Modern startups rely on many tools and applications for daily operations. According to the software giant Pegasystems, their clients' employees "switch between 35 job-critical applications more than 1,100 times every day."
With this in mind, startups must find tools that boost productivity with integration functionality to minimize switching and authentication.
This article will explore the 25 best tools for startups and small businesses. We've divided these tools into five categories:
- Security
- Project management
- Marketing
- Sales
- Accounting
TeamPassword is the password manager that secures all your startup's tools. Sign up for a 14-day free trial and secure your startup's digital assets with TeamPassword.
Security
Security tools are essential for keeping your startup, team, and customers safe. Here are our picks for the best security tools for startups.
TeamPassword
TeamPassword is the best password manager for startups and small businesses. Startups can store and share company credentials using TeamPassword's encrypted password manager, mitigating password vulnerabilities and cyberattacks.
TeamPassword also features a built-in password generator, so your team never reuses credentials or creates weak passwords.
TeamPassword offers a 14-day trial to explore the password manager and try sharing credentials with coworkers.
OpenVPN
Since 2020, just about every company in the world has used remote workers. Maintaining security in these remote environments is challenging.
OpenVPN creates a secure cloud-based work environment that team members can only access through whitelisted IP addresses and a VPN. Startups can store SaaS apps, internal communications, IoT systems, and more to create secure remote work environments.
Cloudflare
Cloudflare is one of the world's most popular CDN services. Startups use Cloudflare to optimize speed and security for websites, web apps, and APIs.
Cloudflare also comes with advanced threat monitoring and performance reporting for startups to manage their digital assets in one place.
BitDefender GravityZone Business Security
For less than $300 per year, startups can get enterprise security features at a fraction of the cost. BitDefender GravityZone Business Security gives comprehensive cybersecurity protection with access to risk management and vulnerability assessment—perfect for running security audits on your startup.
The latest features include Ransomware Prevention & Mitigation and Network Attack Defense, both critical for today's volatile cybersecurity landscape.
SysCloud
SysCloud is an advanced backup and security software for Google G Suite and Office 365 users. SysCloud helps startups protect against insider threats, shadow IT, phishing, and flags violations and vulnerabilities.
Syscloud is HIPAA, PCI, FERPA, and CIPA compliant to ensure your startup follows all US data privacy and security requirements. You get enterprise-grade backup and security at startup prices for less than $50 per user per year!
Project Management
There are so many productivity and project management tools. It's tough to know which ones are right for startups! Here are our best project management tools for startups in 2021.
Asana
Asana is arguably the most popular startup project management tool. Its modern, intuitive design makes onboarding effortless, and Asana has tons of add ons to scale as your startup grows.
One of Asana's strongest features is the sheer number of integrations that allow you to expand the tool's functionality and capability.
Slack
One of Asana's integrations is the popular startup messaging app Slack. Slack is more than just a messaging app. It allows startups to manage communications for every aspect of their business with integrations to boost efficiency and productivity.
ProofHub
ProofHub is a great tool for small to medium-sized startups that need to manage visual projects. It has all of the features you need from a project management app including calendars, scheduling, and task management. ProofHub's internal communication tool and file review functionality help streamline workflow and set it apart from its competition.
ProofHub is easy to learn and easy to use, making it an ideal project management tool for startups that will be using one for the first time.
JIRA
JIRA is a project management and bug tracking tool aimed at UX and engineering teams. JIRA's unique technical features include sprint management, code deployment, and reporting tailored to a software team's requirements.
JIRA is part of the Atlassian suite, so it makes the most sense for startups using other Atlassian products.
Monday
Monday is an affordable, intuitive project management tool designed to scale as your startup grows. Team members can adjust the user interface to get a high-level view of a project or zoom right into individual tasks with notes and attachments.
Monday also comes with loads of proprietary functionality and automation that most other project management tools only get through integrations.
TeamPassword is the password manager that secures all your startup's tools. Sign up for a 14-day free trial and secure your startup's digital assets with TeamPassword.
Marketing
Without marketing, no one will know your startup exists. We've put together our five favorite marketing tools for startups to create a buzz and build a tribe of loyal customers.
