Starting up a business in the UK, especially as a non-citizen, can be a hassle, sometimes. The struggle, many a time, often lies in the fact that you might have to fit into many roles at once, as a founder. From the role of an accountant to the role of a marketer, content manager, etc, everything is mostly on you, the founder, to manage. And when you consider how digitalized the world is today, the system and the economic structure in the UK, and the increasing competition in the marketplace, you do not want to be left behind, you know. This is why the use of business tools is a necessity for small businesses, especially in the UK. These tools do not only exist to make operations easy but also to add a level of structure to your business.
Whether it is handling the taxes or it is managing your entire team remotely, the right business tools would make you an effective and efficient founder. In the guide, we will be walking you through the best business tools for small businesses in the UK, their importance, and how to choose a business tool for your business.
Best Business Tools for Businesses in the UK
When it comes to the best business tools for your business, you need to understand that there are different tools that are good for different roles. What we mean is this: the business tool that would aid easy communication is not the same tool that would help you to be effective with project management. As a result of this, we decided to do a classification of the tools based on their primary function.
- Communication Tools
- Management and Collaboration Tools
- Development and Design Tools
- CRM Tools
- Analytics and Reporting Tools
- Human Resource Tools
- Marketing and Sales Tools
Communication Tools
Good communication between you and your team members is a strong determinant of how well your business will grow. And considering how your business is still in its start-up stage, quality communication is as important as financial investment in your business. To make communication easy and effective for your business, the following business tools are highly recommended: Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom.
Slack
If you are thinking of easy collaboration with your team members in real-time and smooth communication regardless of physical location, think of Slack. Slack is one of the most popular communication tools for businesses, and it is popular for its effectiveness. Slack enables a seamless communication flow, allows you to share documents and files, and integrates with other software, such as Google, Zoom, and Trello, all from one place.
It can be used on your mobile device as much as you can with your computer. With Slack, there is little to no need for internal emails, hence why it is preferable for your UK-based business. Slack is easy to use, whether in the office or remotely. However, Slack has limited storage, which can be challenging. Also, if you do not get feedback immediately from your team members, you cannot tell whether or not they have seen your message. Aside from these cons, one of Slack’s key features is the encrypted data that ensures your data and conversations are protected from third parties.
Microsoft Teams
If you use Microsoft Office to run your business, then Microsoft Teams is the best option for you. This is because it brings the entire Microsoft Office under one umbrella. Microsoft Teams also allows for 700+ app integrations from third-party apps. Aside from this, it makes real-time communication easy with its instant messaging, audio, and video call features, regardless of your physical location.
Speaking of real-time communication, the instant video calls feature also allows you to blur or even change your background to be more suitable for the meeting type. Microsoft Teams also allows you to record your calls, which makes it easy to reference for you and your team members. However, the visual backgrounds on Microsoft Teams are usually unrealistic, and adding users from outside can be a hassle, too. But even with these cons, Microsoft Teams also makes conversation easier by suggesting replies while you are typing, so that you don’t have to think too much about it.
Zoom
Think of virtual video or audio meetings, think of Zoom. Ever since the pandemic of 2020, Zoom has been saving businesses, not only with its user-friendliness but also because of the effectiveness of its features. It is, in fact, the most popular application for video conferencing right now. With Zoom, scheduling and running virtual meetings—whether with clients or with your team members is very seamless. It also allows you to share your screen on the call, making connectivity easy regardless of location. However, Zoom meetings can be disrupted by unknown callers, especially if they have access to the meeting password; hence, meeting IDs and passwords should be guarded properly. Regardless, Zoom is a very good application and allows you to hold a large number of people at once.
Management and Collaboration Tools
Because you are running a small business, which on one hand implies managing projects, your clients, and your team members all at once, management and collaboration tools are necessary to help you stay organized, delegate responsibilities to your team members, and track progress all at once. To make collaboration and management easy, the best tools are: Asana, Trello, and ClickUp.
