When you’re running a service business, it can be hard to know how you’re doing. You want to make sure that your clients are satisfied and happy with their experience—but how do you know?
That’s why we’ve compiled this list of the best apps for service businesses. These tools will help you keep track of your clients, so that you can better serve them. They’ll also help you get the most out of your time, so you can spend more time doing what matters most: helping your clients succeed!
Table of Contents
Best Apps For Service Business
The best small business apps make it simple and easy to manage various aspects of your business, whether working from home, the office, or on the go.
Small business owners know the need to remain agile and efficient. Mobile devices almost certainly play an everyday role, but choosing the best apps for them can be tricky.
This is especially as you will only want to have one type of office software on your phone or tablet and not have to transfer documents between different apps just to be read them on different devices.
Additionally, your time will be at a premium, so you’ll need a good range of apps to cover the most important eventualities. It doesn’t matter if we’re talking about calendar apps to networking apps, and a whole host of free cloud apps.
In this guide, we’ve focused on the most useful applications for small to medium businesses. All of these offer important functionality while also delivering on value for money.
Here then are what we think are the best small business apps currently available.
We’ve also highlighted the best web hosting services for small businesses.
Website screenshot for Microsoft 365
(Image credit: Microsoft)
- Microsoft 365
The best office software app
TODAY’S BEST DEALS
VISIT SITE
REASONS TO BUY
+Universally used
+Feature-packed
+Online backups
There are many different office software platforms, but despite fierce competition on price and features, Microsoft’s Office 365, recently re-branded as Microsoft 365, remains the leading suite and must-buy for small business, and ranks as our best small business software.
You may remember the days when Microsoft Office was something you bought as a software package and installed on your PC. While that still remains possible, there are now app versions for Android and iOS, so you can use Microsoft 365 on Android and Apple devices.
Microsoft 365 includes the 3 big office software apps you’re going to need: Word, Excel, and Powerpoint. OneDrive is also available for online backups as part of the part and worth using, even if you already use another cloud provider such as Google Drive or Drop Box – keeping your data safe is key and there’s no harm in having multiple backup options.
Then there are the other software applications included in Microsoft 365, such as Outlook (online version), and for PC use only there are also Publisher and Access. Microsoft Teams is also bundled in, though you can download and use this as a standalone product anyway.
As mentioned previously, there are alternatives to Microsoft Office, but the simple fact is that they are not so good: features tend to be limited, and there can be problems converting key office files to alternative formats, which you absolutely do not need the stress of dealing with when running your own business.
There are a number of different editions available, depending on whether you need to buy a license for just yourself, or also a package for staff. For enterprise users there additional corporate service and management options.
Read our full Microsoft 365 review.
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Website screenshot for RingCentral Office
(Image credit: RingCentral)
- RingCentral Office
Best business phone system app
TODAY’S BEST DEALS
RingCentral Office Essentials
$19.99/mth
RingCentral Office Standard
$27.99/mth
RingCentral Office Premium
$34.99/mth
VISIT SITE
at RingCentral Inc.
REASONS TO BUY
+Lots of features
+Scales up easily
+Cloud powered
+Mobile apps
RingCentral Office is our preferred choice when it comes to the best business phone system. It’s not just that it comes with a lot of features and possibilities, but also pricing can be very reasonable, too.
What you get is a cloud-based phone system that is built around business services, so it’s perfectly fine to use it on any device with a browser, whether a Windows PC, or Apple iPad, or Android smartphone.
Basic plans include call management and phone system administration, as well as phone rental options for conference phones and even desks. However, it’s the pricing tiers above this where RingCentral Office really comes into its own with a comprehensive set of features that should be integral to any modern phone service.
RingCentral also provides Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) as well as Contact Center as a Service (CCaaS), meaning that it can provide the enterprise experience for even small businesses.
On top of this, RingCentral can also deliver a Communications Platform as a Service (CPaaS), which means access to a developer network which allows you to use APIs to truly customize and integrate your phone system with other software you use.
Overall, though, which the cheaper plan probably delivers enough to satisfy the smallest businesses, it will be mid-sized and larger that will probably get the most from the incredible wealth of features that RingCentral Office can provide.
Read our full RingCentral Office review.
