As a small business entrepreneur, you might have an on-off relationship with productivity apps. Some work out great, while others are a timesuck. Fortunately, there are plenty of apps to fall in love with in 2017.
There are business apps that can help you stay organized, on task, or in touch.
8 Enterprise Apps You Should Download This Year
Gusto
Previously known as ZenPayroll, Gusto streamlines your company’s payroll, tax, and benefits protocol. Gusto reports new hires to the government and even handles local, state, and federal tax filings. You can also automate deductions for benefits and workers’ comp payments. Emailing pay stubs to employees is also a breeze.
Gusto starts at $39/ month with an additional charge of $6/month per employee.
Wave
This accounting software platform works specifically for small businesses, independent contractors, and sole proprietors with nine or fewer employees. You can use it to track expenses, manage invoices, pay staffers, scan receipts, and create accounting reports.
Fuze
Save on business trips by videoconferencing with important clients instead. Fuze hosts online video meetings for all devices. The app is free to download, and the service is simple to set up. Small business owners can get custom pricing for their calls.
Slack
If you haven’t gotten wind of Slack, get on it. It’s a business game-changer that will help your take your email inbox down to zero. Early adopters have already downloaded the app, but it’s due to explode in popularity in 2017.
Slack’s instant messaging platform allows you to organize your team’s conversations into private or public channels. You can send a direct message and files while archiving any other important communication, and the platform doesn’t limit how many users your business can add. You can download and use the app for free, but the paid version gives you a few more features—including a full archive of your team’s message history, unlimited app integration, guest access, and group calls.
RescueTime
Need to find more time in your day? RescueTime will tell you just how long you spend on Facebook, Twitter or reading the online gossip sites. The app tracks how much time you spend on each app or website and provides a detailed report at the end of the day. You might spend a little less time surfing the internet once you know RescueTime is watching.
RescueTime Lite is free, while the premium version costs $72 and comes with alerts, detailed reports, and more filters.TripIt
Spending too much time on your itineraries? TripIt puts all of your travel plans into a single master itinerary that you can view on any device. Simply forward your travel emails to TripIt, and it will build your itinerary for you.
The basic app is free, while TripIt for Teams costs $29 per month for up to 10 users.
Proven
Going on a hiring spree? Proven lets you to post your job listings on multiple job boards with one click. Sift through dozens of digital applications and mark each candidate with a yes, no, or maybe. The app works great for restaurants and retail establishments that frequently take on new staffers.