GetResponse
GetResponse is an all-in-one email, sales, and marketing tool at affordable monthly premiums. In September 2021, GetResponse launched their "Free-Forever Plan," designed to help startups with less than 500 subscribers grow and scale their business.
Notable features include email marketing, sales funnel automation, landing pages, payment integrations, website builder, multiple custom domains, and webinars, to name a few!
Google Analytics
Since its launch in 2005, Google Analytics has been every marketer's favorite user insight and product analytics tool. Google Analytics works with web and mobile applications and integrates with many other sales and marketing tools.
Using accurate data, startups can assess user behavior to gauge product and marketing performance. The best part for startups, this powerful analytics tool is free!
Later
With its modern user interface, intuitive dashboard, and low month subscriptions, Later is a startup favorite for social media management and automation.
Later allows social media managers to monitor hashtag performance and generate account reports to gauge the success of each post and campaign.
BuzzSumo
BuzzSumo is a powerful research tool to identify the best-performing content, backlinks, and social shares. Content managers can research their startup's niche, improve on the best content, and then reach out to people who have shared similar articles.
BuzzSumo is also great for identifying influencers in your niche so that you can reach out for collaborations.
Gleam
Gleam is a competition and rewards application that enables startups to create viral marketing campaigns to accelerate growth and build email lists.
Gleam's gamified user experience encourages participants to complete every task, thus providing startups with valuable customer insights.
Sales
Whether you're selling products or services, sales tools can help increase revenue while automating a lot of mundane tasks. Here are our five best sales tools for startups.
Clickfunnels
ClickFunnels is arguably the world's biggest sales funnel software company. The company also does a fantastic job at providing training and resources, so customers get the most out of their products and services.
ClickFunnels comes ready with tons of landing page templates, so, with a few adjustments, you can start selling in minutes. The platform also integrates with many other sales, marketing, payment, and productivity tools.
Growbots
No one loves cold outreach, but it's a necessary strategy in today's competitive startup landscape. Growbots lets you target and automate your cold outreach campaigns to save you valuable time and resources.
Growbots will help build databases of your ideal prospects and personalize cold outreach to give automation a human touch.
LinkedIn Sales Navigator
LinkedIn Sales Navigator is one of the most widely used business networking and sales tools. Startups can connect with investors and potential customers through one platform.
Klenty
Klenty is a cold outreach platform that automates your sales emails, follow-ups, and relationship building. Klenty also integrates with popular CRMs like Pipedrive, Hubspot, Zoho, and Salesforce to offer a comprehensive sales outreach package.
Yesware
Yesware is a powerful sales outreach tool that integrates with Outlook or Gmail, so emails always send from your outbox and not a third-party provider! This is important because many bulk outreach emails end up in a promotions tab or, worse, spam!
Accounting & Finance
These are our top accounting and finance tools for startups in 2021.
Gusto
Gusto is one of the leading tools for payroll, benefits, and HR automation. The software helps with year-end taxes and keeps your business ACA compliant.
Startups can also use Gusto to send offer letters, e-sign, and store new-hire paperwork and all the other mundane HR tasks founders hate!
Xero
Xero is one of the leading accounting tools for small businesses and startups. The intuitive cloud-based accounting software allows you to manage inventory, payroll, and financial records with tax compliance and preparation for multiple countries.
Xero also features many apps and integrations for a comprehensive financial management tool.
Zoho Invoice
If your startup uses other products from the Zoho Suite, then Zoho Invoice will be the obvious choice for your company's accounting software.
Zoho Invoice includes time-tracking to automate and simplify your startup's payroll.
FreshBooks
FreshBooks is another popular cloud-based accounting software for small businesses and startups. The software lets you send invoices, manage expenses, track time, and accept payments.
FreshBooks is affordable accounting software designed to scale as your startup grows.
Gust
Gust helps startups with funding for "mission-critical" business tools—like the ones featured in this article. In addition, Gust provides guidance and support for your startup's next steps to help you scale your business effectively.
Securing Your Startups Tools With TeamPassword
All of these startup tools require usernames and passwords. And sometimes, your team needs to share a single set of credentials.
Keep all of your startup's passwords secure and easily share credentials with TeamPassword. Sign up for a 14-day trial and secure your digital assets with the best password manager for startups.