Asana
This platform is best suitable for task management: from assigning tasks to setting due dates, and tracking the progress of each task assigned, you can manage and organize your work into a task list, subsections, and projects. Asana also provides multiple task views and allows for the automation of tasks that are recurring in order to save time. However, Asana doesn’t allow you to assign one task to multiple persons, and might also be complex to understand at first glance. Regardless of this, Asana allows for the integration of about 100+ apps to create a centralized space for easy workflow. It also gives you room for extraordinary admin control.
Trello
Popularly known for its Kanban style, Trello is known for its exceptional task management method. It uses lists, boards, and cards to represent your workflow, making it easy for you to understand, manage, and work with. Trello is, in fact, one of the choicest tools because of its user-friendliness. It is best for teams who do not want to feel overwhelmed by complex features from any software tool. Because of its simplicity, you can organize tasks and monitor them until it is completed. It allows for multiple app integration; however, there is a need for more integration to increase productivity. It also doesn’t have an in-app notepad to allow you to take notes and jot down ideas. Regardless, it allows for workflow automation to save time.
ClickUp
If you are thinking of an easy-to-use task management tool, think of ClickUp. It is easy to understand and use to manage projects and tasks. It also combines project tracking, documents, time tracking, and chats in one platform. ClickUp gives you flexibility and control and has integration with over 1000+ applications. It has a feature that allows you to track time spent on a project and manage your workload as much as you can.
Development and Design Tools
Building a digital presence is very important for a growing business. From graphics and content design to website development, they are all integral parts of a business that wants to be at a digital advantage in the UK. For design and development, we have Canva and WordPress.
Canva
Canva is used for creating solid graphics from logos to flyers, presentations, and brochures. It has pre-designed templates that only require you to add your details to them. The beautiful part about Canva is that it can be used on your mobile device and doesn’t require you to be a professional to create beautiful designs for your business. It is extremely beginner-friendly and allows for real-time collaboration with your team members. However, Canva has really limited features in the free version and is not ideal for custom designs. However, with Canva, you can personalize your content.
WordPress
Well known for creating websites, WordPress powers over 40% of websites globally, including the UK. It has so many templates, page styles, widgets, and auto upgrades that all work in hand to get you to customize and control your designs and functionality, generally. WordPress is SEO-friendly and works very well with Google Analytics. It is very usable and it is also very cost-effective. However, it poses threats to security issues and is also not so suitable for people who are not tech-inclined.
CRM Tools
Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Tool is used to manage the relationship between your business and your clients. It is used to track generated leads, control the conversations, and close deals faster. To facilitate customer relationships, the following tools are necessary: HubSpot and Salesfair.
HubSpot
If you are looking for a free tool with generous features, then HubSpot is the tool for you. It includes everything you would need to start running. It does all the data work, whether it is handling the marketing and sales, or email tracking. HubSpot also has built-in email templates, task reminders, and meeting schedules. However, HubSpot has post-upgrade plans that allow email automation and reporting, and the prices are very expensive. It also allows in-app integration with other software.
SalesFire
SalesFire is useful to help you document and manage all your sales processes and interactions with customers. With SalesFire, all you have to do is focus on other responsibilities, like providing valuable service to your customers, while it helps you handle and manage data. It has a smart automation feature that allows it to pull customer information from web activity or even social media profiles. However, it does not have a free plan and is not suitable for larger teams.
Analytics and Reporting Tools
As a business owner, the role of analytics and reporting tools is to help you track and measure growth, know what is working and what is not, and where to focus. It helps you track user behavior, and these analytics tools are the best to come back. The following tools are best for analyzing and reporting: Google Analytics and Optimizely.
Google Analytics
If you are looking for a tool that would provide you with insights into your business growth, track website visitors, and handle conversion rates, you should think of Google Analytics. It allows you to track the traffic on your website and identify the pattern your page visitors follow to give you clarity on what would work for you. It also helps you to gain a deep understanding of business operations to make data-driven decisions. With this, you can increase your digital marketing strategy. One of the key features of Google Analytics is its integration with other Google services. However, Google Analytics might be difficult to use, even though its User interface is simple. In summary, Google Analytics is one of the best software tools for analyzing data and getting detailed reports about how your website works and who your audience is.