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Website screenshot for FreshBooks
(Image credit: Freshworks)
- FreshBooks
Best accounting software app
TODAY’S BEST DEALS
FreshBooks Lite
$15/mth
FreshBooks Plus
$25/mth
FreshBooks Premium
$50/mth
VISIT SITE
at FreshBooks
REASONS TO BUY
+User-friendly interface
+Plenty of depth and features
+Integrates with many popular services
FreshBooks is a popular cloud-based accounting service designed specifically for small business owners, and ranks top of our list of best accounting software for small business.
The package has plenty of features – invoicing, expense tracking, time tracking, a host of business reports, even an option to take credit card payments – but a straightforward interface aimed at non-accountants ensures you’ll be up-and-running right away.
Despite the simplicity, there’s real depth here. You can bill in any currency, save time by setting up recurring invoices, allow customers to pay via credit card by checking a box, and even automatically bill their credit card to keep life simple for everyone.
If you need more power, the system integrates with many other services, including PayPal, MailChimp, Basecamp, WordPress, Gusto, Zendesk and more.
Management hassles are kept to a minimum. You’re able to access and use the system from your desktop or its free iOS and Android apps, and because it’s a cloud-based system there’s no need to worry about backups. If this sounds appealing, you can try FreshBooks for 30 days without using a credit card.
The basic plan gives you invoices, estimates, time tracking, expenses, plus the ability to accept online credit card payments and import expenses from your bank account, but only covers you for a limited number of clients. Paid plans increase this, while also adding the ability to send proposals, and saves you time by providing recurring invoices and the option to automatically send payment reminders.
Read our full FreshBooks review.
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Website screenshot for Avast Business Antivirus Pro
(Image credit: Avast)
- Avast Business Antivirus Pro
Best mobile antivirus app
TODAY’S BEST DEALS
Business Antivirus
$29.59/year
Business Antivirus Pro
$37.59/year
Business Antivirus Pro Plus
$45.59/year
VISIT SITE
at AVAST Software
REASONS TO BUY
+Easy-to-use
+Anti-ransomware
+Shred files
Avast Business Antivirus Pro is an excellent business endpoint security software suite, giving you various tools such as antivirus, Firewall, email protection, anti-spam and the ability to sandbox applications for complete security. Avast Business Antivirus Pro (as opposed to the standard Avast Business Antivirus) also includes Sharepoint and Exchange protection, as well as a number of tools for your servers, and ranks top of our best business antivirus.
The AV protection you get is generally rated as good by independent testing, with Avast’s engine blocking 99.7 per cent of threats in AV-Comparative’s Real-World Protection report.
The free version of this security package has long been considered one of the best, but If value for money and simplicity are key factors, Avast Business Antivirus Pro could be a sensible choice.
Read our full Avast Business Antivirus Pro Plus review.
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Avast Business Antivirus Pro Plus
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This is Avast’s biggest and best business antivirus. That means the usual standard of protection, with a tonne more bells and whistles. If you want to be confident that your office infrastructure is as safe as possible, then hit that ‘View Deal’ button (or click here if you’re in the UK).
VIEW DEAL
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Website screenshot for PayPal Business
(Image credit: PayPal)
- PayPal
Best online payments app
TODAY’S BEST DEALS
PayPal
VISIT SITE
at PayPal
REASONS TO BUY
+Easy to use
+No monthly fees
+In-store payments
PayPal has become the ubiquitous payment portal for many online businesses due to the simple reason that it’s so easy to use, and ranks as our top pick for best credit card processing service.
PayPal has made integration into payment gateways simple for major e-commerce platforms, often requiring little more than a couple of clicks and an email address – often the most complex part of setting up PayPal processing is copying and pasting a supplied API key to get started.
There are no monthly fees for the small business product, Web Payments Standard, with transaction fees dependent on sales volume. Although many shopping carts are built to accommodate PayPal from scratch, it can even be used as a standalone service for taking individual payments from clients, just by pasting a payment button code into an email. Subscription payments are also available by default.
PayPal also offers additional features to grow into, such as taking in-store payments through a card reader. With no hidden costs or monthly charges, PayPal is one of the most accessible options for startups and small businesses.
Read our full Paypal review.
