuring seamless communication, efficient document sharing, and increased productivity.

Google Workspace offers unique features, such as:

• Seamless collaboration and real-time editing.
• Shared cloud storage for easy access and file sharing.
• Cross-platform accessibility for remote work flexibility.
• Integrated applications streamline workflows.
• Efficient communication and document management.

Slack

Slack, a versatile communication tool, fosters daily conversations with various features like calls, group discussions, direct messaging, and file sharing. Users can comment on others’ conversations to express their views. The exclusive channel feature allows organizing discussions based on projects or small groups. Messages can be sent to individuals, groups, or entire teams.

Slack offers unique feature, such as:

• Efficient task-list management.
• Collaboration through posts and discussions.
• Custom slash commands and shortcuts for streamlined interactions.
• Easy note-taking for seamless information recording.
• Audio calls for real-time voice communication.

HubSpot

HubSpot is an all-in-one best business tool for startups to do inbound marketing. It empowers businesses to attract, engage, and delight customers throughout their journey. HubSot provides a comprehensive set of tools, including CRM, marketing automation, email marketing, social media management, and sales pipeline tracking.

HubSpot offers unique features, such as:

• Integrated CRM for managing customer interactions and data.
• Marketing automation to nurture leads and run personalized campaigns.
• Email marketing for targeted communication with customers.
• Social media management to engage and connect with the audience.
• Sales pipeline tracking for managing sales opportunities and deals.

Zoom

Zoom is a leading video conferencing tool that is widely used for virtual meetings, webinars, and remote collaboration. It offers high-quality video and audio communication, screen sharing, chat, and breakout rooms for effective team collaboration. Zoom’s reliability and user-friendly interface have made it a popular choice for businesses, educational institutions, and organizations worldwide

Zoom offers unique features, such as:

• High-quality video and audio communication.
• Screen sharing for effective presentations and discussions.
• Chat for real-time messaging during meetings.
• Breakout rooms for smaller group discussions.
• Recording options for capturing important meetings and webinars.

Asana

Asana is an easy-to-use project management tool that empowers startups to organize, track, and manage projects efficiently. It offers a user-friendly dashboard for creating and assigning tasks, setting deadlines, and tracking progress. With Asana, teams work together in real-time to share updates and stay up-to-date with their work.

You can use various views, such as lists, boards, or timelines, to view project workflows, milestones, and more. The flexibility and customization options of Asana make it suitable for many projects and teams. With its intuitive design and powerful features, Asana is an absolute must-have for startups looking to streamline project management processes and increase efficiency.

Asana offers unique features, such as:

• Task assignment and due date setting for efficient task management.
• Project portfolios for tracking multiple projects simultaneously.
• Visual project boards for better project visualization and planning.
• Task dependencies for understanding task relationships and timelines.
• Integration with various apps for streamlined workflow management.

SEMrush

SEMrush is one of the best software tools for digital marketing startups that can help you improve your search engine optimization (SEO), content marketing, competitor analysis, and more. You can use SEMrush to: Identify the best keywords, analyze backlinks to your site, identify and fix website issues. Strategize your content marketing Use SEMrush to gain a competitive advantage and make informed marketing decisions to drive your startup’s growth and success.

SEMrush offers unique features, such as:

• Keyword research for finding valuable search terms.
• Backlink analysis to improve website authority.
• Site audit to identify and fix technical SEO issues.
• Content planning tools for creating engaging and SEO-friendly content.
• Competitor analysis to gain insights into competitors’ strategies and performance.

Skype

Skype is a fantastic tool for online communication! You can easily talk to people nearby or from anywhere in the world. It’s perfect for having audio or video calls with your project manager or your whole team, especially when working remotely. Skype works great with Microsoft devices and offers cool features like call recording with live subtitles, HD video and audio calling, and private conversations for added security.

Skype Offers the Following Features

• Record your calls and see live subtitles for easy reference.
• Enjoy crystal-clear HD video and audio calling experiences.
• Engage in private conversations with added security and privacy.

JIRA

JIRA is a top-notch project and task management tool specifically designed for agile project management and software development teams. Why it is highly regarded in the market as one of the top tools for startups is according to Atlassian, 83% of Fortune 500 companies use Jira for their project management needs . Even if you’re not well-versed in agile development, JIRA helps your remote team easily visualize project progress. You can track who is working on what tasks and their assignments.

JIRA offers the following features:

• Customizable Workflows
• Customizable Dashboards
• Outstanding User Experience
• Integration with Flexible REST APIs

GitHub

GitHub is a versatile code and version management platform where developers can share, collaborate, and upload their source code files. It’s an open-source platform available to anyone, and it also offers private project storage for a fee. GitHub is highly popular among developers worldwide as they can check their code in real-time while writing it. Additionally, it supports over 200 programming languages, integrates issue tracking functionalities, provides field-tested project tools, and facilitates collaborative code review.

GitHub offers the following features:

• Integrated Issue Tracking Functionalities
• Field-tested Project Tools
• Supports more than 200 Programming Languages
• Collaborative Code Review

Active.Collab

Active.Collab is a powerful project management tool that excels in collaboration, task management, time tracking, and invoicing. With Active.Collab, you can efficiently handle multiple projects in one centralized location, each with its own set of tasks, files, and records.

The standout feature is its personalized dashboard, providing team members with relevant information. Filtering tasks by people, labels, or due dates is a breeze. The dashboard enables easy task creation, file attachments, and commenting. You can visualize tasks with a Gantt-like timeline and meet deadlines using the all-in-one calendar.

Active.Collab offers unique features:

• Project Management
• Task Management
• Email Integration
• Invoicing
• Collaborative Writing
• Unlimited Projects and Tasks

The Final Verdict

These are some of the essential tools for startups which can make the whole process of creating a business much more effortless. In the beginning, the most important thing is to have an effective team that does not consume a lot of funding without sacrificing quality.

At Finoit Technologies , we specialize in providing top-notch software development services for startups. As a dedicated software development company for startups , we excel in creating scalable software products tailored to your specific needs. Our expertise covers a wide range of services, including SaaS app development, mobile app development, and other software solutions.

If you need SaaS app services or any other software development support, our team of experts is ready to assist you. With our assistance, you can take your startup to new heights and achieve remarkable success in the competitive business landscape. Connect with our development expert to turn your startup vision into a reality!