Online resources to help you manage and grow your business

Managing and growing a business involves a range of tasks, from strategic planning to day-to-day operations. Fortunately, there are numerous online resources to help with various aspects of business management and growth. Here are some valuable categories and specific resources to consider:

1. Business Planning and Strategy

• Bplans: Offers business plan templates, how-to guides, and sample business plans.
  • Bplans
• LivePlan: An online tool for creating business plans and tracking progress.
  • LivePlan
• SCORE: Provides free business mentoring and educational workshops.
  • SCORE

2. Financial Management

• QuickBooks: Accounting software for tracking expenses, managing invoices, and payroll.
  • QuickBooks
• Xero: Cloud-based accounting software with invoicing, inventory, and financial reporting features.
  • Xero
• FreshBooks: Focuses on invoicing and expense tracking for small businesses.
  • FreshBooks

3. Marketing and Sales

• HubSpot: A comprehensive CRM platform with tools for marketing, sales, and customer service.
  • HubSpot
• Mailchimp: Email marketing platform with automation, analytics, and audience segmentation.
  • Mailchimp
• Canva: Design tool for creating marketing materials, social media graphics, and presentations.
  • Canva

4. Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

• Salesforce: A leading CRM platform with tools for sales, customer service, and marketing.
  • Salesforce
• Zoho CRM: Offers sales automation, marketing automation, and customer support tools.
  • Zoho CRM
• Pipedrive: CRM designed for sales teams with pipeline management and reporting features.
  • Pipedrive

5. Project Management and Collaboration

• Trello: Visual project management tool using boards, lists, and cards.
  • Trello
• Asana: Project management software with task tracking, workflow management, and team collaboration features.
  • Asana
• Slack: Messaging platform for team communication and collaboration.
  • Slack

6. Human Resources and Recruitment

• Gusto: Provides payroll, benefits, and HR tools for small businesses.
  • Gusto
• BambooHR: HR software with employee records, performance management, and recruitment tools.
  • BambooHR
• LinkedIn Talent Solutions: Recruitment and talent management platform.
  • LinkedIn Talent Solutions

7. Analytics and Business Intelligence

• Google Analytics: Tracks and reports website traffic and user behavior.
  • Google Analytics
• Tableau: Data visualization tool for creating interactive and shareable dashboards.
  • Tableau
• Power BI: Microsoft’s business analytics service for data visualization and insights.
  • Power BI

8. Legal and Compliance

• LegalZoom: Provides legal document services and business legal advice.
  • LegalZoom
• Rocket Lawyer: Offers legal documents and advice for businesses.
  • Rocket Lawyer
• Nolo: Provides legal information and DIY legal forms for businesses.
  • Nolo

9. Learning and Development

• Coursera: Online courses and specializations on business management, leadership, and entrepreneurship.
  • Coursera
• Udemy: Offers courses on various business topics, including marketing, finance, and project management.
  • Udemy
• LinkedIn Learning: Provides business courses and training on a wide range of professional skills.
  • LinkedIn Learning

10. Networking and Professional Communities

• Reddit Business Communities: Subreddits like r/Entrepreneur, r/SmallBusiness, and r/Startups offer advice and networking opportunities.
  • Reddit Business
• Meetup: Find local business events and networking opportunities.
  • Meetup
• Business.com: Offers resources, guides, and community insights for various business needs.
  • Business.com

These resources can help streamline your operations, improve your strategy, and provide valuable insights as you grow your business.