5 Must-Have Online Business Tools for Your Small Business
Thinking of starting a small business in Canada? Or maybe you already have? It can feel exciting and a bit daunting since it comes with its fair share of challenges. Managing finances, streamlining operations, securing funding, marketing – it might all have your head in a spin.
Luckily, in this digital age, the right online tools can kickstart your efforts quickly. To celebrate Small Business Month, we’ve rounded up five essential online business tools designed for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that can help you skyrocket your business success!
Online tools for small business in Canada
- Wave Apps – Here’s an app that makes accounting easy. Wave Apps is an excellent financial tool tailored for SMEs. This Canadian-based platform offers a range of financial services, including accounting, invoicing, and receipt scanning. You can generate professional invoices and financial statements that give your business the polish and financial accountability for sustainable growth. Did you know Wave Apps can also help you set up payroll for a low monthly fee? Once you’re ready to hire, you can grow your team quickly with a range of wage subsidies to expand your business capacity.
- Fickl – In business we know that “content is king”. If you need a streamlined tool to help manage your content calendar through a range of channels including social media and email, Fickl is here for you.
Fickl is a Canadian tech app designed to help SMEs with their digital marketing efforts. It offers features including social media management, email marketing, and analytics. Designed specifically for solo entrepreneurs and budding early-stage businesses, it helps you create and maintaining a robust online presence to grow your audience and impact. Fickl empowers you to craft compelling marketing campaigns, engage with your target audience, and monitor the performance of your marketing efforts.
- Canva Pro –
Having an in-house designer is not always possible when your business is just getting started. Thankfully, Canva Pro is a sophisticated online stand-in, offering a wide variety of templates, fonts, brand palettes, images, video templates, and more. A strong visual identity is crucial for attracting customers and investors and Canva Pro helps you achieve that for a low monthly fee. It enables you to create professional marketing materials, from logos and business cards to social media graphics and presentations, helping your brand and business stand out in the crowd. - Shopify – For SMEs involved in online retail, Shopify is a Canadian e-commerce platform that simplifies the process of setting up and managing an online store. An online store can be a powerful asset for non e-commerce businesses too, allowing you to diversify into merchandise and digital products, showcasing your products and services to a broader audience. Shopify provides everything you need to launch and maintain an e-commerce site, including customizable templates, payment processing, and inventory management.
- Pocketed – What’s a small business without grant funding? An expensive one! We’d be remiss not to mention our favourite, and arguably the most important online tool in your small business arsenal! Pocketed simplifies the often-complex task of identifying and pursuing grant opportunities, making the process more efficient and effective. With Pocketed’s deep database of funding opportunities and intelligent matching software, you can quickly find grants and funding opportunities that align with your business objectives, increasing your chances of securing the funding you need to propel your business forward.
Make the most of online business
These five online business tools, including Pocketed, Wave Apps, Flickl, Canva Pro, and Shopify, are essential for Canadian SMEs. They help manage finances, market effectively, maintain a strong visual brand, and run a successful e-commerce business. These tools, along with a well-organized business approach and a strong online presence, will help streamline and accelerate your efforts as you build and grow a thriving small business in Canada. Happy small business month!
