7 SaaS Tools for Your Small Business

For many small business owners, accessing software tools often represent a significant expense that they could hardly afford. But SaaS, or software as a service, is changing all that, creating a more level playing field for them to thrive.

But what exactly is SaaS and how can it help your small business? In simple terms, it’s a cloud-based software designed to provide a specific service to your business.

And they possess distinct advantages that give them an edge over most other software tools. First of all, they are hosted online, so you can easily access them with a web interface. It also means you won’t need to invest in additional hardware resources to host them locally. And since you’re only paying for a usage license, it’s far less expensive than purchasing custom-made software. All these make SaaS products affordable and accessible to small business owners.

Now, they’re also highly versatile and can cater to a variety of business needs. And some could help bring significant efficiencies, speed, and agility with measurable benefits.

But with countless products on the market, it’s important to hand-pick the essentials to make the best out of your limited budgets. So, let’s take a look at 7 must-have SaaS tools for your small business.

1. Website builder tools

Whether you’re running a restaurant or a dry cleaning service, no business can function without an online presence today. A responsive, intuitive, and stunning design is important to stand out from the competition.

This is exactly what SaaS website builder tools like Wix and Squarespace can offer you. Plus, they make building a website incredibly simple with code-free drag-and-drop elements, which anyone can handle. And many of their website features come free, making them a highly cost-effective solution for small business owners.

2. E-Commerce tools

If you’re planning on setting up an online store to sell your products, then a SaaS e-commerce tool could be just what you need. Software like Shopify and BigCommerce can provide a range of features to make your online business highly efficient.

From search-optimized product pages and user-friendly shopping carts to customizable promotions and coupons and in-depth data analytics, these software tools can add great functionality to help you run your storefront even from your garage.

3. Accounting tools

Selecting a reliable accounting tool can help you manage your finance and accounting processes with less cost and better efficiency. For instance, it can help you with billing and invoicing, sending payment reminders, tracking expenses, automating supplier payments, and much more.

Software like Freshbooks and Quickbooks also come with intuitive user-interfaces that are easy to navigate. This has made them popular among small business owners looking to keep a close tab on their finances.

4. Marketing tools

Many startups run with meager marketing budgets and need every bit of help to make their marketing dollars work extra hard. This is where SaaS marketing tools come in.

Software such as HubSpot can provide powerful features to integrate automation and data analytics into your marketing campaigns. For instance, you can create and distribute content, manage ad campaigns, and track prospect conversions all on a single platform. This can bring significant efficiencies to your marketing activities and yield a higher return on your marketing spend.

5. CRM tools

SaaS CRM tools can help you meticulously maneuver your sales activities to boost conversions with detailed precision. And there’s a variety of CRM software like HubSpot CRM, Salesforce, and Freshsales, each offering essential features and functionality. For example, they can help organize and manage customer data so you can understand them better and personalize the customer experience.

And the vast amount of data these tools can generate will provide you real-time insights for data-driven decision-making.

6. Online collaboration tools

Collaboration software is an excellent option whether your team works remotely or together under the same roof. They can deliver measurable efficiencies for work and communication processes. For example, these tools can allow you and your team to see work progress, provide updates, and share documents all on a single platform.

This can eliminate the need for combining several tools to manage projects and communications. It can also bring greater transparency, enable increased accessibility, and make project delivery a smoother process. And there’s a slew of cost-effective collaboration software for small businesses, from Zoho Projects to Teamwork.

7. Customer support tools

When you’re running a business with just a few customer service employees, a SaaS customer support tool can help ease a lot of the burden. After all, keeping your customers happy with a prompt, consistent, and efficient service is key if you want to grow sales and retain them for years to come.

Platforms like Freshdesk and Zendesk can help you run an efficient and cost-effective helpdesk with a host of features, from live chats to self-service support and smart automation.

A new era of technology-led growth for small businesses

Depending on the scale of your business, there’s a range of other SaaS tools available, from HR payroll and time tracking to learning management, that can offer incredible efficiencies and agility. Whatever functionality they serve, these cloud-based software products could transform how small businesses operate, compete, and thrive in the future. And they’re making IT infrastructure incredibly affordable, empowering businesses of all scales to gear up for a new era of technology-led growth.