10 Best Free Software For Small Business

Top 10 Best Free Software For Small Business

The best free and open-source tools for your small business

Best Free Software For Small Business: When you are setting up a business, you will undoubtedly be concerned about the costs involved. How much will payroll last? How much will your business premises rent? What will the IRS deductible be?

You may not initially take into account the cost of developing and running your business's technology. However, these may soon mount – and even with one of the best email providers, there are still other packages to buy, such as communications and accounting software.

To help cut down on expenses, we've rounded up 10 of the best options in free software for small businesses.

10 Best Free Software For Small Business

1. Slack

Whatever your industry, effective communication among your team members is almost certainly vital to the smooth running of your company.

Online communication tool Slack enables you to try out its services for free for an unlimited period. If you choose this software, you can group your team's messages according to channels, which enables those working on a particular project to communicate more effectively.

Under the terms of the free plan, you will have access to 10,000 of the latest messages from your team. Other benefits include unlimited one-to-one voice and video calls for individuals, as well as 10 integrations with other apps like Google Drive and Microsoft 365.

If you want access to a wider range of features, you can upgrade to one of the company's paid plans, which offer services like group video and voice calls.

2. Trello

If you're juggling multiple projects in your company, you can improve your efficiency with the project management software Trello. Based on the Japanese model of Kanban management, Trello uses virtual boards that enable you to visualize your progress on important projects and then decide on your next steps. The most common analogy used to describe software is a whiteboard included in Post-It notes.

You can also assign tasks, set deadlines, create calendars, and view metrics. Once you've created a new task, every aspect of the task can be managed, tracked, and shared with other team members.

Another thing in Trello's favor is that the software has integration with apps like Confluence, Slack, Dropbox, and Evernote.

3. Wave

For many small business owners, invoicing can be one of the most time-consuming aspects of the accounting process, using an accessible version of Wave's customizable software, you can create an unlimited number of invoices in any currency.

You can also view your transaction history with your customers, set invoicing reminders to email your customers when payments are due, and track sales tax. One of the most attractive features of the software is the ability to set up recurring billing for repeat customers, which can significantly reduce the time you spend chasing down payments.

4. Skype

With the rise of remote working, you need to choose the right video conferencing platform for your business needs. While many rivals have emerged in recent years, Skype's free plan is one of the most attractive on the market. Along with supporting one-to-one chats, the app also enables you to have group video calls with up to 100 participants.

One big advantage here is that you don't need to download an app to use the service, and you can do so through your browser.

5. Wix

If your business needs a website (and in the digital age it almost certainly will), the free website-building tool offered by Wix can come in handy. Operating through a simple drag-and-drop interface, the software enables you to add key elements to your site without any knowledge of coding, making the process very demanding for beginners.

If you're looking for a no-frills website, the company offers hundreds of design templates for free. Be aware though that the free version will automatically display ads for Wix on your company's site.

6. LibreOffice

If you're a fan of traditional Microsoft Office packages like Word, PowerPoint, and Excel, but want to avoid the price tag, LibreOffice offers an attractive, free alternative.

Its primary services are Writer (word processing), Impress (presentations), Calc (spreadsheets), Base (databases), and Draw (vector diagrams). As the successor to OpenOffice, LibreOffice is compatible with a range of document formats, such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

7. Thunderbird

Whatever the size or industry of your organization, sending and receiving email is likely to be at the center of your operations. Although less well-known than some of its rivals, the free email app Thunderbird is expected to offer all the features you need to manage email communications in your business.

Its core features include a mail account setup wizard, a quick filter toolbar, tabbed email, smart folders, and an add-on manager. There's also a one-click address book feature, which enables you to add people to your contact list by clicking an icon next to their name when you message.

If you're sharing large documents, you can speed up the transfer by uploading these to an online storage provider and sharing the link.

8. Duplicati

Open-source backup software Duplicati enables you to back up files and folders via strong Advanced Encryption Standard / AES-256 encryption. It will also save space in your network with incremental backup and removal of duplicate data.

If you opt for Duplicate, you can run the update via a web-based interface or a command-line interface. The software is configured by a web interface that runs in any browser, and hence can be accessed from anywhere.

Duplicati is compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems.

9. Mailchimp

While the term "spamming" evokes a sense of dread in most legitimate business owners, email marketing can still be the key to the successful operation of many companies.

Mailchimp is an American marketing automation platform and email marketing service. By using the free version, you'll have access to tons of features, such as one-step automation, which will message your customers about who they are and how they interact with your company.

This version enables you to send messages to a single audience of up to 2,000 contacts. While this is likely to be sufficient for many small businesses, you can increase these figures by upgrading to one of the company's paid plans.

10. Freshteam

Smart HR software Freshteam provides services like applicant tracking, onboarding, and time-off management. Free for up to 50 employees, the company's Sprouts plan includes a dedicated recruiting team inbox, a basic careers site, and an employee directory.

If you're not sure whether Freshteam is right for your business, or have questions about which plan to choose, the company offers a free demo of its services. The free plan is also available as an iOS and Android mobile app.

Summary

While you'll probably never reduce software costs in your business to zero, the open-source apps listed here can at least help you make significant savings.

Remember to pay close attention to licensing when you're choosing free software for your small business because if you choose a tool that isn't certified for professional use, you could put yourself at legal risk. Huh.