5 Most Useful Tools For Starting An Online Business

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

When it comes to conducting business online and offline there are a few key differences to keep in mind that enable each to thrive in their own individual environments.

As we step out of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the global economy roars back to life, the world is ripe for business launches, and if you’re looking to start your own business in 2021, the online world is certainly the best place to start. The overheads are low, the audiences are massive and with a business model that enables swift delivery of products and services, you’re on track for success.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the most useful tools for starting an online business below.

A Website Builder

Without a doubt, the most important tool to have on your side is a website builder that makes it effortless to manage your online presence. Keep in mind that in the digital world you only really have two avenues for your customers to ‘experience’ your brand, and that is your social media and your website.

If you’re running with a website management solution that is clunky and only provides a trivial means of editing and managing your website, you’re going to be struggling when it comes to answering questions from customers, launching new products, and more.

We suggest taking a look at the big names such as Wix and Squarespace to start off, and as you grow and expand, handing your website duties off to an agency might be the best option for you. Often, more customized website solutions such as WordPress allow for more customization and scalability.

Project Management Solutions

Whether you’re launching your business on your own, or have a team of five, ten, or twenty, you need a project management suite that allows you to see what’s coming up and what needs to be done in order for your projects to be completed in line with one another.

Considering services like Monday and Wrike, for example, is a good place to start given that these services are effortless to use and are visual and make it easy to understand what is on the horizon and what needs to be done immediately.

Accounting Services

Another key tool to keep in mind is your accounting and financial tool.

When you’re starting a business, there is arguably nothing more important than your finances and so you’re going to want to make sure that you have a good look at what you’re making, what you’re spending, and what level of tax you’re looking to pay for the year ahead.

It’s good to know that there are free tools out there for businesses just starting out, such as Wave, though it might also be worth it to consider reaching out to professionals in accounting too, simply to get an expert’s take on your financial standing.

Marketing Solutions

As we mentioned above, when you’re in the online space, the only means for your customers to experience your brand is through social media and your website, and so you’re going to want to invest heavily in marketing your services and products.

However, it is imperative that you run a tonne of market research campaigns as early as you can to ensure your ad dollars are going to the right place.

Added to this, it is also a good idea to have trademark lawyers take a look over your branding and IP to ensure you’re not marketing a potentially copyright infringing tagline, service or even a product. You don’t want to run the risk of a legal battle down the line.

Online Learning

One often overlooked tool or service is an online learning solution.

If you’re not a graduate of business school or have just a few minor courses under your belt, it might be a good idea to consider investing in your own personal education to ensure you’re able to make business decisions that are going to push you to success, rather than lead to the eventual collapse of your brand.

Consider services such as LinkedIn Learning, for example, or lean toward more formal education too in the form of online university degrees that are flexible and able to give you the freedom to learn what you need to succeed in business.

The Takeaway

With those tools above in mind, you’ll be on the way to better understanding the world of business and more able to easily navigate the complexities that come from starting an online business in 2021.

Always remember to invest in services that are going to speed up your workflows, give you access to essential data on your customers and rival businesses and you’re on the right track to launching and generating a profit.