Developing a new business from the ground up can be challenging. Use a few tools to make it easier.
Starting a company requires you check off countless boxes, so staying organized and on top of your to-do list is a must. Fortunately, you don't have to scramble. Check out these affordable and easy-to-use tools for keeping track of everything your budding enterprise needs – your future self will thank you.
No matter what type of business you're starting, your company will need to create and fill out contracts. For instance, do you need a non-disclosure agreement fast? An employment contract drawn up in five minutes? Shake is an app for legally binding contracts, including employment, NDAs, renting or lending, buying or selling, and more. All you have to do to create a legal document is answer a series of questions, read the agreement, sign and send.
With free templates and access on multiple platforms (including your phone, tablet or computer), getting contracts through quickly has never been easier.
Price
Shake is free for personal use, but a Pro subscription is $10 a month. Additionally. companies can contact Shake to get a customized estimate based on their individual needs.
Getting others to believe in your business plan may seem daunting, but it's a huge part of growing a startup. If you need help honing your pitch, check out Pitcherific. This online tool lets you select a template, write a pitch, and practice it within your time and audience framework. You can choose from a variety of templates, from elevator speech to investor pitch, letting you hone your draft to your situational needs.
Once you're satisfied, you can print a copy to have on hand during the actual presentation. This resource is a huge time-saver for startups, but it retains its usefulness as your company matures.
Price
Individuals pay $54.99 a year for access. Companies should contact Pitcherific for an estimate based on their needs.
With hundreds of videos and a curated directory on everything startup-related, Startup Stash is a great place to look if you, well, don't know where to begin. This library of resources can be invaluable for any budding business and topics range from finance to CRM. No matter what you need to learn or simply brush up on, use Startup Stash to get your information.
The lessons come from all over the internet, from sources like Google, Twitter and Wikipedia.
Price
Startup Stash's service is free to use.
Your logo says a lot about who you are as a business, so it's an important asset to perfect. However, when you're just starting out, you might need a little help visualizing the final graphic. Squarespace Logo, a product developed by Squarespace, helps businesses establish a brand image. The website features design tools such as icons and text editors that help you realize your logo.
What's more, Squarespace Logo is simple, allowing you to only use a few elements. This ensures your final design is clear and concise. Graphic design trends are on the straightforward side, and this tool keeps you up to date.
Finally, Squarespace Logo includes a preview option, showing you how the graphic will appear on T-shirts and business cards before you ever hit download.
Price
Free for Squarespace customers, Logo is an affordable tool. Don't use Squarespace for your website? Non-customers pay $10 per image.
"Your company's name should stand out."
What's in a name? Actually, a lot. Your company's name should stand out, communicate your vision and, perhaps most importantly, show up in a search. The Name App helps startups create the perfect title for their budding businesses by showing you which monikers are available where. Simply type your name into the app, and the site will show you whether it's available on various social media platforms and sites.
The Name App ensures you come up with a title that you can use as your website and social profiles. After all, consistency across platforms helps your customers and fans find you.
Price
The Name App is free to use and available both online and in app stores.
Building your audience is one of the first things your startup must do to generate business. SumoMe helps you do that. This tool focuses on three main objectives: making it easy to share your content, getting more visitors to sign up for emails and showing you the most popular click spots on your site. The first two give site visitors an easy path to either learn more or spread the word, while the heat map allows you to update your website to better cater to user interaction.
In addition to these three primary tools, SumoMe has a host of features to help you get more traffic to your site.
Price
The basic SumoMe package is free, but for more tools and bandwidth, your company can pay anywhere from $20 a month and up. You can even design a custom package.
Looking for solutions to specific needs your company has? Stay tuned for the rest of our series on small-business resources.
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