We live in the post-modern period wherein women are empowered to be in control and are given the opportunity to make a mark and be relevant in the world. Women of today are now free to choose their paths and careers to take. Some choose to settle down and be a full-time parent while some venture into running a business. Some women also manage to balance both aspects.
While it is not easy to build and run a business while tending to our children, running a home business is still doable and a whole lot manageable if you only know how to budget your time and make it productive. Knowing what online tools to use for your home business also helps. If you plan to start a business at home, you may want to try using the following online tools:
Weave
To help you stay connected with your valued customers or clients, Weave offers an automatic appointment reminder that reminds them about the appointments you set with them through text messages or emails. It also allows them to confirm if they can make it to the appointment or not.
Because of this online tool, you no longer have to manually check up on your customers and face the hassle of no-shows. If one of them cancels his/her appointment with you, Weave also allows you to fill up this cancellation by adding another customer’s name to the Quick Fill List. Invitations will be sent to them, and as they confirm, you have your new client or customer to assist.
Google Meet
Since you work mostly at home and do not have enough time to meet outside with your business partners or customers, Google Meet can help you catch up with them through online video conferencing. Google Meet is online software that allows you to have a video call or chat with everyone who has the link to your set business meeting.
You can also present your business’s sales and updates as Google Meet features screen-sharing and online presentation. The online meeting that you set can be accessed through a single link shared with your business partners. You may also record the meeting and save it to Google Drive. Additionally, knowing how to take notes on Google Meet can be a valuable skill, there is technology available that allows you to easily capture key points discussed during the call. This way you can keep track of everything important, without interrupting the flow of the conversation.
Google Sheets
Bookkeeping is an essential part of running a business. It is the process of keeping track of all the financial data and all the recordable transactions such as receipts, sales, payments, purchases, etc. of your business. In recording these data, you may use Google Sheets.
Google Sheets is an online bookkeeping spreadsheet software that allows you to edit, analyze, save, and secure your business data in a file. It can be accessed through the web or phone and can be edited offline. It can also be shared with your business partners and allow collaborative access and editing. If still you are facing problems in keeping the records maintained, you can always hire a bookkeeper for small business.
Wix
It is easier to sell products online if you have your website that features all the products and services you offer. You can create and design your website by using Wix. Wix is a free online mobile-friendly website-maker that allows you to customize your website that matches your brand and products.
Wrike
Since you are working both as a mom and as a businesswoman, it is better to make a strategy on how to make the most of your time. Wrike, an online management software, can help you plan and manage your time doing all your tasks. You can customize your calendar and plan your budget and time using this tool.
Wave
In managing your business and its finances, you need to employ an accounting software or tool. Wave is one of the many accounting software that you can use. Using this tool, you can create invoices and billing, track payments, manage payrolls and finance, and process credit cards and receipts. You can also enlist professional accounting services to ensure all is done properly when it comes to finances.
The best part about this online invoicing and accounting tool is that you can customize your invoices by choosing from the templates available on the dashboard. You can also send these customized invoices through email and collect credit card payments online. Learn about the benefits of electronic invoicing.
Gmail
Gmail has a lot of useful features that you can use for your business. Aside from its main feature, which is to send emails, you can also use Gmail in sending and requesting money. This can be done by, first, setting up a payment method through Google Pay. And then, by clicking the dollar symbol on the compose window’s bottom part.
Gmail also has a conducive feature that allows you to put a label in your received emails. You can now organize and separate which ones are for business and which ones are for personal. In that way, you will not miss reading any critical emails.
Takeaway
Being a mother while working at home can be a very challenging role. You have to be good at managing your time, responsibilities, and finances. But with the determination to succeed and with the right and helpful tools such as the appointment reminder app to use for business, you will be able to do it successfully.
