10 Free Services That Could Save Your Business Money
The only thing better than getting something for free is when that something helps you save money at the same time. With all the new technologies, businesses and services cropping up, it can be hard to navigate the best ways to save money. Here are 10 money-saving services and apps you should have on your radar.
1. Mint
Mint is a great finance app that manages bills, creates budgets and tracks financing. Though it's typically used for personal finances, encourage your employees to give it a try. The app can teach them to be more aware of their assets, which in turn can help everyone save money.
2. RetailMeNot
Before you buy anything, whether it's personal or business related, check RetailMeNot, and encourage your employees to do the same. It's unbelievable how many promotional codes are available to help you save money, and it takes only a minute to check.
3. DealsPlus
Similar to RetailMeNot, DealsPlus lets you check prices and coupons before you buy. Many times, you'll find a promotional code or offer you can enter before a purchase to trim costs.
4. Likeable
Social media has become a must for successful businesses, but hiring firms and some of the software programs can get pretty expensive. Likeable is a free social media marketing service targeted toward small businesses that can help automate your social media processes, which can save you a lot of time and money.
5. BrandYourself
You may have seen BrandYourself's CEO turn down $2 million on "Shark Tank," but it's a fast-growing company that offers a free product to improve your Google results when people are searching for you. Even better, it spares you from the headache and cost of dealing with negative search results.
6. Expensify
Expensify is handy for salespeople or those who travel a lot. It documents receipts and a variety of other expenses, including travel costs, and tracks everything on one platform to make your life a little easier.
7. Airbnb
Some business owners shy away from this vacation and home rental site because they think of sharing a room with others. In reality, the service can save you a ton of money. You can rent a large property or house for a company retreat. When you attend conferences, like SXSW or CES, check out Airbnb before booking a room at a pricey resort or hotel.
8. Facebook
Yes, that's right. Facebook. It's not just a place to find pictures of your friend's new baby or read heated arguments about politics. It can also be a valuable tool to gather money-saving recommendations from your community of friends, family and colleagues. Next time you're looking for a product or service, ask your Facebook friends for their thoughts and opinions.
9. LinkedIn
LinkedIn encourages you to be more professional in your searches, and you can use it to poll your connections about their thoughts. Updating your status or posting in a group about recommendations for a good web developer, for example, can save you precious time and money.
