My Journey as a New Small Business Owner - By Olivia Citak
As a new small business owner, I've experienced the exciting yet challenging world of entrepreneurship in my first few months. While I'm still learning the ropes, I've discovered some invaluable tools that have made my journey smoother. In this blog, I'll share these tools with you, aiming to help fellow entrepreneurs save time and resources in managing their businesses effectively.
Chat GPT: Your Personal Copywriter Assistant
Running a business involves a lot of writing, from marketing content to communication with clients. While Chat GPT can't replace your creativity and expertise, it's a fantastic tool for streamlining your writing process.
I use it to "Brain Dump and Organize." I start by jotting down my thoughts, almost like keeping a diary. Then, I turn to Chat GPT to transform my ideas into a well-structured, easy-to-read social media captions or blog posts, just like this one. It's my intelligence, but the system saved me hours of editing by organizing my thoughts effectively.
Hire an Intern: Affordable Assistance
You might think hiring help is beyond your budget as a small business owner, but there's a cost-effective solution—interns. Many eager individuals are willing to work for startups, even on unpaid internships.
When I posted a job listing for an intern, I was pleasantly surprised by the number of applications I received. After sorting through about a dozen them, I found three highly qualified and enthusiastic candidates from whom I could choose.
HubSpot: Free Business Management Tool
HubSpot offers a fantastic free tool that can help you keep track of leads, sales, and deadlines, essential aspects of managing a small business:
Lead Management: HubSpot simplifies lead management, making it easy to organize and nurture potential customers.
Sales Tracking: Track your sales pipeline efficiently, ensuring no opportunity slips through the cracks.
Deadline Management: Never miss a deadline again with HubSpot's deadline reminders & task lists
Everlance: Hassle-Free Accounting
Managing finances is a crucial aspect of any business. Everlance is a fantastic accounting application that simplifies expense and mileage tracking, and it's quite affordable:
Expense Tracking: With Everlance, you can easily log and categorize your business expenses, helping you stay on top of your finances.
Mileage Tracking: If you're frequently on the road for your business, Everlance keeps track of your mileage for tax and reimbursement purposes, saving you time and money.
Affordable Pricing: At just $5 per month, Everlance offers incredible value for small business owners looking to streamline their accounting processes.
Canva: DIY Design for Your Business
I was a Canva lover long before I was a small business owner! This user-friendly graphic design tool allows you to create professional-looking graphics with ease, even without a background in graphic design.
Templates Galore: Canva offers a vast library of templates for various marketing materials, from social media posts to flyers and presentations.
Drag-and-Drop Interface: Even if you're not a design expert, Canva's intuitive interface makes it simple to create stunning visuals.
Affordable Options: Canva offers a free version with plenty of features, and their Pro plan is reasonably priced, providing a plethora of free stock images, stock videos, templates, and even brand kits.
TL;DR
While I'm still navigating the challenges of small business ownership, these simple yet effective tools have significantly eased my journey. Whether you're looking for writing assistance, affordable help, or tools to streamline various aspects of your business, these options can make a big difference, often at little to no cost. Embrace them, and watch your small business thrive.
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