Ruben Corbo writes:
As a business owner, you know that being out of the office can cost you customers and productivity. However, in this digital age being out of the office doesn’t mean that you have to be away from your business. Cell phones have enabled people to conduct business online without the need for a physical office. If you have a SIM-only plan as a data package, you can get a better rate on your mobile bandwidth. By downloading apps specifically for business, you can be productive from anywhere. Here are my top 5 apps for mobile business productivity.
Shoeboxed
Shoeboxed is a service that takes all of the hassle out of getting organized. This is how it works. You mail all of your documents to Shoeboxed through prepaid envelopes. If you don’t want to mail your documents to Shoeboxed, you can use a scanner to upload the documents from your computer with their free web uploader. Shoeboxed will also allow you to take a picture of the document from your cell phone and send it into the company. Shoeboxed will then verify your documents for accuracy. After the documents have been verified, Shoeboxed will enter your documents into their database. This database can be exported to CRM and email marketing tools.
MiniBooks
MiniBooks is an invoicing app package from FreshBooks and is available for the iPhone. FreshBooks offers a free account to all of their users. MiniBooks allows users to manage clients, enter payment, send invoices, and check rates from past jobs. MiniBooks also allows users to track time for each job. If you already have a FreshBooks account, you can sync MiniBooks with the account so you have all of your information in one place. MiniBooks is currently only offered on the iPhone.
Contractor, Freelancer, Small Business Tax Calculator
If you are a small business owner, taxes are a very important part of your life. With the tax calculator app offered for the iPhone, you will be able to estimate all of the taxes that you need to pay for a job. This app also allows users to key in the daily or hourly rate against the taxes paid so they can decide whether or not the job is worth taking. The calculator also allows users to calculate a monthly contract rate, monthly take home amount, annual invoiced amount and take home percentages.
LinkedIn
LinkedIn has quickly become one of the biggest tools for getting the word out about a business and its services. The LinkedIn app allows business owners to easily make connection with potential clients and other businesses in the same field while on the go. This also allows you to be up to date with different groups on the site and share your content with followers from anywhere.
Top Business Summaries
Top Business Summaries is an iPhone app that allows users to view summaries of top business publications from anywhere on their cell phone. The app doesn’t just string together different business publications; it streamlines the content so it reads much like a magazine. This is a great way to find current trends and top business tactics. The summary comes out with 5,000 words of information in a text format and is accompanied by a 20-minute audio portion. This also comes in three text sizes for readers with less than stellar vision.
If you are in business, you need to have access to documentation, contacts and information while on the go. If you are out of the loop, your customers and your business will be at a disadvantage. Implementing a SIM-only plan for mobile Internet use will help you cut down on your monthly bill. Using cell phones to stay with the latest trends is one of the best ways to get your business to the top. Hopefully, these 5 apps will help you achieve this.
This is a guest article by Ruben Corbo, a writer for the website Cell Phone Expert where you can compare plans for different cell phones. When Ruben is not writing he’s producing or composing music for short films or other visual arts.