Optimizely
With Optimizely, you can create and discover your digital identity on different online platforms by just using the insights provided. It also allows you to run different experiments on your website to create a quality experience for your website visitors. Guess what? You can run different tests and get results in 5 minutes. This way, you plan your marketing strategies properly with the right data and insight, as analyzed by Optimizely.
Human Resource Tools
If you think that Human Resource Managers are only good for large companies, then you might have to think again. As a start-up business owner in the UK, you need an HR manager to help you manage employee data, onboarding sessions, and the overall performance of employees. However, since you are still in the start-up stage, employing an HR professional might incur more expenses for the company. Hence, a need for HR software tools for your business. The following tools are highly recommended for you: BreezyHR and CharlieHR.
BreezyHR
If you are looking for HR software that makes the process of recruitment as effective and efficient as possible, then BreezyHR is the best choice for you. It is a modern applicant tracking system (ATS) that allows you to post jobs, conduct interviews for applicants, and manage the entire hiring process from one place. It also has a collaborative feature that allows for a team-based hiring process. This means that if the recruitment process involves more than one person, the BreezyHR collaboration feature allows team-based decisions. However, the free plan is limited to one active job position, and if you want to enjoy the best of the software, you would need to go for the paid version.
CharlieHR
The CharlieHR is specifically built for UK-based Startups and businesses, in general, looking for a simple HR management tool. It was designed with UK law in mind, and it is very efficient in keeping and managing employee records and relevant documents. The platform also has a built-in performance review system to help track employee performance. It is also very affordable, especially when compared to other software tools. However, it may be difficult to use it for a non-UK-based business.
Social Media & Email Management Tools
The main point of every business is to market a product or service. Marketing tools are relevant to position your business to the right audience, generate leads, and build brand visibility. For sales and management, the following tools are recommended for you: MailChimp and Buffer.
MailChimp
One effective way to position your business to your right audience and also build a community for your business is through email marketing—sending newsletters to promote your products, and also to keep in touch with your customers and clients. MailChimp is the go-to tool for this. With it, you can set up automated email flows, stay in touch with your audience through newsletters, and also promote your products and services easily. It is easy to use, whether you are a beginner or a professional. However, the free plan is limited, and it can get expensive as you progress.
Buffer
Another effective way to position your business to attract your target audience and also build a community is through Social Media Marketing. This is why most companies hire a Social Media Manager to handle the online visibility of the business. But as a small business in the UK, hiring an SM for your business might incur more expenses for your business. Hence, the need for Buffer. With Buffer, you can easily plan, schedule, and track social media posts for your business. It has a user-friendly interface and a mobile app for easy use. However, the free plans are limited, and it doesn’t handle inbox replies.
Choosing The Right Business Tools For Your Business
With the availability of so many tools, you might be confused about which one is best for your business. The truth is that the best tool for your business is highly dependent on your business type, size, and workflow. The following are the factors to consider when choosing a business tool for your business.
- Your Business Needs: You should identify what your business requires to thrive, based on the goals and the structure of your business. After doing this, you should compare your needs with the functionality and technicalities of the tools to check if that tool can meet the needs of your business.
- Reviews and Recommendations: One common saying is that “reviews don’t lie.” Before you choose a tool for your business, you should look at the reviews of other users and check for proven track records. The insights and perspectives of others would be very valuable to you in avoiding certain mistakes.
- Budget: As a small or growing business, budget might be a restraint in using different tools to scale your business. So if you have a limited budget, you could consider choosing tools that have free plans or are not so pricey.
- Check Scalability: You do not expect to be stuck at one level in your business. The main point of using these tools is to support or heighten the growth of your business. So, before you choose a tool, you should check if the tool would still be relevant to your business when you double in size, and if you can upgrade without the need to switch platforms.
You should also check for integrations, because the tools you use should be compatible and capable of working together. This is to ensure easy usage and time efficiency.
