Top Apps to Help You Run Your Business From Your Mobile Device

A 2012 CISCO survey found that 89% of IT departments worldwide help employees use their own devices in the workplace. For some, bringing a personal device blends work and home. For others, especially power business travelers and “solopreneurs,” their phone is their primary place of business. Use these apps to run your business better from your phone or tablet.

Document Processing and Note-taking

• Google Drive – Google Drive stores spreadsheets, documents, images and slideshows across your devices. Not only can you edit on the go, you can share, comment on resources and be prepared no matter where your work takes you. At present, Drive offers users 15 GB of storage for free and allows you to purchase more as needed, for fees beginning at $4.99 USD per month.
• Evernote – Like Google Drive, the free Evernote syncs your notes across devices. Somewhat of a digital clipboard, Evernote can be used to take notes, draft speeches or reports, create to-do lists and more. The ability to tag items and save frequent searches helps you find what you need faster, ideal for entrepreneurs on the go.
• Personal assistant tools – Siri, the iPhone’s personal assistant, takes dictation and can draft text messages or emails for you. The free Dragon Mobile Assistant for Android performs similar functions. These tools can automate workflow and help you make the most of downtime.

Financial Resources

• EasyStart Bookkeeping – If you don’t have a financial background, EasyStart Bookkeeping will help you organize, track and report on finances all from the comfort of your mobile device. This program allows you to create and send invoices, track and remit sales tax and run basic reports including profit and loss, tax reports and balance sheets.
• GoPayment – If you sell directly to consumers, a GoPayment credit card terminal allows you to accept credit card payments directly from your smartphone or tablet. Plug the reader into your phone or tablet, open the corresponding app, type in your customer’s purchases and swipe to charge.

Connectivity

• Skype – For conference calls and videos, Skype offers an easy-to-use and low-cost solution for desktops, laptops, tablets and smartphones. Skype users can talk to one another via any device for free, and make low-cost calls to landline numbers worldwide. Costs range by location called. More comprehensive information can be found on Skype’s website.
• Hootsuite – The free Hootsuite allows you to sync your business social media and quickly see and control all accounts from one basic dashboard. Post to Facebook, tweet your latest news and see who has Yelped you — all while you wait for your latte.
• MailChimp – Stay in touch with your audience with MailChimp, a low-cost newsletter utility. The free plan allows you to email up to 2,000 subscribers 12,000 emails per month. If you need to stay in touch more often, plans range from $10.00 to $20.00 USD per month.
• Desk.com – Desk.com offers easy customer service relations with plans starting as low as $3 USD per month for beginner service that covers email, social media and phone support and going up to $29 USD per month for premium services.

If you are contemplating running your business from your mobile device stay tuned! Every day there will be more tools you can use.