Ten Must Have Enterprise Tools For Every Small Business

Focus, Inc. recently published a whitepaper Enterprise Tools Every Small Business Can Use. We thought this whitepaper did a nice job of summing up the 10 Must Have's, so we wanted to share the checklist with you.

 

1) Payroll Processing - While there are numerous ways to motivate your employees, a paycheck is one of the basics you can't afford to miss or get wrong. The surest way to get unhappy employees is to get payroll wrong! When considering how to handle payroll, make sure you entrust this job to someone who knows what they are doing. The last thing you want is to pay fines because your payroll taxes weren't filed properly.

2) Voice Communication - Now more than ever, it has become easier and cheaper to;communicate on a local, national and international level. With many cost saving options to choose from, finding a plan that suits the needs of your business has never been easier.

3) IT Infrastructure - As you plan for the growth of your business, don't shortchange on investing in an IT infrastructure that will not only support your existing business processes, but rather be able to support your business as you grow.

4) Accounting Software - Since WAC Consulting Group sells and supports accounting software we could go on and on to stress the importance of this tool, but in summary we would like to say, no two businesses are alike, so when choosing accounting software take an in-depth look at the present and future requirements of your business. For more on this topic read our blog article: How to Choose Accounting Software and download our accounting software evaluation whitepaper.

5) Capital - While the current economic climate certainly makes it harder for small businesses to access capital, it's certainly possible for businesses to become more capital efficient than ever. Moreover, there are new models emerging such as peer to peer lending that provide businesses with easier access to capital. If you don't have a business line of credit, make a note to secure one as soon as your P&L shows how profitable you are.

6) Benefits - Once you have secured your payroll processing, take some time to develop a benefits package for your employees. As I said earlier there are many ways to motivate employees, and nowadays a benefits package is expected. There are many ways small businesses can get creative with benefits without paying a fortune.

7) Marketing - With the recent changes in the field of marketing, there are plenty of lightweight, low risk marketing solutions available to small businesses that help with both branding and demand generation. Google, Facebook, LinkedIn are just a few of the many efficient options that exist today. Check out our social media resource center.

8) Website - How many of you would confess to checking out a website before calling an organization, or researching a product oyu are interested in? If you are not engaging in online marketing you are doing a disservice to your business. With cost-effective website options nowadays, it is not difficult to set up a website for your business. A word of caution though, when planning your website, make sure it supports your existing business processes, and is not an added burden.

9) Conferencing - Online conferencing solutions now provide small businesses with the geographic reach that used to be the exclusive domain of Fortune 500 travel budgets. There are many low cost, enterprise class options for conducting online meetings with prospects, partners, and remote employees today.

10) Industry-Specific-Software - Depending upon what type of business you run, you will want to make an investment in software that automates the most complex aspect of your operations. If your business requires personal interaction with
prospects and customers, you will want to invest in CRM software, if you are a fulfillment company, you will want to invest in warehouse management software.

What would you add to the list to ensure success for small businesses?