Top Five SaaS Software for Startup Businesses
Brian Wallace, Founder & President, NowSourcing
Startup businesses have many responsibilities. These responsibilities can be overwhelming for you as a business owner. However, without the right help and tools, the burden of starting a business could feel doubled.
Luckily, SaaS software helps to reduce the stress of running a business. The software automates manual and monotonous tasks making it smoother to manage the business.
Software as a Service (SaaS) is a software distribution model that gives users access to services and applications over the internet. That is, you can use a SaaS as long as you have an internet connection. In addition, you do not have to install the app before you can use its features.
Using SaaS as a startup business has several benefits. For instance, there is reduced time in carrying out duties. Also, it is less expensive to use, and it comes with integrations, which allows you to combine other tools for a smooth operation.
Knowing how important SaaS is to a startup business, this article will be providing you with the top five SaaS you should use in your business.
Top Five SaaS Software for Startup Businesses
As a startup business, you need to arm yourself with the best tools and software to get through the initial rocky phase of starting a business. Therefore, below are the top five SaaS software you will need as a startup.
1) Osano
Osano is a SaaS software that ensures your startup business avoids privacy fines and damaging headlines. This SaaS software helps you manage your privacy program, and you do not have to worry about risks of noncompliance.
Additionally, with Osano, your website will become an example to other websites to do data privacy the right way. Osano provides you with every privacy tool your business will need.
Data compliance was once a manual and complicated procedure, but thanks to Osano, you do not need special training and months of work to carry out the data compliance process.
Furthermore, because new privacy laws are introduced weekly, several vendors go out of business due to lawsuits. However, Osano monitors and alerts you about what you need to know and when you need to know it. This ensures you are always in the know and compliant.
Additionally, Osano supports integration which lets you connect your other tools and allows for a seamless workflow. This SaaS goes further to provide guides to business owners to walk them through the world of business.
For instance, you can check out this CCPA guide on Osano. The guide provides you with everything you need to know about the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and how you can remain compliant.
2) Hello Bonsai
Bonsai provides you with everything you need to run your business. This SaaS has an all-in-one product suite with smart automation that allows you to focus on the passion of your business without being swarmed with paperwork.
Bonsai allows you to integrate and automate every step or aspect of your business so that work runs seamlessly. That way, you can make more money and have less to manage.
Additionally, with just a few clicks here and there, you can easily craft a well-structured proposal with precise estimates. This will allow you to close your deals faster and get more investments. Bonsai cares for your business even if you are starting up; they have you covered.
In addition, Bonsai can help you with your contracts. For example, you can draft your contracts from scratch or save time with Bonsai’s business contract templates.
All you have to do is answer a few questions to generate the already vetted template. Then, once you hit the send button, the contract can be e-signed in minutes.
Bonsai also helps you stay organized by managing your clients and projects in one place. All the documents, files, and payments for you and your client can be organized on Bonsai.
When it comes to other processes like time tracking, invoices, task management, accounting, and taxes, etc., Bonsai will ensure your business grows and operates smoothly.
3) Pitch
Making presentations is a massive part of startup businesses. As a startup, you will need to get customers, investors, and partners on your side to succeed. So, you need the right tools to present your pitches and presentations to investors.
Pitch is a presentation maker that allows you to create stunning presentations with your team. This SaaS software combines the best parts of productivity, design, and presentation software to help your team build beautifully designed decks in minutes.
Pitch is just one workspace with boundless opportunities. You can use this software to create pitch decks, project plans, conference keynotes, team meetings, and many others. Furthermore, Pitch provides users with all they need to build great decks in record time.
You have tools like advanced design options and data integrations at your fingertips. Also, there are intuitive editing and innovative formatting tools that make editing your presentation a breeze.
If you need to include images into your presentation, Pitch integrates with Unsplash, Giphy, etc., to allow you to browse millions of pictures. So, you can find the perfect image for each slide in your presentation.
Similarly, you can add other rich media like videos from YouTube, Vimeo, and Loom, to your presentation to give it life. You could also decide to upload your videos.
4) HubSpot
As a business owner, you should value your customers with everything because they are crucial to your success as a business. However, managing all your customers could be tasking, and as such, you will need a customer relationship management (CRM) system.
CRM refers to all the strategies, techniques, and tools you use to manage the relationship between your business and your customers. One of such tools is HubSpot, a robust CRM platform for businesses.
This SaaS software is easy to use, making it simple to create delightful customer experiences. With HubSpot, while creating enjoyable experiences for your customers, you will also be having a great time doing so.
This CRM platform has all the tools and integrations you could need for areas such as marketing, sales, content management, and customer service. Each of the products in this platform is powerful on its own, but when you use them together, the real magic begins.
5) Hootsuite
If you do not have at least one social media account as a startup business, you should consider opening one immediately. The influence of social media on the business world is growing daily, and it will only become more prominent.
Businesses advertise their products, services, and brands on their social media accounts. That way, more people get exposed to their business, and inevitably, they convert their followers to loyal customers.
However, it might not be easy to keep up with all of them when you have more than one social media account. Luckily, a SaaS like Hootsuite helps you efficiently manage your social media accounts and get positive results.
Hootsuite realizes that social media is your superpower, and they are ready to help you every step of the way. With Hootsuite, you can save time by scheduling your posts across the social networks in a few clicks.
This will help you always post consistently and frequently, keeping your followers engaged. Also, you can grow your social following in the right way by producing quality content that will be suitable and delightful for your audience.
Furthermore, Hootsuite keeps you in the loop on the latest trends, social conversations, and brand mentions on various social media platforms. Also, you can quickly respond to comments on your posts and reply to DMs with Hootsuite.
A guide to choosing the best SaaS software for your business
When choosing the SaaS software for your business, you need to ensure the software has specific features before making your choice. Below are some features you have to look for in the SaaS software you want to choose.
1) Ease of use
The SaaS software you choose to use for your business should be user-friendly. That is, it should not require any special training before you can use it. Additionally, it should be intuitive.
2) Security
Because you might have to upload your business’s private information on the SaaS software, getting one with a strong security provision will be advisable. This will prevent your data from getting leaked or stolen.
3) Mobile-friendliness
It is not always easy to go around with your laptop or desktop. So, your chosen SaaS software should be compliant with mobile phones. Also, the mobile version of the software should not be inferior to the desktop version.
4) Integrations
The SaaS software you use should integrate other tools you use in operating your business. This will make the process smoother and faster.
Conclusion
SaaS software has become a valuable tool in the business world, and as a startup, you should consider investing in a number of them. Each SaaS discussed in this article will help in their unique ways to move your business forward.
For example, Pitch will help you prepare your presentations, while Hootsuite will handle your social media platforms. When you combine one or two of these SaaS software, you can be sure you will have excellent results.
About the Author: Brian Wallace is the Founder and President of NowSourcing, an industry leading infographic design agency in Louisville, KY and Cincinnati, OH which works with companies ranging from startups to Fortune 500s. Brian runs #LinkedInLocal events, hosts the Next Action Podcast, and has been named a Google Small Business Adviser for 2016-present. Follow Brian Wallace on Linked