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Website screenshot for Hubspot Marketing Hub
(Image credit: Hubspot)
- Hubspot Marketing Hub
Best sales and marketing app
TODAY’S BEST DEALS
VISIT SITE
REASONS TO BUY
+Sales and marketing focus
+Lots of features
+Integrations available
Hubspot is a platform that provides a range of tools for content management, sales and marketing, and social media advertising. Hubspot goes way beyond simply setting up a website and editing its content, as much as delivering a wide-ranging toolkit to help improve conversions, and ranks as our top pick for best content marketing tools as well as features in our best CRM software.
It does this by offering options for split testing, content hosting, communications within a sales team and with customers, along with goals and targets that can be tracked using Hubspot’s analytics software.
There are also a number of additional integrations available, not least Salesforce, Google Workspace, and Microsoft 365.
All in all, Hubspot probably isn’t the best at any individual feature that it offers, but the comprehensive set that it does offer makes it a clear market leader, and the best at what it does.
Even better, there’s a free tier for trying out Hubspot.
Read our full HubSpot review.
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Website screenshot for Asana
(Image credit: Asana)
- Asana
Best project management app
TODAY’S BEST DEALS
VISIT SITE
REASONS TO BUY
+Handy tracking functions
+Cloud-based
+Core communications
Asana is a project management solution you may have heard of – even if you haven’t used the service in the past. While it offers a ton of handy features to boost productivity, there’s a bigger emphasis placed on tracking, and ranks as our best project management software.
The app lets you create to-do lists and reminders so you always meet deadlines, plus you can add due dates, colleagues, instructions to tasks, and comment on items. You can even share images from other apps (like Google Drive) directly to Asana. And more importantly, you can actually track everything you and your colleagues work on in a bid to ensure the project is running smoothly and to schedule.
If you’re concerned with who is working on certain projects, then you can bring up a list of teams and individuals, and there’s also a search functionality so you can find completed tasks easily.
Asana offers a free Basic tier, with limited functionality and dashboards. Step up to the Premium tier, and you get unlimited usage with no team member limit, and more functionality including the new timeline feature as well as custom fields.
Read our full Asana review.
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IDrive
(Image credit: IDrive)
- IDrive
Best cloud storage app
TODAY’S BEST DEALS
IDrive 10TB
$3.98/year
VISIT SITE
at iDrive
REASONS TO BUY
+Fast
+Easy to use
+Good Security
+IDrive Express service is handy if disaster strikes
REASONS TO AVOID
-No two-factor authentication
IDrive offers continuous syncing of your files, even those on network drives, and ranks top of our best cloud storage solutions. The web interface supports sharing files by email, Facebook and Twitter. Cautious or click-happy users will be pleased to hear that files deleted from your computer are not automatically deleted from the server, so there’s less danger of removing something important by accident. Up to 30 previous versions of all files backed to your account are retained.
Another thing to note is that IT admins have access to IDrive Thin Client application, which allows them to backup/restore, manage settings, and more for all their connected computers via a centralized dashboard.
For photos, you have a neat facial recognition feature that helps you to automatically organize them as well as syncing them across all your linked devices. IDrive also offers IDrive Express which sends you a physical hard disk drive if you lose all your data, allowing for the swift restoration of all your backed up files. That applies to the newly introduced disk image backup feature.
A business version exists and offers priority support, single sign-on as well as unlimited users and server backup. Furthermore, IDrive Cloud, an enterprise-class cloud object storage is also available.
top apps for business professionals
As a business professional, you’re likely juggling multiple responsibilities, both in your work and personal life. With so much to take care of, any small way to reduce stress can make a huge impact.
Many leaders have found some programs and mobile apps that make their daily to-dos a little more manageable, from streamlining their workflow or improving their mental health. Check out these 15 tried-and-true apps, recommended by the members of Forbes Business Council to make your day-to-day professional life less stressful.
Members of Forbes Business Council share app recommendations that helps them reduce stress as professionals. PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS.
- Roam Research
The biggest challenge many business leaders face is codifying massive amounts of disparate information into a usable and accessible knowledge graph. That’s what Roam Research does at the intersection of personal, informational and high-level work, from reading and videos to events. Ideas are available on-demand and in combinations complete with context. – Ed Marsh, IntentData.io, Inc.
- Bloom
One app that has allowed me to start every morning off with a peaceful and positive mindset is Bloom. While I use a host of productivity and scheduling apps that allow me to organize my time efficiently, Bloom provides me with a couple of minutes to myself every morning. I cherish this moment of my routine because it provides me with the space to tune into my intuition. – Jean Paul Paulynice, Empowering Confident Youth
Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify?
