Being an entrepreneur takes determination and drive. Besides a desk littered with business cards, you probably have a mind full of ideas and a smattering of to-do lists. There are many other business-minded people facing similar tasks as you, such as learning how to market themselves, working with delivery services for their goods, and even setting up payment plans for their staff members. There are tools to make these processes easier, such as mobile apps. Simply install these free or low-cost applications on your smartphone or tablet and you will find managing your business has been made a little simpler:
EchoSign
Entrepreneur recommends using this application if your business frequently works with contracts. Instead of having a fax machine or scanner taking up space in your office, turn to EchoSign to electronically sign documents. Plus, you can send contracts and other paperwork straight to the other party, who can also sign via a touch-screen phone or tablet. This takes out that quick trip to the library for use of an archaic fax machine or frustrating moments spent trying to get the right angle when using a scanner. The cool thing about EchoSign is that it saves the document in different versions, allowing you to track the history of who has signed it and when while still building a final document with each party's signature.
Free Wi-Fi Finder
People who start and own their own businesses are often on the go. They're running between client meetings, looking at real estate to establish an office and recruiting people to add to their staff. The Free Wi-Fi Finder app is super helpful for those times you find yourself unable to step into a coffee shop for a quick Internet break. Simply open the app and it will use your location to find the closest spots with free Wi-Fi. Who needs a hotspot when you have this application?
Dropbox
CNBC considers Dropbox one of the 10 essential apps for entrepreneurs. That's because you can use it on any smartphone, tablet or computer, allowing for easy access to files no matter where you are. Plus, similarly to Google Documents, you can share the rights to files so others can edit and access them. Looking to give a client the ability to read your pitch but not edit it? Grant them viewing access but not editing abilities. You can even set your phone to automatically upload all your photos to Dropbox, saving you from accidental crashes or deletions.
Venmo
Many payment systems are linked to a bank, such as Chase QuickPay. To use Venmo, however, you do not have to belong to a specific bank. Instead, you just start an account and include the information for your debit or credit card or your bank account. Friends use Venmo to pay one another for a split meal, but businesses can use the application as a great way to both pay people and keep track of their financial record in general. It's completely confidential and won't share your information with anyone but the person or company receiving or sending funds.