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5 Essential Apps That Belong In Every Entrepreneur’s Online Toolbox

With millions of apps available, it is hard to decipher the must-haves from the ones that just take up valuable space.

Simon Crompton, freelance Journalist and entrepreneur; Source: Courtesy Photo
Simon Crompton, freelance Journalist and entrepreneur; Source: Courtesy Photo

Today’s entrepreneurs operate in a world where there is an app for everything. From social media to payments, many small business owners can do virtually everything from their smartphones.

With millions of apps available, it is hard to decipher the must-haves from the ones that just take up valuable space.

Must-have enterprise software apps not only do the job; they also cover all the bases; covering all the information you need and organizing and delivering it back to you — saving you time and money.

Here’s a look at essential apps that earn top marks from entrepreneurs across industries given each app’s utility and flexibility.

 

Evernote

Evernote is at the top of almost every entrepreneur’s list. It is one of the best productivity applications on the market today. Whether you need to keep track of creative ideas, dates or expenses, entrepreneurs can do it all in one place through Evernote.

Evernote offers users the chance to create digital notebooks. These notebooks can hold a variety of different details. Some people use it to track expenses and some use it as a diary. But the best way to use Evernote is to use all of its features as often as possible.

When you take advantage of all of the functions Evernote has to offer, it becomes more than just an app. It integrates into the very heart of your business.

 

Dropbox

Dropbox is the go-to cloud storage tool for many entrepreneurs. With the company’s integration into Android devices, it now comes standards on many phones and tablets.

Dropbox’s interface is easy to use and keeping it on your mobile device brings the necessity of the cloud to life. Dropbox is more than just a hosting service. Dropbox lets you access your files from anywhere, as long as you have an Internet connection.

If you also consider how many other apps have integrated Dropbox directly into its standard features, it is now wonder that it has become the standard in cloud hosting.

 

Free Wi-Fi Finder

There is nothing worse that setting up shop in the a local coffee shop that does not offer free Wi-Fi. Free Wi-Fi Finder takes the guess work out of your mobile office and lets you search for a connection before you spend $5 on coffee.

While this is a simple app with only one use, if you have only 20 minutes before a meeting and desperately need to fix a presentation, this app can get you online just in the nick of time.

 

Square

Do you need a quick and easy way to accept payments? If so, Square has quickly become the go-to app for merchants and entrepreneurs everywhere. Square lets you bypass the credit card equipment rep and turn your smart phone into a credit card reader.

But it is not lack of equipment that makes this app an essential tool for any entrepreneur. The ease of set-up is what sells the service. Businesses pay only 2.75% of each credit card swipe back to Square. This fee covers app maintenance and it also provides you with the credit card reader attachment for a phone or tablet.

Square takes all major credit cards and does not charge heftier fees for American Express. It also does not require you to set up merchant accounts or jump through hoops to get started.

 

HootSuite

Any entrepreneur with a social media presence needs a comprehensive management tool. HootSuite is the ultimate social media management tool. It is accessible even for those who are not naturally inclined to share filtered photos of their lattes.

HootSuite offers an easy-to-use desktop interface as well as mobile app for on the go. It works as a social media scheduling service for most platforms including Facebook, Twitter and FourSquare. One of the biggest benefits of this app is that when you come up with a great idea for a new post, you can save it for later through the scheduling tool. This is great because it prevents you from losing good post material while also preventing you from oversharing.

 

No matter what business you are in, taking care of your productivity, your payments and your brand are at the top of your priority list. These five apps help you do all of this and more with only the touch of a button.

 

This article has been edited and condensed.

Simon Crompton is an entrepreneur running several online businesses. Currently focusing on his marketing firm, Threecolors.blue, he is also a trained journalist sharing his knowledge via several internet blogs. In his spare time he’s an avid programmer and videographer. Connect with @PermanentStle on Twitter.

 

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