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- Todoist
My best helper is Todoist. This app helps me to plan and manage my tasks on a daily basis. The idea is that we all have 24 hours per day, and we need to solve both business and personal tasks within this period of time. All the tasks are aggregated, prioritized and reminded of if required. – Vlad Vahromovs, Intellectsoft
- Asana
I’m a recent Asana convert. I’ve always been a fierce to-do list maker—and used judiciously, this is the ultimate collaborative to-do list. It’s not just a list of tasks; it is larger projects and the collaborative conversation around the tasks and projects. It really teases out the actionable items from the chatter around them. – Esther Kestenbaum Prozan, Ruby Has Fulfillment
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- iFit
I work out every morning, and iFit sets the pace for the rest of my day. It’s easy—you pick a workout from their library of thousands of options, do the workout with a motivating trainer and enjoy the results post-workout. For me, a morning workout sets the tone for the rest of my day! – Mihir Pathak, Mayvenn
- Choco
I absolutely love Choco. This app allows our 17 coffee shops to place all vendor orders through a single click in one app. We get to empower leaders to make purchasing decisions while being able to keep track of orders and inventory. Simple yet extremely helpful. – Brandon Pena, 787 Coffee
- Calm
The Calm meditation app gives peace of mind to the anxious, depressed or isolated—or anyone looking to be less distracted or more present with their family. Meditation helps me with anxiety and sleeping problems. Research shows that meditation can help improve mental health, chronic pain and even high blood pressure! Particularly through the pandemic, it’s been a lifesaver! – Evan William Kirstel, eViRa
- Trello
Trello is an app that has allowed all our employees, remote and in-person, to stay up-to-date and informed. We have many employees that travel to complete various jobs. Being able to communicate with the whole company instantaneously keeps our clients and employees well informed and better equipped to solve problems together. – Rick Allen, Midwest Enviro Solutions
- Trillian
Trillian is a messaging app that allows me to greatly reduce the number of emails in my inbox. I communicate with our full-time team members and contractors through Trillian. Email inboxes can get overwhelming and sometimes you miss some emails from team members, so Trillian allows people to contact me quickly. – Beth Worthy, GMR Transcription Services, Inc
- Notion
Notion has been a game-changer for reducing stress levels, as it combines project management and note-taking in one. The app allows me to manage clients, employees, projects and more. I’m able to brain dump new ideas, take notes on anything and help compartmentalize all my thoughts. Being able to clear my head and create clarity has been instrumental in reducing stress levels. – Marcus Chan, Venli Consulting Group
LinkedIn has the best all-around business app for sharing content, networking and engaging with employees, partners, peers, clients and investors—current and potential. It’s also the best learning app to find out what’s going on in business, as well as find people you need to connect with to do business all over the world. Can’t imagine life without it! – Chris J “Mohawk” Reed, Black Marketing
- Focus To-Do
I love the Focus To-Do app—a Pomodoro Timer that also supports lists. I use it to create distraction-free sprints that make me so much more productive. I’m constantly interrupted by emails, calls, conversations and social media updates, so this app helps me really get in the zone. I especially like that it’s integrated with my lists so that I can see and measure how productive I am. – Roshni Wijayasinha, Prosh Marketing
- ClickUp
ClickUp has made a big impact on me and my team’s productivity. It’s great for keeping everyone properly organized and focused on the right tasks at the right time. It also serves as my own personal daily dashboard of top priorities across the business. – Kevin Namaky, Gurulocity Brand Management Institute
- Slack
Slack is my go-to business app for communicating internally. Instead of losing discussions in endless email chains, we simply create a project channel and all communications across the team for that project are shared within that feed. Its simple search function makes it very easy to pull up older posts and ultimately, it enables us to be much more efficient with our time management. – Will van der Sanden, Dux-Soup
- The Grayscale Feature
My most effective stress reducer is not an app—it’s actually the grayscale (black and white) feature on my iPhone. By changing my screen to grayscale, I am no longer seduced by the red badges indicating notifications or messages waiting for me on apps. No more enticing, bright and shiny alerts. My phone works for me now instead of the other way around so I’m not constantly catching up; I stay ahead. – Hilmon Sorey, ClozeLoop
Conclusion
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